Stephen Fry has quit Twitter following a backlash over a joke he made at the BAFTAs last night and said his 'tipping point has been reached' with the social media site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5o2TsSVf8E

The Norfolk comedian spoke out about his decision to quit Twitter, saying he 'doesn't feel anything other than massive relief' and that he is 'free at last'.

Fry posted an explanation on his official website in a piece titled Too Many People Have Peed in the Pool.

He quit the social media site following a backlash after he branded one of the BAFTAs winners a 'bag lady'.

Jenny Beavan, who won the BAFTA Award for costume design for her work on Mad Max: Fury Road, took to the stage in trousers, a leather jacket and a scarf.

After she collected the award, host Fry quipped: 'Only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to an awards dressed as a bag lady.'

The dig drew mixed reactions from the audience, with some booing, and many Twitter users were unimpressed saying the comment was 'misjudged' and 'uncalled for'.

Fry later responded to his critics in a series of Tweets, saying: 'So just a word to the tragic figures who think calling Jenny Beavan a bag lady was an insult. She's a dear friend and she got it. Derrr.'

He called his critics 'sanctimonious' and added 'Jenny Beavan is a friend and joshing is legitimate. Christ I want to leave the planet.'

He said they had worked together on Gosford Park and Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows.

Beavan accepted the awards with the words: 'I live, I die, I live again', before praising the directors she had worked with throughout her career.

Fry later tweeted a picture of himself with his arm around Beavan.

It's not the first time he has chosen to leave Twitter, he deleted his account in November 2014.