Stephen Fry Returns As BAFTA's Film Awards Host

LONDON – Writer, broadcaster and comedian Stephen Fry is returning as host of the Orange British Academy Film Awards for the 2012 event.

The awards are set for Feb. 12 next year with Fry returning after a five-year gap.

He replaces Jonathan Ross, the broadcaster who has been MC for the event for the last five years.

Fry is no stranger to Britain’s most prestigious movie awards first hosting the ceremony in 2001 and continued until 2006 when he stepped down, handing over the role to Ross.

Fry said: “I had a marvellous time presenting the Film Awards for the first six years of the century. Hard as it may be for some characteristically skeptical Britons to believe, the BAFTAs have real kudos, reputation and cachet all over the world of film-making and I, old as I am, never cease to be shamelessly glamorised by the sight of so many legendary names who come every year as nominees and presenters.”

BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry said she was “absolutely thrilled” to welcome Fry back. “Stephen’s love of cinema, his keen sense of fun and his characteristic panache will be a huge draw for the biggest film night of 2012,” she added.

The Orange British Academy Film Awards is produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment and BAFTA Productions and will be broadcast on BBC One.

Ross is now contracted by commercial web ITV and presents his own chat show.

Ross, the U.K.'s highest paid talk show host and entertainer, failed to renew his long-time producing relationship with the BBC last year following a 12-week suspension from the broadcaster after his role in obscene calls made to the actor Andrew Sachs, which were broadcast on air.