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BBC's Richard Osman 'emotional' as nine-year role comes to an end
Reach Daily Express | May 7, 2026 7:40 PM CST

Richard Osman was left "emotional" as a nine-year television role came to an end. The 55-year-old launched Richard Osman's House of Games on BBC Two in 2017.

The popular programme is played over five episodes with four celebrities competing to be the week's champion. Richard presented over 850 episodes of the show before announcing his departure earlier this year. Hollywood star Michael Sheen is set to take over the role later this year. On his The Rest is Entertainment podcast, Richard has now revealed he has filmed his final episodes of the show.

Richard said: "I went up to Manchester last and did my last ever episode. We brought back people who had been champions and then won champion of champions, so we did our first ever champion of champion of champions, which was fun.

"It was lovely, it was emotional, I love that crew so much, it was nice to be able to say thank you to all of them, and also, the amazing producers there know me well enough not to spring any surprises on me. They know I just want a good solid week of quizzing.

"I got to watch Michael hosting as well. That same crew and that same amazing team just carried on that show, which will hopefully go on for ever and ever.

"It was really, really lovely, I loved it, I couldn't have had a better last week. I was thrilled."

Richard started his television career as a writer on shows such as Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Total Wipeout. He later went on to work on a host of shows including 8 out of 10 Cats and 10 O'Clock Live as a producer.

He became a prominent figure on screen in 2009 when he joined close friend Alexander Armstrong as the presenter on Pointless. Initially he filled the role while pitching the show to the BBC, but continued once it was commissioned.

He left Pointless in 2022. Alongside his TV work, Richard is a best-selling author, with his Thursday Murder Club series even being turned into a Netflix film last year.

Michael, 57, will take over House of Games in September, Richard said. He went on to explain the pair have already filmed a handover skit as part of the show.

After being announced as the new presenter, the Damned United star said: "Quite literally very large shoes to fill but as a huge fan of the show I'm incredibly excited to be able to move into the House and at long last see my silhouette on a fondue set."

Michael will also be among the famous faces appearing in the second series of Celebrity Traitors when it airs later this year. Other stars on the show include the likes of Love Island host Maya Jama, actor Bella Ramsay, and journalist Amol Rajan.


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