Stephen Fry quits QI: Sandi Toksvig to take over as host on BBC2 show

Fry headed up the quiz for over a decade

Stephen Fry has decided step down as the host of BBC Two comedy quiz show QI after a 13-years stint.

The presenter said it was "one of the best jobs on television" but felt "it was time to move on".

Recurring panelist Sandi Toksvig will take over his role, which she described as her "dream job", while Alan Davies will remain a resident panellist.

Toksvig previously hosted BBC Radio Four's The News Quiz, and appeared in BBC One's Call My Bluff for five years in the late 90s.

"For 13 years I had one of the best jobs on television," Fry said. "Behind the camera squadrons of quite extraordinarily brilliant researchers, programme makers and uniquely curious (in both senses of the word) people making that job so much easier.

"In front of the camera generations of lively minds and above all of course the wonder of nature that is Alan Davies."

Fry was originally a last minute stand-in for Michael Palin in the show's pilot, but went on to become a beloved host.

The upcoming 'M' series will be his last ("After passing the alphabetical halfway mark I thought it time to move on"), with Toksvig admitting she has "big shoes to fill".

"Stephen has been utterly brilliant with the first half of the alphabet," she told BBC News. "Now I look forward to picking up the baton, mixing my metaphors and sailing towards the Land of Nod (i.e. Z). Who knows what lies ahead? It should all be quite interesting,"

Show creator John Lloyd added: "Though we are all very sad he's decided to move on, I am confident that we have found the perfect person to occupy his gigantic shoes.

"Sandi will be the first female host of a mainstream comedy panel show on British television - an appointment that is well overdue."