The end of a very tall era.
Richard Osman has announced that he is leaving the BBC One trivia show Pointless after more than 13 years as the co-host and quizmaster.
Osman will look to pursue other career ventures following his exit from the show.
The 51-year-old took to Twitter to announce his departure, insisting that while his “13 wonderful years” on the programme have come to an end, “it has been the GREATEST pleasure”
Osman said he is looking forward to watching on the other side of the screen from now on.
Will miss the whole team, especially the incomparable @XanderArmstrong. Thank you to everyone who watches, it really has been a dream, and I know the show will continue to go from strength to strength.
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) April 8, 2022
As the broadcaster-turned-writer alluded to in his post, Pointless is set to carry on with a number of guest presenters already roped in for the remaining series, according to the BBC.
Moreover, Osman hasn’t called a day entirely, as he is set to return to host future episodes of Pointless Celebrities and will still be presenting his other show, House of Games.
Informing his followers that he hopes to now concentrate on writing – having now released multiple crime books in a series called The Thursday Murder Club – the tv personality and author also took the time to thank fellow presenter and comedian, Alexander Armstrong, who has helmed the show alongside him for more than a decade.
Armstrong wrote:
“Daytime television’s loss is international best-selling crime fiction’s gain. I say that like it’s a consolation – I’m going to miss the big man next to me Monday to Friday.
“At least I still get him at weekends – and weekdays if you’re watching on Challenge,” Armstrong quipped.
The question that remains is who will replace the 6ft 7in talent in the long term.
Whoever it is, it’s fair to say it’ll be a tall order to replace him (sorry, we couldn’t resist).
Starting back in 2009, Pointless reached a peak audience of 2.8m viewers this year remains the channel’s highest-rated daytime quiz and game show in both 2021 and 2022.
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