Alan Davies has suggested that QI might not have been a good idea for him.
The English comedian and former Jonathan Creek star is a permanent panellist on the long-standing BBC Two programme, created by John Lloyd and hosted by Stephen Fry.
While he has appeared on the series for 20 years, Davies, 59, thinks this might be too long.
“Was doing QI a good idea? I don’t know,” he told the i, adding: “I don’t really like doing the same thing for too long.”
He previously told Saga Magazine he considered quitting the show in 2013, but realised it would have been an idiotic move” as “it’s an amazing programme and a privilege to be involved”.
Davies, who is embarking on his first comedy tour in a decade, also once hit out at the fact the quiz show was not broadcast in America, which he believes blocked the show from becoming “world changing”.
“They’re not allowed to show it in America because they can’t get clearance on all the images that are used in the background. It’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve come across yet in my career.”
In America, every single image must be cleared and someone paid, making broadcast agreements difficult.
QI, which stands for “Quite Interesting”, sees panellists answering extremely obscure questions they are unlikely to get correct.
Davies also claimed that Fry quit his hosting role on QI due to budget cuts that made him feel “overworked”.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Davies said that Fry was doing “three shows in 24 hours”.
“Sometimes he’d go upstairs and have a vodka and tonic and a lie down then come back and say: ‘I don’t want to do this’.” Davies said.
“It’s absolutely right he’s stepped down. He didn’t want to do it any more. It’s a new era. We have a really good replacement.
“There’s a good atmosphere around the show. Sandi Toksvig is really good at it. I had a great time making the show. I was funny. I actually have a bit more room.”
Fry announced that he would step down as host of the BBC Two comedy quiz in October 2015. His final episode aired the following year.
“For 13 years I had one of the best jobs on television,” he said in a statement at the time.
“Behind the camera squadrons of quite extraordinarily brilliant researchers, programme makers and uniquely curious (in both senses of the word) people making that job so much easier.
“In front of the camera, generations of lively minds and above all of course the wonder of nature that is Alan Davies.”
Sandi Toksvig was announced as the new presenter, with show creator Lloyd calling her the “perfect person to occupy his [Fry’s] giant shoes”.
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