Pointless co-host Richard Osman has announced he is leaving the popular BBC programme after 13 years. It has been BBC One’s highest rating daytime quiz and game show for the past two years - so whoever is set to step into the role is sure to have some big shoes to fill.
The 51-year-old has presented the series alongside Alexander Armstrong since its launch in 2009 and has featured in more than 1,300 episodes. But in a statement on his Twitter account on April 8, he revealed that following the success of his bestselling crime fiction novel, The Thursday Murder Club - and the subsequent sequels - he could no longer keep up with the schedule of filming the daily programme and writing.
"After 13 wonderful years I'm leaving daytime Pointless, to concentrate on writing," he wrote in a heartfelt tweet to his 1.1 million fans, adding: "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!
"Will miss the whole team, especially the incomparable @XanderArmstrong," Richard continued: "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. #TheThursdayMurderClub has become such a juggernaut around the world I simply couldn't keep up with my schedule. Delighted I'll still be involved in Pointless Celebrities though. I will still always be your Pointless friend."
But the question everyone is wanting the answer to right now is, who will be replacing him on the hit daytime programme? Here's all the details we have so far:
Who is replacing Richard Osman on Pointless?
The BBC has revealed that there won't be a specific individual who will be replacing Osman, instead it will welcome a host of guests to step into the role. In the new episodes, which are set to be broadcast later this year, Alexander Armstrong will be joined by guest presenters who will stand in and co-host alongside him.
Whether or not these guests will present for one episode, stay for the whole week, or perhaps present for a whole month at a time has still not been revealed - but we're sure to get more details nearer the time. Further details on who the guests hosts will be, will also be released at a later date.
Richard will continue to host future series of Pointless Celebrities, which airs on Saturday nights on BBC One, including his own hit BBC Two show, Richard Osman’s House of Games which airs weekdays from 6pm and sees four famous faces test their general knowledge skills.
Pointless continues on BBC One weekdays from 5.15pm and Richard Osman's House of Games continues on BBC Two from 6pm.
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