Richard Osman Quits House Of Games After Nine Years

Richard Osman has announced he will be stepping down as the host of BBC quiz show House Of Games after a nine-year tenure. The novelist and broadcaster confirmed his departure from the BBC Two programme, expressing a desire to "let someone else have a go" in the hosting seat. Osman, who has been with the BAFTA-nominated series since its launch in 2017, will record a final week of episodes before officially handing over.

Production bosses acknowledged Osman's significant contribution, stating they will miss him dearly and have "exciting plans" for the show's future. Osman himself shared his gratitude, calling his time on House of Games a "great pleasure, and honour," and expressed excitement about passing the "House keys" to a new host. The identity of his successor has not yet been revealed.

In separate remarks, Osman addressed speculation regarding the Strictly Come Dancing hosting vacancy. He dismissed rumours that Alan Carr and Amanda Holden had been offered the role, calling them "nonsense" and asserting the job had not yet been offered to anyone. Osman suggested any discussions were likely informal, differing from claims made by Carr and Holden.

Osman also shared insider information that presenters Bradley Walsh and Alex Jones were rumored to be hosting Strictly, though he expressed doubt about this specific pairing. He emphasized that decisions about the Strictly hosting roles are still ongoing, with various combinations of hosts being considered. The vacancy arose after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman departed after over a decade.