Stephen Fry cracks up at X Factor’s Wagner spoof

A video mash-up which shows classical music fan Stephen Fry apparently rhapsodising about the X Factor contestant Wagner has become an internet sensation.

The clip, which uses footage of Stephen Fry discussing his deep love of the German composer Wagner edited with clips of his X Factor namesake performing on the reality show, has received 162,613 views since it was posted by comedian Darren Dutton on Monday.

In the clip, QI presenter Fry begins: "My love affair with Wagner began when I was a child and first heard his music on my father's gramophone.

"It did something most extraordinary to me. It's made me do things inside — it's released forces within me."

Cue pictures of the 54-year-old Brazilian, Wagner Fiuza-Carillho going bananas on the bongos in his jaw-dropping version of She Bangs from the first live X Factor show.

Stephen Fry has expressed his delight at the prospect of people taking the clip seriously. He wrote on his Twitter page: "Can't decide what's funnier: the way (the video) is cut together or that some really believe I'm talking about the X Factor Wagner!" ·