‘Let oneself have those bad days’: Stephen Fry sends supportive email to Norfolk school staff

Star said ‘all that baking and exercising that other people are doing can make one feel inadequate’

Stephen Fry has sent an “inspiring” email to staff at schools in Norfolk, where he has a home, urging them not to feel “inadequate” during England's third lockdown.

The actor, writer and television presenter (who currently stars in It’s a Sin on Channel 4) sent a message to staff at two academy trusts in the county, writing: “Don't ever fall into the trap of thinking that you're somehow ‘failing’ or ‘getting lockdown wrong’.

“It can be off-putting submitting oneself to the window of social media through which other people's lives can seem so healthy, happy and efficient.”

He added: “All that baking and exercising that other people are doing – it can make one feel inadequate.”  

Fry urged people to “let oneself have those bad days without feeling guilty and letting self-annoyance make them worse”.

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He revealed he was spending lockdown reading historical novels, watching Agatha Christie dramas and listening to jazz and classical music. He also said he was consuming “pints and pints” of oat milk to boost his mood.

The schools said the star’s words had been “really inspiring for staff”.

Many celebrities have taken action to help cheer people up during lockdown and contribute to Covid-19 relief efforts.

Last year, Dolly Parton donated $1 million (£756,000) to scientists working on the Moderna vaccine.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman, meanwhile, launched the Theatre Community Fund to help financially support the UK’s theatre sector amid the pandemic.