Stephen Fry reads a letter about a deplorable incident at the BBC Proms

in 1977, the BBC's music controller Robert Ponsonby was very unimpressed by the behaviour of an audience member at the Royal Albert Hall, during the BBC Proms. Ponsonby wrote a letter to the Hall's General Manager Mr Anthony Charlton.

Here's Stephen Fry reading the letter, at Letters Live's debut show at the Royal Albert Hall, back in 2019.

Letters Live is back at the Royal Albert Hall with another top-secret star-studded line-up on October 30th. Limited tickets available, in support of the

[bodan]

"It was done quickly. But it was done." Such unbridled hilarity, delivered with perfection.

[skyllalafey]

If I could listen to Stephen Fry read me passages of Terry Pratchett's works, I would practically float away on a cloud of perfect contentment.

[PotentiallyAndy]

Only Stephen Fry and Rowan Atkinson can say “bottom” quite like that

[tweegeTX]

As an English person, I can’t stop hearing the phrase “It was done quickly, but it WAS done.”

[Susan-mwmq]

Stephen Fry could read almost anything and hold me spellbound. It's marvelous to see him looking so fit and healthy. Such a mensch.

[SavageGreywolf]

I love how Stephen is making the guy sound even stodgier than he probably already was and that he's clearly doing it on purpose.

[mooniejohnson]

As an American, I can categorically confirm that "mooning" is quite in vogue when we go to the theater. You can hardly get through a Broadway show without a sea of bottoms!

"Sea of Bottoms, " by the way, would make an excellent band name.

[rosieedge]

I used to work with Robert Ponsonby at the Musicians Benevolent Fund. He was a lovely man and a total gent.

[EricWBurton]

Something tells me that if I were to ever get to meet Stephen Fry and shake his hand, I would never stop smiling after that.

[mariannegeraud]

Stephen fry is just so marvelous!!
How scandalised he sounds😱

[beth-eileenwalker]

How I adore the talent and true voice that is Stephen Fry. We miss you and hope to see you return to more of our screens, TV or Movies soon.

[Northernfire]

One of the greatest voices Love this man

[sjinzaar]

never has the word "bottom" been said with such gravitas...

[lancer]

I love how he just dripped with disdain throughout the entire thing...

[hartless]

As an American who is completely in love with all things British I found this hilarious! Shame on that scandalous young woman! What a "cheeky" thing to do! 🤣 He expressed his righteous indignation in in a fashion that you Brits have perfected into a work of art. Bravo
♥🇬🇧♥ A wonderful performance! 👏🏻👍🏻💖

[halcroj]

I was acting in musicals during the 1990s and 2000s and every cast in the West End of London was aware that there was a couple who would book a box and "go the whole hog" during the performance. Make "the beast with two backs". When they were spotted the attention of the whole cast would drift from the show we were performing to trying to catch a glimpse of what was going on. No one informed the Front of House staff to stop it. It was much to much fun trying to spot a naked body in the box!

[maryhoward]

I could listen to Stephen Fry reading the telephone directory and it would be heavenly

[llchapman]

I've just discovered this channel. Letters Live, where have you been my whole life? Oh, the hilarity of a great deadpan reading 😆

[roberto]

“It was done quickly, but it was done.”

[erikarneberg]

I would be quite content to hear Stephen Fry read the list of ingredients on a packet of crisps!