On Twitter Fry said of the BlackBerry Storm: "Been playing with the BB Storm. Shockingly bad. I mean embarrassingly awful. Such a disappointment. Rushed out unfinished. What a pity."

Blackadder star and Apple fan Fry, who admits that he "SO wanted to like it," accuses the Storm of "terrible lag: inaccurate t'screen, awful, slow and fiddly text input.

"Plus the GPS maps won't work - issue with BIS connections. I see from forums postings this is widespread in the UK. iPhone killer? Ha!"

Talking to the BBC later Fry responded to its accusation that he has "the power to kill a gadget?".

"It gives me no pleasure to be negative about the BB Storm and I know that many people have been looking forward to receipt of theirs and were very disheartened to hear my loud disappointment. But, honestly: play with the Storm for two days as I have and you will admire my patience at not throwing it out of the window... I do like the Bold though."