Richard Osman has quit Pointless after 13 years as co-host. Osman has been a staple of the BBC quiz show for 1,300 episodes.
The Sun says he is quitting to focus on his career as a best-selling author, and will be replaced by a series of rotating guest stars - like Have I Got News For You.
Filming for the next series stars in May and will not include Osman. THe will still appear as host on Pointless Celebrities for the time being but has plans to leave that role too.
In a statement released by the BBC, Osman said: “Pointless has been a joy from start to finish, working alongside my friend Alexander Armstrong, backed by the most wonderful team, and for the best viewers in the world. I will miss everyone so much, but I’m thrilled that I’ll still be presenting the celebrity shows. I can’t thank everyone enough for twelve amazing years.”
Osman has filmed more than 1,300 episodes and nearly 30 series. His debut novel, The Thursday Murder Club, was published in September 2020 and became a bestseller.
Its global film rights were later bought by Steven Spielberg’s production company Amblin Entertainment. A sequel, The Man Who Died Twice, arrived in September.
Pointless sees members of the public competing for a cash prize by finding correct but obscure answers to four rounds of general knowledge questions. Osman was not originally intended to be Armstrong’s co-presenter but after filling the role as part of a demonstration laid on for the BBC, executives asked him to continue for the first series.
The programme moved from BBC Two to BBC One after a successful two years.
A BBC source told The Sun: “Quiz fans and housewives all over the country will be gutted by this news. Richard has become a staple of the daytime schedule but sadly all good things must come to an end.
“Richard has loved every second of doing the show alongside Xander but he really wants to give his all to his writing career which has been an enormous success.
“His departure is completely amicable but he just does not have enough hours in the day to do everything so sadly something had to give.
“His literary career is going from strength to strength so he’s having to be slightly more choosy with what he does TV-wise."
Osman will continue to host House of Games, according to the reports
In 2017 Osman has said he hopes the BBC quiz show continues for many years, but that he understands there is a “shelf life” for most television programmes.
The TV producer and quiz show aficionado said he is “naturally pessimistic” and fears the popular show will run its course.
Osman, who co-created the show and was the creative director of its production company Endemol UK, added: “I’m aware it’s television and at some point, you have to ring the changes and you have to think of something new and one day they will."
