Richard Osman Announces Departure from House of Games
Richard Osman has announced that he will be leaving the BBC quiz show House of Games, signaling a forthcoming change in the programme's hosting and title. The presenter revealed the news on his podcast, The Rest is Entertainment, stating that the show "will no longer be Richard Osmond's House of Games. It will be somebody else's House of Games."
Osman expressed his willingness to pass on the role, saying,
"And I gladly hand over the keys,"and highlighted his extensive involvement, having hosted over 800 episodes since the show's inception in 2017. He also confirmed that the BBC intends to continue the programme after his departure.
Osman, who met his wife Ingrid Oliver on the show when she appeared as a contestant in 2022, mentioned plans to complete "one final week where I will hand over to the new host," although he did not disclose the identity of his successor. The quiz airs on BBC Two on weekdays.
"I've loved it. And of course I met my wife through it as well."
Osman's Career and Personal Life
Beyond his role as a television presenter, Richard Osman is widely recognized for his best-selling novels, including The Thursday Murder Club, which has been adapted into a Netflix series starring Dame Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. Reflecting on his decision to step down, Osman explained,
"It's just with the writing, there comes a point, you know, where you have to hand it over. I've loved doing it so much and I'll be gutted when I don't do it any more."
He also expressed gratitude to his audience and supporters via an Instagram post, describing his tenure as an "amazing nine years" and thanking everyone for their kind words.
BBC's Response and Future Plans
Rob Unsworth, the BBC's head of daytime and early peak commissioning, issued a statement praising Osman's contribution to the show:
"Richard Osman has established House of Games as one of our best-loved shows. His contribution to its success is impossible to overstate, and we couldn't be more grateful for his work over the last nine years. But as we wish him even more success in the future, we also look forward to sharing with viewers who the House of Games's next resident will be - and will have more on that soon."
The BBC reported that the current ninth series of House of Games is attracting approximately 1.6 million viewers, including catch-up and on-demand viewing within a seven-day period.
Osman's Other Roles
Prior to hosting House of Games, Osman was co-host of another popular BBC quiz show, Pointless, alongside Alexander Armstrong, who continues to host the programme. In addition to his television career and writing, Osman has been hosting his podcast with journalist Marina Hyde since 2023.
