Stephen Fry has always been a favorite among quiz show fans, whether dazzling audiences with his sharp wit on Celebrity Mastermind and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? or leading the charge on his own show, QI.

Now, as he steps into the role of host for the returning UK series of Jeopardy!, he’s pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to thrive in the high-pressure world of game shows.

And spoiler alert—it’s not about having a sky-high IQ or an elite education at Cambridge.

The Key to Winning: Stay Cool Under Pressure

Fry, now 67, believes that knowing facts is just one piece of the puzzle. The real challenge? Keeping your nerves in check.

“It’s all about staying calm,” he explains. “It’s easy to say, but when people step onto a TV set for the first time, even without a live audience, they get jittery.

They worry about how they look, what they’re wearing, and, of course, about winning. That tension can throw everything off.”

He stresses that nervous energy is a game show contestant’s worst enemy.

Excitement is great, but if you let the pressure get to you, it can sabotage your performance before the game even gets going.

The Skills You Need to Win Jeopardy!

With Jeopardy! making a comeback in the UK, Fry lays out what separates casual trivia buffs from true game show champions.

“Just because you’re great at pub quizzes doesn’t mean you’ll win on TV,” he warns.

“You need a combination of knowledge, fast reflexes, and a Zen-like focus.”

He compares the experience to sports: “Think of it like hitting a ball. If you overthink it, you’ll miss.

The same applies here—if you don’t know the answer, don’t buzz in. And if you make a mistake, move on quickly.

Another question is coming in a matter of seconds.”

Beyond quick thinking, Fry highlights the importance of strategy.

Betting wisely, especially in the final round, can make or break a contestant’s game.

“It’s called Jeopardy! for a reason,” he laughs. “That title proves itself again and again.”

A Bittersweet Memory: His University Challenge Days

Long before becoming a household name, Fry was a standout contestant on University Challenge in 1980, representing Queen’s College, Cambridge.

His team made it all the way to the final but lost to Merton College, Oxford—a defeat that still stings.

“We actually scored more total points over the three games, but they won,” he recalls.

“It’s like in tennis: you can win more games overall but still lose the match.

We crushed them in the first game, won by about 280 to 50, but they came back strong in the next round.

The final ended in a tie, and they beat us on the tiebreaker.”

He can’t resist adding a playful jab: “Boo, Merton College!”

His Big Win on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Fry’s game show adventures didn’t end in university.

Earlier this year, he took another shot at Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? on the celebrity edition, walking away with an impressive £250,000 for the mental health charity MIND.

Although he had to bow out on a tough music-related question, the victory was a personal triumph.

“I can’t deny I know a fair bit,” he admits. “But it’s not some moral or intellectual achievement—I just have a sticky memory.”

The Secret Behind His Incredible Memory

Fry attributes his encyclopedic knowledge to genetics and genuine interest.

“My father was a physicist, and my mother has an astonishing recall for poetry.

If I mention Robert Browning, she’ll recite whole stanzas without missing a beat.

She says she remembers because she liked it, and that’s the key—if you love something, it sticks.”

Despite this near-photographic memory, he admits one flaw: “I can recall facts and stories perfectly, but ask me where I first heard them, and I haven’t got a clue!”

What’s Next for Stephen Fry?

With Jeopardy! back on UK screens and Fry at the helm, it’s clear that his love for quizzing isn’t going anywhere.

Whether as a contestant or a host, he continues to prove that knowledge, composure, and a little bit of strategy can take you far.

So, if you’re dreaming of making it big on a quiz show, take a page from Fry’s playbook: Stay calm, think fast, and above all—enjoy the game!