Stephen Fry has said he is "astonished" by the reaction to his interview with Gay Byrne on last week's edition of RTÉ programme The Meaning of Life.
Fry said that he did not set out to offend anybody with his interview and that he is happy that it has provoked discussion on the subject of religion.
A clip of Fry's interview released by RTÉ ahead of the broadcast of The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne has now received over five million views on YouTube.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 this morning, Fry said: "I don’t think I mentioned once any particular religion and I certainly didn’t intend - I know I didn’t - to say anything offensive towards any particular religion.
"I said quite a few things that were angry at this supposed God. I was merely saying things that Bertrand Russell and many finer heads than mine have said for hundreds of years.
He added: “I was astonished that it caused so viral an explosion on Twitter and elsewhere. I’m most pleased I think that it’s got people talking. I’d never wish to offend anybody who is individually devout or pious and goes about their religious ways.”
You can watch Stephen Fry appearance on The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne on the RTÉ Player.
