Author and television presenter Richard Osman has expressed his profound pride in being British after being honoured with an OBE at Windsor Castle. The ceremony, conducted by the Princess Royal, recognised his contributions to literature and broadcasting.
A Proud Moment at Windsor Castle
The former co-host of the BBC quiz show Pointless, now 55, received the award during an investiture ceremony on Tuesday. Reflecting on the occasion, Osman said: 'I'm very proud of being from Britain, and this place paid for my entire education and paid for my entire healthcare when I was growing up.' He added: 'I'm very proud of the opportunities this country gave me. I'm very proud of growing up in a country that's full of writers and funny people and creative people. I owe this country an awful lot, and I intend to pay as much of that back as I can.'
Conversation with the Princess Royal
Osman, who ventured into crime fiction with the hit Thursday Murder Club series in 2020, revealed he discussed writing and quizzing with Princess Anne. 'We had a nice chat,' he said. 'I was always trying to remember you have to shake hands and walk back and then bow and then walk off. That's all I was thinking. I felt very nervous going in there. It's crazy being in Windsor Castle. It feels like a responsibility more than an honour.'
Reflections on British Identity
When asked about the significance of being British, Osman remarked: 'When you're in a place like this, and you see the pageantry of it, and you see the tradition of the place, you just think, this is a particular part of Britain, but there's another part of Britain, which is my part of Britain. Part of Britain, which is the youngsters growing up and making sure they've all got creative opportunities and making sure they all had the opportunities that I had when I was growing up.'
Career Highlights and Future Plans
Osman stepped down from co-hosting Pointless in 2022 after 13 years to concentrate on writing. His six-book series follows a group of pensioner sleuths in a Kent retirement village solving cold cases. A film adaptation starring Pierce Brosnan and Dame Helen Mirren was released on Netflix last year. In March, Osman announced his departure from the BBC's House of Games, with actor Michael Sheen set to take over.
