Stephen Fry feels self-conscious without walking stick

The 66-year-old actor, comedian and presenter has been using a walking stick since his recovery from a fall in September.

Fry fell off a stage following a lecture at the O2 arena and was taken to hospital. He broke multiple bones in the fall.

He told Claudia Winkleman on her BBC Radio 2 programme that he is “now without a stick” following the accident.

Stephen Fry says he is 'self-conscious' when walking without a walking stick (Image: Lucy North/PA)

What happened to Stephen Fry?

Speaking about the fall, he said: “I did my bow after delivering this lecture, turned to go off stage and didn’t realise that I was walking off a part of the stage where there was nothing.

“Six foot drop onto concrete.

“So I broke my right leg in a couple of places and my hip and my pelvis in four places and a bunch of ribs.

“I am now fine. I’m now without a stick, like Lazarus, I have cast aside my crutches and stick.”

Speaking on what it has been like to use a walking stick, Fry said: “More than helping you walk and being some support, (it) is a flag to everyone around.

“And I live in central London where, as you know, the pavements are absolutely packed, so people suddenly stop to take a picture of the lights and you get very nervous about bumping into people when it’s slidy and slippy, with a wet leaf on the pavement…

“Actually it’s been fine so far, but I kind of feel a bit self-conscious without the stick.”

Stephen Fry has thanked the 'extraordinary' NHS for their help (Image: Adrian Dennis/PA)

Fry spoke about the treatment he received while he was in hospital and said a surgeon told him that if he did not take the painkillers he was prescribed he would be recovering for “months and months.”

According to the former QI host, the surgeon said: “‘For six or seven weeks you’ll lie without being able to move and what will happen to your muscles… they’ll be atrophied, and your recovery will be months and months and months.'”

Fry thanks 'extraordinary' NHS after fall

On the radio show, Fry thanked the NHS and described the health service as “extraordinary”.

TV presenter Winkleman announced earlier in the month that she will be stepping down from hosting her Saturday morning BBC Radio 2 show next year.

In February, Fry added his voice to public ownership campaign group We Own It, who have criticised outsourcing in the NHS.

The comedian and presenter, who used to present BBC comedy show QI and has acted in dystopian film V For Vendetta and period dramas Gosford Park and Wilde, said in a video released by the group’s Twitter page: “We own it. It’s ours. The NHS belongs to us.”