Watch: Stephen Fry ‘welcomes’ tourists to the UK at Heathrow Airport
Stephen Fry stars in a new clip welcoming overseas tourists to London’s Heathrow Airport – and giving them a lesson in British etiquette.
The comedian and TV host appears in the airport’s new welcome message – which is to be played on flights after they have landed at the airport.
In it, he says: “I’m glad you could make it! Now that you’ve landed at Heathrow, may I be the first to welcome you to this happy island we call home.
“Very soon you’ll be free to enjoy the many things that make the UK such a great place to visit.”
However, first he gives a few handy hints to coping with etiquette – that Brits “do love a queue”, that “a staggering 91 percent of all verbal exchanges in the United Kingdom concern the weather”, and that the response to a waitress smashing plates or glasses is to cheer.
He concludes: “You should be fine as long as you recall the one golden rule… make yourself at home!”
Fry collaborated with IT Crowd creator Graham Linehan on the clip.
The comedian added: “From Snowdon to the Scottish Highlands and London to Londonderry, modern Britain is a truly extraordinary place.
“With a fantastic blend of cultures and traditions, we’re a nation renowned for its sense of humour, unspoken rules and little quirks.
“No matter where you go, you’re sure to talk about the weather, will need something waterproof to hand, and are likely to meet someone who feels the need to apologise profusely for everything they do.
“In fact our nation’s gentle apologetic manner is one of the things that I miss most when I’m out of the country.
“I hope people enjoy watching the video, which celebrates some of our wonderful eccentricities and welcomes people to the UK with a good old dose of British humour.”
