why did richard osman leave house of games

Richard Osman ( left House of Games ( to focus full-time on his bestselling career as a crime novelist. He stepped down after nine years and more than 800 episodes, airing his final episode on October 2, 2026.

Key Reasons for His Departure

• Heavy Filming Schedule. Osman explained in an interview with Radio Times that recording 110 episodes per year was taking a heavy toll on his writing schedule. Filming left him exhausted for months at a time, making it impossible to write his books.
• Demand of His Writing Career. Following the massive success of The Thursday Murder Club and We Solve Murders, Osman noted on BBC News that he simply reached a point where he needed to hand the show over to keep up with his novels. This mirrors his earlier decision to leave Pointless in 2022 for the same reason.
• Protecting the Show’s Future. Osman shared that he wanted to step away while the quiz show was thriving so the BBC would keep it on air with a new presenter rather than canceling it. He expressed deep loyalty to the behind-the-scenes crew and wanted to ensure their jobs continued.

What Happened Next

• The New Host. Welsh actor Michael Sheen officially took over hosting duties on Monday, October 5, 2026.
• Future Involvement. While he no longer hosts, Osman joked on social media that he looks forward to watching the series from his sofa and might even return as a celebrity contestant one day.