Richard Osman is a man of many talents, being a book publisher, TV presenter and Pointless legend.
After an incredible 13 years starring alongside co-host Alexander Armstrong, Richard, 51, revealed in a jaw-dropping announcement last month that he would be leaving the fan favourite quiz show.
Viewers were familiar with Richard and Alexander's elite co-hosting to create gripping-edge episodes for the nation's enjoyment.
However, the show was holding a rather cheeky secret that's bound to leave viewers stunned.
To put it straight, his famous laptop is a complete fake - a fraudster!
Get all the latest news sent to your inbox. Sign up for the free Mirror newsletter.
However Richard has always joked about the useless piece of kit on the programme, to the entertainment of viewers and contestants.
The rules of the teatime TV hit were simple - contestants would try to score as few points as possible by plumbing the depths of their general knowledge to come up with the answers no one else can think of.
If the contestant can provide an answer which none of 100 surveyed people could, it is deemed a 'pointless' answer.
Richard's vital role was sitting behind a 'working' laptop - that's arguably the star of the show - to produce ground-breaking facts and discuss the contestant's answers.
However, the pointless laptop, otherwise known as the quiz show computer, is very much a prop that isn't even turned on.
The device is a permanent fixture on Richard's desk in the BBC Once quiz show favourite, despite assumptions it's used for preparing questions or seeking answers.
In 2017, a spokeswoman for the show's production company Endemol told The Sun: "The computer at Richard’s desk is a TV prop and we have never claimed otherwise."
A source told the same paper: “The computer has never been switched on and Richard doesn’t even know what’s on it.
“The machine is not even plugged in to anything. The only people who touch it are the cleaners and prop masters who come in to dust it during recordings.”
Richard and his laptop will be dearly missed.
Richard announced the news of his departure via a tweet to his 1.1m followers in April in hopes to focus more on writing.
It comes as no surprise as Richard's first novel The Thursday Murder Club, released in 2020, is the third best-selling hardback of all time in the UK and its follow-up, The Man Who died Twice (2021) is the the sixth best.
“SOME NEWS! After 13 wonderful years I'm leaving daytime Pointless, to concentrate on writing," he wrote.
“Will still be doing the celebrity shows and 'HouseOfGames'.
“It has been the GREATEST pleasure and I can't wait to start watching as a viewer. Thank you to everyone!”
He added: “Will miss the whole team, especially the incomparable @XanderArmstrong.
“Thank you to everyone who watches, it really has been a dream, and I know the show will continue to go from strength to strength.”
At the time of Richard's announcement, his co-host Alexander said of the news: "Daytime television's loss is international best-selling crime fiction's gain. I say that like it's a consolation - I'm going to miss the big man next to me Monday to Friday.
"But at least I still get him at weekends - and weekdays if you're watching on Challenge."
Whilst there was originally lots of speculation to the real reason of Richard's departure, the presenter spoke confirmed the decision on This Morning.
He explained: “It takes a lot out of you."
“My thing has been people only play Pointless once or twice, and I want to give them a good time and have it be exciting for everyone," he added.
“So, I’ve always given 100 percent to Pointless, and I was getting to the stage where I don’t have time to give 100 percent to everything.
“I had done 12 years of it, so if one thing could go, because I still love House of Games, and I love doing the writing.
“It was just the one thing where I was like, you know what let someone else have a go at this.”
The broadcast confirmed that there won't be a specific individual who will be replacing Richard - instead they will welcome a rotation of guest hosts to step into the role.
Despite the news, it was recently reported that popular Countdown star Susie Dent has been tipped to replace Richard.
And Dictionary Corner legend Susie is currently favourite to take Richard's place followed by Alex Horne and Victoria Coren Mitchell.
The BBC said: "In episodes to be broadcast later this year Alexander Armstrong will be joined by a roster of guest presenters. Details of these guest hosts will be confirmed at a later date."
"Richard has become a staple of the daytime schedule but sadly all good things must come to an end," a source told The Sun.
“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."
They said that his departure was "completely amicable" but he doesn't have enough hours in the day to keep presenting the show.
"His literary career is going from strength to strength so he’s having to be slightly more choosy with what he does TV-wise," the insider added:
Richard will stop appearing in episodes of the quizzing show later this year.
The broadcaster announced that the TV personality, who has been on the show since its very first episode in 2009, will leave ahead of the new series
Pointless airs weekdays on BBC One from 5.15pm.
