Richard Osman, the host of the popular BBC quiz show House of Games, has announced when he will pass the reins to his successor, Michael Sheen. The best-selling author and television personality revealed that he is currently filming his final episodes, with Sheen recording his first set of shows this week.
Handover Day
Osman shared a photograph alongside actor Michael Sheen on Instagram, captioning it: "It's handover day on #HouseOfGames! My final week, followed by Michael's first week will be on air, I'm guessing in September. Can't wait to watch him." The post confirms that fans will see Sheen's debut as the new host in the autumn.
Osman's Departure
The departing host previously discussed his decision to leave the show on his podcast The Rest is Entertainment, stating: "It will no longer be Richard Osman's House of Games. I just wanted to go on record saying how much I love it and loved it." He described his tenure as "such a great pleasure and honour."
House of Games features four celebrities competing for daily prizes over five episodes each week. Osman launched the show on BBC Two in 2017 and has hosted it for nine years.
Osman's Career Highlights
Before becoming a presenter, Osman spent two decades behind the camera as creative director at Endemol UK, working on shows like Prize Island, Deal or No Deal, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Whose Line is it Anyway?, Total Wipeout, and 24 Hour Quiz. He was not originally intended to host Pointless alongside Alexander Armstrong, but BBC executives asked him to continue after he filled the role during a demonstration.
Osman left Pointless in 2021 to focus on House of Games, his podcast, and his best-selling Thursday Murder Club book series. The cosy crime novels have sold over 15 million copies globally, with a Netflix film adaptation produced by Steven Spielberg released in 2025.
He co-hosts The Rest is Entertainment with journalist Marina Hyde, offering behind-the-scenes insights into popular culture. Launched in 2023, the podcast routinely achieves over two million downloads per month.
For his services to culture, Osman was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2026 New Year Honours list, a recognition he described as "absolutely thrilling."
