Stephen Fry has revealed that he does not want to live past 100 because he would ‘hate to be that lonely’.
The 66-year-old actor and broadcaster – who has not been seen with his husband Elliott, 36, for nearly five years – admitted that he would find it ‘deeply upsetting’ to see a world without his friends and family.
Speaking about longevity to David Walliams on podcast Brave New World, Stephen admitted that he ‘likes the idea of death’, and it is the ‘idea of decay’ that shakes his boots.
He explained: ‘Personally, I’m not particularly interested in longevity for myself. I’m interested, as I think most people are, in the idea of an old age that is as pain-free as possible and where there isn’t too much cognitive loss.
‘But I am not someone who wants to live longer than the rest of my friends.’
Stephen Fry, 66, revealed in a chat about longevity that he doesn’t want to live past 100 because he would ‘hate to be that lonely’ and that he ‘likes the idea of death’ (pictured in 2023)
Stephen’s comments about loneliness come five years after he was last seen with husband Elliott Spencer, 36 (last pictured at the Rocketman UK Premiere in May 2019)
He continued: ‘If everybody – my family and friends – lived into their 120s, then maybe I’d be quite happy to pass 100. But as it is, I would hate to be that lonely Flying Dutchman figure so beloved of history…
‘The survivor, all of whose dependents and acquaintances have since died. I would find that deeply upsetting.’
Stephen also opened up about how living in California has made him worry over how easily influenced people are by trendy health fads.
The comedian blamed the boom in people following health trends on ‘snake oil salesman’.
Stephen said: The trouble is, there are so many snake oil salesmen out there, and those of us who follow health trends can see that they go in different directions.
‘At the moment, there’s a great deal of interest in the human microbiome, so people are insisting on fermented foods and probiotics, none of which I think are entirely proven to help in any way – except perhaps for those with specific conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, or Crohn’s disease.
But nonetheless, I know lots of people, particularly in California – where I am at the moment and which is always what you might call a leader in this kind of thing – who drink nothing but kombucha and eat lots of sauerkraut because they’ve read somewhere that it will somehow help them live longer and cleaner – that strange word, “clean” eating.
‘I’m very dubious, I’m very skeptical, but in a positive way. So many of these things are just about having something to sell.’
His opinion on living longer than a century may be bleak, but that hasn’t stopped him from jumping on the bandwagon of other fads, as he admitted to fasting.
Stephen shared: ‘I’m interested, as I think most people are, in the idea of an old age that is as pain-free as possible and where there isn’t too much cognitive loss’ (Pictured aged 14)
Intermittent fasting is going for extended periods without eating, followed by some time of eating normally.
Stephen revealed that he will not eat for 16 hours a day.
‘I’m also interested in my own health, I suppose largely because I hate the fact that I have a propensity to put on a lot of weight,’ he added.
READ MORE: Stephen Fry reveals secret to six-stone weight loss
‘I’m constantly thinking about how to lose weight properly. I’m aware that crash diets are bad. I’m aware that things like diet foods are bad, and nothing could be more deleterious to good health than things like “diet sodas”, fizzy drinks, and so on.
‘Then there are things like fasting, which I know are very popular these days. There seems to be a lot of work done on the benefits of fasting.
‘I do fast, in that I don’t eat between nine in the evening, and lunchtime the following day – say one o’clock.
‘Which is what sort of 16 hours of not eating. And I find that it’s been incredibly helpful because it reduces the appetite. By the time one o’clock comes along, and I haven’t eaten for 16 hours, I’m not actually hungry.
‘I usually want only the very lightest lunch. And that’s a very new discovery for me. And I’m rather excited about it because that is an easy way to live.
When asked if he feels better for fasting, Stephen said: ‘I genuinely do. I think it’s a psychological thing, but I do feel better, because I’ve done something that isn’t as self-indulgent or depressing as overeating can be.’
Stephen’s comments come nearly five years after he was pictured with his husband, Elliot.
He and Elliott – who is 30 years his junior – tied the knot back in January 2015, just 10 days after announcing their engagement.
Elliot, from Southampton, met Stephen in 2014 and was initially known as Mr E. before they went public.
The pair are known to keep their romance under tight wraps as they were last pictured together in May 2019 for the star-studded Rocketman premiere in London.
MailOnline has approached Stephen’s representatives for comment.
Stephen and Elliott – who is 30 years his junior – tied the knot back in January 2015, just 10 days after announcing their engagement (pictured at the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party)
