Stephen Fry to be next MCC president

The actor and lifelong cricket enthusiast will replace Clare Connor in October

Stephen Fry has been confirmed as the next president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

Current incumbent Clare Connor, the first female to take on the role, announced his nomination at the club's annual general meeting on Wednesday (May 5).

Fry, a lifelong cricket enthusiast, will begin the post as the 170th president from October 1.

He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Mike Gatting, Christopher Martin-Jenkins and Mike Brearley.

A patron of the MCC Foundation, he delivered the 20th MCC Cowdrey Lecture in November last year and has been a club member since 2011.

As well as being a wellrenounded actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, Fry is also an advocate for mental wellbeing and has been president of Mind, the mental health charity, for over a decade.

^{Connor became the first female MCC president last year (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)}

"I am honoured and proud to be nominated as the next president of MCC," said the 64-year-old. "It is a club that is known throughout the world for what it represents in the game and to be gifted the opportunity to perform this role is truly humbling. 

"I thank Clare for this incredible opportunity and I look forward to supporting her as president-designate over the summer before commencing my own innings in the autumn."

Connor added: "I am thrilled to be able to announce Stephen as my successor. He has a deep love and care for cricket and will be a wonderful ambassador for MCC.

"The Cowdrey Lecture he delivered last year was inspiring and showed the extent to which he understands the challenges and opportunities that both MCC and cricket face. He will bring a wealth of experience to the role and I hope he thoroughly enjoys his year."

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