Five days of fun and games ended with a kind gesture

“DON’T worry,” Richard Osman said in a kindly tone after the first House of Games show had finished.

“That was pretty close. You were second equal. I think you’ll probably win one before the week is out.”

If you’ve not seen the show before, the same guests appear five times – Monday through to Friday on BBC2.

It’s a brilliant concept with a legion of loyal fans.

And each episode is packed with challenges from solving anagrams to general knowledge and riddles.

I just wish I’d been a fan before taking part – because it does take a wee while to get the hang of.

I’d watched the odd episode but when does a mum of young kids get the chance to watch half an hour of anything at 6pm on a school night?

I’ve already mentioned how much I like Richard Osman. I had all sorts of grand plans of the conversations we’d have – about his debut novel, or the state of affairs of daytime TV.

Instead, as we waited for a cameraman to reposition, I found myself telling him how I’d once gone to a posh Japanese restaurant with my pal Suze from Glasgow and the two of us ate the edamame beans with the shells on because we’d never had them before.

I digress.

After each game, the winner gets a prize and said prizes are awesome – coveted memorabilia from the show with a trademark blue background and Osman’s image on them.

The items range from luggage to fondue sets and packs of playing cards.

Think Blankety Blank chequebooks and pens for the 2020s.

I really wanted a prize and the darts board was my dream target.

While being competitive can be a good thing, when combined with being mediocre, it’s awful.

As the games went by and comedian Chloe Petts and actor Mathew Horne went head to head (he won three prizes; she bagged two) I was having a lovely time but wondered if, secretly, they’d give me a pack of cards just for taking part.

Alas they didn’t so I went home with my memories and told the boys that Gavin from Gavin and Stacey was a deserved winner and it’s the taking part that counts. They didn’t look convinced. Then, the other day, a huge parcel arrived.

I opened it and my mouth fell open.

It was the dart board.

The very dart board won by Horne which he decided to send to me – proving he’s not only talented and funny (with a wickedly dry sense of humour) but kind too.

He said the trophy was what he wanted (he really did) and he was happy to give away the rest. Although he did keep his compost holder.

I thanked him straight away and he replied with no words – just a picture of his trophy.

Martel with host Richard Osman and guests on House of Games, which runs Monday to Friday on BBC2.