Stephen Fry at the Royal Geographic Society

[karohemd]

Yesterday evening I managed to get out of work early to go down to London to see Stephen Fry talk about his experiences making Last Chance to See. Sadly, Mark Carwardine had been diagnosed with Swine Flu and could not make it but sent a rather amusing sick note read by Stephen.
Basically, Fry talked with (director and producer whose name I can't remember) about making the series and the challenges involved as well as more generally about conservationism and of course about Douglas Adams whose footsteps they'd been following. This was interspersed with clips from the series (incl. the meanwhile famous "You're being shagged by a rare parrot" one which incidentally was the most viewed BBC clip on the web ever - and had more viewers than Michael Jackson's funeral).
There was a short Q&A session, an auction for a "Flip-Flop Rhino" (see below) which went for £750 and the raffle for LtS stuff (sadly, I didn't win but the boy sitting next to me did).

As you know, Stephen Fry is a wonderful speaker and the whole evening was a joy. I think he could make the most boring subject engaging and interesting. Hell, I'd listen to the shipping forecast every day if he read it.

Just a shame Mark Carwardine wasn't there, I would have had a few questions for him. ;o)

I had taken the G10 along and took a few pictures. I was in the fourth row but it was a flat floor so there were a few heads in the way. The whole set is on flickr. Hm, some of them look a bit dark, I think I need to redo them on the PC rather than the laptop. What do you think?

 

Comments

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

You're being shagged by a rare parrot" one which incidentally was the most viewed BBC clip on the web ever - and had more viewers than Michael Jackson's funeral).


Damn right. Sirocco is far more important. :D

I wish I had known about this talk.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I mentioned it in my LJ when I booked it. It was quite expensive, though (£25)

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

I need to pay more attention!

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

It was too bad that I only thought last night that you would have liked it, too but had assumed you had been put off by the price.
It would have been down the road for you, as well. Next time I'll mail you directly... :(

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

No worries. I'm sure there will be other things.:) I'm still debating whether I should go to the attenborough signing, or just linger about and watch.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Uncle David is next on my list. :)
The Aye-Aye was on Life on Monday. :)

[christhegoth.livejournal.com]

Stephen Fry has a big horny beast in his hands. Bet he was happy ;)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Heh.
He wasn't so happy when he was next to the real one. He was almost pissing himself and even Mark C said that he was a little too close for his liking...

[christhegoth.livejournal.com]

I think I would be too. They aren't subtle, and are grumpy buggers....

[djonma.livejournal.com]

Were you allowed to submit your questions?

So wish I'd been able to go to this!

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

I didn't have time to write them down as I was swamped with last minute stuff at work. :(

[djonma.livejournal.com]

Aww shame.
Is there any way of getting questions to him? email contact on his website or a form contact on the LCTS website?

[moomin-puffin.livejournal.com]

Very jealous

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

It was an opportunity I couldn't miss. Too bad Fry had to rush off afterwards, I'm sure he would have stayed and mingled.