Stephen Fry attacks media coverage of Peter Cook's death

Following the media coverage of Peter Cook's death in January 1995, Stephen Fry felt compelled to defend Cook and his achievements from criticism about his 'failure' to fulfil his potential. (As Jonathan Ross said shortly afterwards: "of course he fulfilled his youthful potential - he fulfilled it when he was still young".)

This was broadcast about 36 hours after Cook's death.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Peter
• Cook
• Stephen
• Fry

[spashieee]

my left ear is sad

[damedavid]

As long as Peter was happy, that's all that counts. He achieved so much, and should be judged on the legacy he left.

Stephen is right, we are *all* flawed, each and every one of us.

[MrSyrett]

Can't believe this was 17 years ago

[TheSnapdragger]

@chairmanmeow1973

I think he was just perplexed at the fact that dudley was seduced by hollywood. He was not jelous, but he did feel discarded by dudley

[mayzon111222]

@spashieee you had your headphones the wrong way round!

[bbdupon]

It's good to see a erudite felloe like Fry set the death of a comic legend in the proper perspective and rescue a friend from tabloid bilge. Well done!

[danbo1984]

@dutchgoing, utter utter rubbish; Fry has simply realised that, as many have noted, comedy is a young man's game. Fry's output remains prodigious and frequently fascinating. By the way, I'd say Cook was the great writer, but Moore was a far far better comic actor, and is very unfairly remembered.

[membland]

I love wanking and puking in ash trays

[chairmanmeow1973]

Fry was wrong about Cook not being bitter. Many people have said that he resented Dudley Moore for his Hollywood success and you can hear it on the last Derek and Clive recording.

[davidgbarron]

I think Peter Cook didn't want to be on what John Cleese called "The Sausage Grinder" of having to make a series year after year which takes up so much time that you are unable to do other things, such as living a life of your own choosing.

[Blokecameuptome]

I'd like to have heard Peter Cook covering his own funeral..would have been funny.

[mugwamp4]

where's the sound ya fucking cunt??!!!