After almost 10 years as the face of Richard Osman’s House of Games, the TV presenter is taking his name off the door.
The 55-year-old announced on Tuesday (3 March) that he was stepping down as the BBC Two show’s host, telling fans that it will be “somebody else’s House of Games”.
“I gladly hand over the keys,” he said on his podcast, The Rest is Entertainment. After describing his time on the show as “such a great pleasure and honour”, he admitted that it was “time to let someone else have a go”.
The presenter and author has been winding down his TV commitments over the past few years as his mystery novels, beginning with The Thursday Murder Club, continue to soar in sales, with Osman leaving Pointless in 2022.
But with another star set to inherit the show, just whose House of Games will it be? Some already have theories as to who’ll be moving in.
Sally Phillips
If Osman wants to leave the house manned by a face familiar to fans, maybe the keys should go to Sally Phillips. The comedy star of Smack the Pony and Green Wing has appeared on the show numerous times over the past nine years, and always brought an easy-going elegance to proceedings. Her assimilation from champ to host would feel organic – and no doubt a comfort to those concerned Osman’s departure will dampen the show.
Nick Mohammed
After his stint on Celebrity Traitors, Nick Mohammed established himself as one of the nicest guys on TV. Having carved out a name for himself in the world of comedy, with his creation Mr Swallow and roles in Ted Lasso and Intelligence, it was a joy to meet the man behind the laughs. Simply put, Mohammed is a gentle soul – much like Osman, he could preside over episodes with an affability, but enough of a razor-sharp wit to keep the visiting celebs in check. It would also be a savvy move from the BBC, considering Mohammed feels like he’s dangling on the precipice of huge things. (Only this week was he announced as the host of the Oliviers.) In other words, get him while you can!
Angela Barnes
If Richard Osman wants to keep the show in the House of Games family, look no further than two-time champion Angela Barnes. The Mock the Week comic became the first contestant to win all five days in a single week in 2020 – scoring the highest score on the show with 24 points. She later returned to dominate the competition again two years later, winning four out of five days and the overall week. With an impressive stand-up career spanning nearly two decades, Barnes would easily emulate Osman’s calm, quick-witted demeanour – but would she be able to resist the urge to jump in with the answers?
Stephen Mangan
Stephen Mangan has stepped in to replace Richard Osman on a BBC show in the past, so why not make it a habit? The comedian and presenter proved to be popular when he took over Osman’s iconic chair on Pointless back in 2022 – with the quiz show joining ITV’s Password, The Fortune Hotel, Children In Need and other presenting gigs on his illustrious resume. From Green Wing to The Split, Mangan is a cult comedy icon with dramatic chops who also happens to be charm personified – and as we know from the likes of Alexander Armstrong, Stephen Fry and Ellie Taylor, they make for great quiz show hosts. Plus, with two stints on HoG already under his belt, he’d make himself at home in no time.
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Sue Perkins
Her comedy partner Mel Giedroyc is reportedly being considered by BBC bosses for the top job at Strictly Come Dancing, but Sue Perkins is now seeing her name bandied around to take over from Osman. Largely, this seems to stem from a joke that, thanks to her brown hair and glasses, they wouldn’t even need to change the House of Games logo (which features a stylised version of Osman’s silhouette). But actually, Perkins would make for a great House of Games host. Her years in the Bake Off tent showed her playful side – and that she knows how to guide panicking contestants – while she’s already the host of Radio 4 comedy game show Just A Minute, and therefore knows how to corral a chaotic group of celebrities through some tricky challenges.
Rick Edwards
The instinct might be to replace Osman with the kind of comedian who would appear on House of Games, but hear me out: Rick Edwards has the presenting chops to host the show. That much is a given from a man who’s been on our screens for more than two decades. I mean, you don’t host T4 and not end up with a lot of experience when an interview descends into anarchy. But he’s also one of the show’s most impressive contestants, having won seven episodes and two weeks, making him, like Barnes, a favourite among fans. That his name is technically already Richard is just an added bonus.
