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Richard Osman quits Pointless

"I can’t thank everyone enough for 12 amazing years,” says UK quiz master.

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UK quizmaster Richard Osman is to step down as a presenter on the daytime quiz show Pointless, partly to focus on his crime novels.

Osman will continue to host future series of Pointless Celebrities and Richard Osman’s House of Games.

“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 12 amazing years,” he said.

In a tweet, Osman indicated that his departure was partly due to the success of his bestselling crime novels, The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice.

Tamara Gilder, the creative director of Remarkable Entertainment, added “We’ll be sad to not have him as part of the daytime series, but we are very glad that he’ll still be part of the Pointless family, presenting our celebrity specials, as well as continuing to host House of Games.”

Pointless was BBC One’s No 1 daytime quiz and gameshow in 2021 and 2022. The UK version screens in Australia on Nine network, and previously ABC.

Alexander Armstrong will continue to host the quiz, with a roster of guest presenters lined up to replace Osman.

Source: Guardian

3 Responses

  1. Osman co-created the show at Endemol and did the desk role in the pilot, then ended up with the gig and brought in his mate Alexander, who turned down Countdown. Pointless took off and got promoted to BBC1 after they extended the banter between Richard and Alexander and cut back the questions. They have cut it back recently and introduced a bonus round to fill the time. In the last few season Richard has been quite cruel and biting towards contestants who after 13 years fail to grasp the aim of the game, so it’s probably not a bad idea him leaving. Alexander just gets politely exasperated with them. They do seem to be finding it hard to get smart and knowledgeable contests these days. Pointless originally aired on UKTV in Australia full of so many ads it ran for nearly 90m. The ABC spotted it there and bought a few seasons. We are currently getting episodes S24 from early 2021 on Nine/Gem. S25 begins on Monday. There’s been 110+ episodes made between then and this announcement.

  2. I’ve read — nay devoured — his first 2 novels in the week between Christmas and New Year. I’m not at all surprised they’ve taken off. I am surprised he’s quit (in part) “Pointless”, but I read now that there’s a third novel coming very very soon. Always seemed really engaging, warm and at times genuinely funny on “Pointless”, “Taskmaster” and “Graham Norton”. I’m pretty sure he’d be on a lot of people’s dinner party guest lists. I’m chuckling slightly at the irony that the last time he was on “Graham Norton” to promote book 2, he said words to the effect of “now watch me blow up my career” which now seems to have happened for very different reasons to both he and his other guest … Wil Smith. Agree with Craig that it’s a big loss, but I’m glad he’s not entirely lost to the presenting and producing fraternities.

  3. Oh! No! this is a big loss. To my mind, it’s the banter between Xander and Richard that makes this show. Not sure I can imagine it without either of them.

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