‘A joy from start to finish’...Osman quits TV’s Pointless after 13 years
RICHARD Osman is leaving the daytime quiz Pointless after nearly 13 years on the show he dreamed up.
The presenter and novelist has co-hosted the BBC One hit with his old university pal Alexander Armstrong since it began in 2009.
He will continue to appear on Pointless Celebrities as well as fronting his BBC Two show House of Games but focus on remaining a chart-topping author.
Richard, 51, said: “Pointless has been a joy from start to finish, working alongside my friend Alexander Armstrong, backed by the most wonderful team, and for the best viewers in the world.
“I will miss everyone so much, but I’m thrilled that I’ll still be presenting the celebrity shows. I can’t thank everyone enough for twelve amazing years.”
Richard created the format but ended up on screen by accident after he stood in as co-presenter during a dummy run for BBC executives and impressed them.
Film
He went on to record more than 1,300 episodes over nearly 30 series. Alexander, 52, said: “Daytime television’s loss is international best-selling crime fiction’s gain.
“I say that like it’s a consolation – I’m going to miss the big man next to me Monday to Friday.” Richard’s debut novel,
The Thursday Murder Club was published in September 2020 and became a bestseller. Its global film rights were later bought by Steven Spielberg’s production company Amblin Entertainment.
Book sequel The Man Who Died Twice was released in September.
He has long worked behind the scenes in TV, including executive producing Channel 4’s Deal Or No Deal. He later accidentally identified the show’s Banker as former Coronation Street actor Glen Hugill (cop Alan McKenna).
Favourites to replace Richard include Countdown’s Susie Dent or Rachel Riley, Taskmaster comic Alex Horne and Victoria Coren Mitchell. Pointless sees players compete for cash by finding correct but obscure answers.