House of Games host Richard Osman has revealed when he will hand the keys to his replacement, Michael Sheen.
The best-selling author and former BBC Two in 2017 – but after nine years, fans will soon have to get used to a new landlord.
Osman shared a photo alongside actor Sheen on Instagram, writing that he is filming his final episodes this week, with Sheen recording his first lot of episodes. He predicted Sheen’s debut will air in September.
“It’s handover day on #HouseOfGames!” he wrote. “My final week, followed by Michael’s first week will be on air, I’m guessing in September. Can’t wait to watch him.”
In a statement announcing his departure from the show, Osman said on his Rest is Entertainment podcast: “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 time on the show as “such a great pleasure and honour”.
House of Games features four celebrities, who compete for daily prizes, for five episodes each week.
Osman spent two decades behind the camera, becoming creative director at production company Endemol UK, where he worked on shows like Prize Island. His extensive production credits include 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 be one of the hosts of Pointless alongside Alexander Armstrong, but BBC executives asked him to continue for the first series after filling the role as part of a demonstration laid on for the corporation.
Osman left the series after nine years in 2021 to focus on House of Games, The Rest is Entertainment and his best-selling cosy crime Thursday Murder Club book series, which spawned a Netflix film adaptation produced by Steven Spielberg in 2025. He has written five novels in total, which have sold over 15 million copies globally.
He co-hosts podcast The Rest is Entertainment with journalist Marina Hyde, and the pair offer behind-the-scenes insights into popular culture talking points. It was launched in 2023 and routinely hits more than two million downloads per month.
For his services to culture, Osman was recently appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
The recognition, announced in the New Year Honours list, celebrated his significant contributions to both literature and broadcasting, with Osman stating he is “absolutely thrilled”.
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