Did Stephen Fry join the Garrick by mistake?

The battle over sexism and equality at the Garrick Club continues to rumble on. It was revealed yesterday that several of its members, including Stephen Fry, Sting, and Dire Straits frontman, Mark Knopfler, had put their name to a letter threatening to quit the Garrick unless members vote to admit women. They have been joined by luminaries from the world of theatre, film and television, who had been warned that they were in an untenable position because of a ‘very public controversy’ over the issue. The broadcaster John Simpson pronounced on X yesterday that he and many others ‘would also find it impossible to stay’ if the club didn’t open its doors to women.

This is the luvvie-spat that just won’t go away. It was sparked in March by the resignation from the all-male establishment by the head of the civil service, Simon Case, and the head of MI6, Richard Moore, after the Guardian revealed that they had joined a club that has repeatedly blocked the admission of women.

This was followed later that month by an open letter by progressive-minded members of the institution, in which they nominated the women they would like to see become members.