Stephen Fry: 'Doctor Who, Merlin are for children'

Stephen Fry has hit out at the 'infantilism' of British TV.

The TV presenter and actor argued that heavily promoted shows like Doctor Who, while being good programmes, are for children.

The QI host also spoke of the 'absurdity' of some compliance rules and said 'fear' is everywhere in the television industry in this country.

Fry was delivering the Bafta Annual Television Lecture in central London.

During a question and answer session after his speech, Fry told the audience: "If I wanted to be angry... I would say infantilism's the problem.

"The number of times I turn on the television and I think ,'Gosh children's television's gone on, that's a really good art documentary... Oh my God, it's nine o'clock in the evening. This is for grown ups?' It's just shocking.

"The only drama the BBC will boast about are Merlin and Doctor Who, which are fine but they're children's programmes. They're not for adults.

"And they're very good children's programmes, don't get me wrong, they're wonderfully written... but they are not for adults.

"They are like a chicken nugget. Every now and again we all like it. Every now and again.

"But if you are an adult you want something surprising, savoury, sharp, unusual, cosmopolitan, alien, challenging, complex, ambiguous, possibly even slightly disturbing and wrong."