Ross accidentally announces Fable III

By Dan Pearson Published 11 March, 2009

UK broadcaster blurts news on Twitter.

Celebrity talker Jonathan Ross seems to have inadvertently confirmed the development of Fable III on his Twitter, claiming he's been offered a voice-over role.

"Tweeting" after last night's BAFTA shindig, the British TV and radio star wished his gossip-hungry fans goodnight with this message: "Goodnight all. Must go to bed. Got asked to do voice in Fable 3 tonight. Subarashi. Oyasuminasia. Woss out."

When asked to confirm the slip by a fellow Tweeter, Ross proclaimed, "Yes they are doing it. Charlie Brooker said he would do a voice for it to! Great fun!!"

Chagrin had set in by this morning, however, as the floppy-fringed charmer posted: "Good morning. Today I must file DVDs, write a piece for The Times, apologize to Peter Molyneux then go Thorpe Park for SAW rollercoaster!" When quizzed on the nature of the apology, Ross revealed that it was "because I think I revealed something that was not officially announced yet..."

Not officially perhaps, but don't beat yourself up over it, Jonathan. Lionhead would have been mad not to follow up on the success of its Xbox 360 RPG Fable II.

Microsoft was unavailable for comment on the issue.

Picture of Dan.

About Dan Pearson

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Comments (75) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • menage #1 3 years ago

    Sign me up, I completed 2 to times already, best game of 2008 in my humble opinion. Yes it had bugs, and the story was a bit daft, but I enjoyed the world so much I kept coming back.

  • DanWhitehead #2 3 years ago

    "And so our stowy begins..."

  • Mr-Bozzey #3 3 years ago

    that bloke has got a really big fucking mouth

    still it's better than saying some unfunny scruffy twat like russall brand shagged ya grandaughter down the phone to a old fella.

  • Thunderbolt #4 3 years ago

    Wonder if its going to feature lewd phone calls and sex with Georgina Ballie?

    Well somebody had to go there

  • the_dudefather #5 3 years ago

    Loose twitting sinks ships

  • tincanrocket #6 3 years ago

    /engage RANT mode

    Please make it so that you can torture both Ross and Brookers' characters in the game. How about employing some decent voice acting talent rather than spunking wads of cash at "celebrities" who'll phone in their performances. Oh, that won't help sales, will it? Can't put some garish bold text listing the 'talent' involved in the game. Spend the money on making the game sell itself, Molyneux, not ligging!

    /RANT mode off

  • optimusprym8 #7 3 years ago

    perhaps it's another expansion, I don't expect Wossy to be too techie to understand the difference. Seems a bit early to be doing VO work for a title that's not even annouced

  • ViralNinja #8 3 years ago

    Hugely successful franchise in "sequel in the works" shocker

  • LittleSacky #9 3 years ago

    Didn't Peter Molyneux already annouce that they would be doing a third one himself, quote was something like "We've got plans for Fable 3, 4, and 5"

    http://ww w.eurogamer.net/articles/lionhe...
    Edited by 1 at 11/03/09 @ 12:33

  • EssAitch #10 3 years ago

    There should be a title for a Twitter based gaffe. A Twat, maybe.

  • Ninja_Tino #11 3 years ago

    Rossy is pretty techie. Check out his Twitter. He's quite a big gamer. Owned loads of consoles and definitely knows what he's talking about. I personally love the man!

  • RustyBullet #12 3 years ago

    Get over it allready with the Ross bashing. He made a mistake, none of you ever made one? i know i have made plenty. Fable 3 should be quality just like the last 2.

  • seasidebaz #13 3 years ago

    Ah yes, Jonathan Ross, that MASSIVE FAN OF GAMES.

    Maybe just mixing up "Fable 3" and "Falble DLC Number 3"?

  • Xerx3s #14 3 years ago

    Considering PM's track record, i doubt he minds too much. MSG PR on the other hand...

  • Xerx3s #15 3 years ago

    menage: I don't know if it's the best game of 2008 but it most certainly was brilliant. The ending was very creative and I liked it a lot.

  • VicViper #16 3 years ago

    Stephen Fry - Win
    Mr Ross - Fail

    If it really DLC and hes got it wrong I'm glad I traded it in

    If its Fable 3 then I hope the do an Oblivion and he's dead after 5mins and we need never hear from him again. I just don't find him all that funny or entertaining for that matter

  • Lebowski #17 3 years ago

    Legend has it Johnny Vegas used to play PGR2.

  • Hendo #18 3 years ago

    perhaps it's another expansion, I don't expect Wossy to be too techie to understand the difference.

    He has an Um Jammer Lammy arcade in his house, and was considering dressing up as Parappa for the BAFTA's. I should think he knows his stuff.
    Edited by 1 at 11/03/09 @ 13:00

  • thefilthandthefury #19 3 years ago

    /shrugs

    I like Jonathan Ross. It'll be good to have him in the game, especially as he's a gamer himself.

  • marilena #20 3 years ago

    Oh, a successful game is receiving a sequel, you say? Quite a surprise!

  • seasidebaz #21 3 years ago

    He has an Um Jammer Lammy arcade in his house, and was considering dressing up as Parappa for the BAFTA's.

    Woo, so he knows about two characters from the same PSOne game... That shows knowledge!

  • Ninja_Tino #22 3 years ago

    seaside, why are you so against the fact that he could actually like games like the rest of us? Hell, a year ago he spent about 5 minutes on his radio show talking about Garry's Mod.

  • alimokrane #23 3 years ago

    Oh Ross......

  • seasidebaz #24 3 years ago

    @Ninja_Tino

    I just like being argumentative :D

  • Monkey_Puncher #25 3 years ago

    Wow some really anti Woss people in here. Woss is actually a really big nerd at heart, he's a massive comic book and anime fan and however much you try to deny it does have good knowledge of games.

  • Petulant_Radish #26 3 years ago

    Wasn’t Ross a squaddie in Halo 3?

    Plus anyone going on about the whole phone call debacle, stop and think, do you really wish to side yourselves with the right wing Daily Mail reading idiocy that prevails when an old man is slightly offended?

  • Ninja_Tino #27 3 years ago

    I liked that answer seaside and therefore all my hatred for you has gone in an instant. The truth is key.

  • Murbal #28 3 years ago

    When asked to confirm the slip by a fellow Tweeter, Ross proclaimed, "Yes they are doing it. Charlie Brooker said he would do a voice for it to! Great fun!!"

    Too. Disgraceful.

    /tuts
    Edited by 1 at 11/03/09 @ 13:15

  • peterfll #29 3 years ago

    I will not add my private thoughts on Mr Ross to this thread, gamer, nerd or not. The last time I did something similar, on Ricky Gervais when GTA4 came out, I was attacked a ridiculed for not hero-worshipping a nationally popular personality.

    Sometimes the interweb can be so unfair....

    \weeps

  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #30 3 years ago

    Yes, Mr. Ross is a massive game fan and has been for many years. He owns most consoles - even has a Virtual Boy and a PC Engine Turbo Express.

    He's never owned an Atari Jaguar though.

  • Thalanos #31 3 years ago

    Anything with Charlie Brooker in will get extra kudos from me. Good news. :)

  • peterfll #32 3 years ago

    Does he have an Amiga CD32 though? If not, he has no cred.

  • jim1975 #33 3 years ago

    he was already a voice in halo 3.

  • septimus #34 3 years ago

    Good news. Just hope 3 isn't as dull as 2 was. IMHO I think 1 had a better atmosphere all the way through. Yes more linear, but the story held because of it.

  • Goolz #35 3 years ago

    Yeah of course, accidentally announced....

  • OnlyMe #36 3 years ago

    The game was shallow, easy, short, didn't have enough to do and was somewhat linear. Yet, it was absolutely beautiful, had an excellent atmospher and a decent story, and I loved it to pieces!

  • kangarootoo #37 3 years ago

    Anyone still harping on about how Ross is evil is a mental case. He made a minor error, and then the bloody masses got their teeth into it and it became a ridiculous witchunt.

    I'm not particularly a fan of him, I like his film reviews, his talk show is hit and miss. But what happened after that radio gaff was utterly ridiculous. Peopl retrospectively offended by a radio show they hadn't even heard?

    It was one of those moments that made me think "Yes, I'm right to be this cynical. Most people are just monkeys in pyjamas. Point them in the right direction and give them a target they will convince themselves they actually feel passionate about something".

  • jonsaan #38 3 years ago

    This twitter thing has to be the most egotistical application ever.

    I mean, who fucking cares? Somebody, obviously.

  • Retroid #39 3 years ago

    Brooker's going to be in it?

    \o/

    Him and Ross are big gaming fans, hurrah!

  • Vistrix #40 3 years ago

    @jonsaan Its good to follow celebrities on. Anything from the Heroes cast to Stephen Fry, thousands of people care.

    Its 100 times better than the myspace / facebook crap anyway.

  • seasidebaz #41 3 years ago

    @kangarootoo:

    He did that thing earlier than the Russel Brand phonecall that made everyone hate him as well. Was possibly during the 90s, I've forgotten what it was though.

  • FreakyZoid #42 3 years ago

    > I mean, who fucking cares?

    Delicious ironing.

  • kangarootoo #43 3 years ago

    "This twitter thing has to be the most egotistical application ever.

    I mean, who fucking cares? Somebody, obviously."

    Well the same could be said of us wittering (see what I did there) away on here day after day.

  • kangarootoo #44 3 years ago

    @seasidebaz

    "He did that thing earlier than the Russel Brand phonecall that made everyone hate him as well. Was possibly during the 90s, I've forgotten what it was though."

    Well so long as we remember we are supposed to hate him thats the main thing, even if we can't remember why... ;)

  • Balboa #45 3 years ago

    If you google for "fable 3" the second hit is an IGN article talking about 3, 4 and 5. This is about as surprising as a Sims expansion.

  • jonsaan #46 3 years ago

    That's true anough kangarootoo. True enough. But I am stuck at a desk all day. I'm sure if I was a major celeb I'd have better things to do? They probably pay someone to update it?

    I just find the whole. Jonsaan is......incredibly tired after an amazing night out with the stars because I'm so popular and successful.....kind of thing absolutely vulgar.

  • kangarootoo #47 3 years ago

    @jonsaan

    I agree in part, but I think we should selectively blame the workmen rather than the tools.

    Stephen Fry asking followers how best to deal with a bat in his kitchen is fair use.
    P Diddy talking about holding an oscar in the bubble bath deserves derision on a grand scale.

    There is something hugely egotistical about the majority of Twitter updates, I agree with you there. Just like perhaps to a lesser degree there is something egotistical about writing on here (my own often rather opinionated posts being a good case in point).

    A downside of the internet perhaps? That we CAN communicate with everyone makes us think we SHOULD, because that would mean we might have something to say that is unique to us. It maybe helps us avoid the realisation that none of us is really unique or special in any way (despite what our parents and the X-Factor might tell us).

  • peterfll #48 3 years ago

    Yes, we're all guilty of (t)wittering the method is just different!

    I used to think Ross was OK. But since then his ego has become too much for me to tune in to his material. And I find him the biggest sycophant. There were two breaking points for me, one when I watched him tell Pete Doherty that his latest album was his "album of the year" when he says that to every Tom, Dick and Harry. Another was watching him tell Simon Pegg that he thought he was "the most talented British actor of this generation". I mean, I liked Shaun of the Dead, but best -cough!- British actor - cough! - this coming from a nationally treasured film critic?

  • ZuluHero #49 3 years ago

    This sounds nothing more than something said during a drunken after-show party. 9 times out of ten these things never materialize, I know, I’ve been in those situations myself plenty enough.

    So to the people that can't stand Ross or are asking for his 'voice-work' to be kept to a minimal - don't get too bent out of shape before the game is officially announced , ok? :)

    And to this 'news'. Another sequel was pretty much inevitable really wasn't it?

  • hiddenranbir #50 3 years ago

    I love the Britisyy Fable!

    More James Corden! More Stephen Fry! More quality VA!

  • shebamurphy #51 3 years ago

    Hatorz rool teh internets.

  • skillian #52 3 years ago

    The internet has given everyone a voice and it's not egotistical to take advantage of that - people volunteering their thoughts and opinions is basically what the internet is comprised of (well, that and lolcats).

    It's the content that matters - it's easy to be an egotistical twat, internet or no.

  • peterfll #53 3 years ago

    Indeed, poor Kenneth Williams, died before his time, I could see him doing the VO for LittleBigPlanet just as easy as Mr Fry.

  • kangarootoo #54 3 years ago

    @peterfll

    This is true, he can be a bit pandering... though maybe that is careful technique designed to relax his guest and get them to open up?

  • kangarootoo #55 3 years ago

    "Indeed, poor Kenneth Williams, died before his time, I could see him doing the VO for LittleBigPlanet"

    Man, that would have been awesome (not to take away from the genius that is Stephen Fry). I am reminded of the Willo the Wisp TV episodes of my youth. That guy just had a voice built for voice over work.

  • peterfll #56 3 years ago

    Yes, poor Kenny as he said himself in his last diary entry "what's the bloody point"?.

    I don't think Stephen Fry would mind the LBP KW suggestion. He could have done it in the style of Evil Edna. Or Mavis, the fairy. Or both.

  • jack_klugman #57 3 years ago

    Twit.

  • adamamosa #58 3 years ago

    I too initially thought it was going to be for more DLC. But I cant see them shelling out for celebs just for DLC. While there was no doubt that there would be another halo, this just suggests the possibility that its likely to arrive sooner than I expected.

  • metalangel #59 3 years ago

    A Victorian era setting for Fable 3 would be nice (Fable 2 seemingly set around the beginning of the 19th century). But no dog, no twat making a naff comment after EVERY fucking pint I pull/sword I hammer, far less rubbish "look how British we are" humour and more point to a lot of the sideline fluff (my character isn't married and won't be having kids or buying a house because there's no bloody point in doing so)

  • JahB #60 3 years ago

    sign me up, i want Fable 3

  • dirk_aircool #61 3 years ago

    weave woss awone .

  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #62 3 years ago

    I want a victorian setting so I can open up a photography shop and make saucy pics for Gentlemen with twirly moustaches.

  • Velios #63 3 years ago

    what sort of saddo goes out, gets pissed and then thinks OMG I MUST TWITTER!

  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #64 3 years ago

    @Velios - certainly not Jonathan Ross, he's teetotal.

  • metalangel #65 3 years ago

    No, I'm with you on those ideas, Farticus. Penny farthing races yes... but also steam powered cars, perhaps an Orient Express style train in place of the stagecoaches for some good gentleman agent intrigue? Oh, and airships! And an uneasy tension between the technological and magical schools. So, er, basically Arcanum only not horrifically dull.

  • Ninja_Tino #66 3 years ago

    Jonathan Ross doesn't drink, by the way.

  • Vin #67 3 years ago

    Brooker spewing unsolicited BILE in Fable 3?

    SOLD.

  • ZuluHero #68 3 years ago

    "Jonathan Ross doesn't drink, by the way."

    No? But game developers do! :)

  • makeamazing #69 3 years ago

    I think Ross is great he is a real techie as someone else said and also has generally great movie taste, shame the rubbish British media went on its normal burn a celebrity at the stake mentality to try and sell a few papers, and a few people jumped on that band wagon (stupid british public minority).... what made me laugh was the woman who was involved with brand got bent out of shape but had no problem getting her boobs out for a news paper... class.

    Back to gaming, Fable 3 no surprise considering how well it did... wonder how far away it actually is though? Must be a while before it comes out?

  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #70 3 years ago

    @Lord_Snaz - Jane loved House of the Dead: OVERKILL. Jane co-wrote the screenplay to Stardust. She was also responsible for the Official X-Files books "Book of the Unexplained" I have volumes 1 & 2 here at home.

  • smelly #71 3 years ago

    Dont think i'll bother with Fable 3 after getting my fingers burned with 1 and 2.

  • CARL05 #72 3 years ago

    Jonathan Ross is an overpaid twat!

    The BBC should have fired him ages ago. He irritates me immensely with his publicity creating and annoying lisp that totally ruins whatever he's presenting!

    grr...


    well, that's my opinion.

  • Rodney #73 3 years ago

    dam his publicity creating lisp, I say.

  • metalangel #74 3 years ago

    Who on the BBC isn't an over paid twat? (apart from Stephen Fry, assuming he is on their payroll). Clarkson, Moyles, Cox, Paxman, all are twats of varying degrees.

  • YoungPayters #75 3 years ago

    brooker ftw! cant wait for his new series. Gameswipe! (gotten from his twitter) :D