has looked back fondly on his time on amid the news that he’s quit as the quiz show’s host after 13 years, saying he’ll ‘miss everyone so much’.
Having first began fronting the BBC programme in 2009, today it was announced by the broadcaster that Richard will be .
While he will return to host celebrity editions, it marks the end of an era from his time as the face of Pointless with fellow presenter Alexander Armstrong.
In a statement, Richard said that ‘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,’ he added.
‘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.’
Richard added on Twitter: ‘SOME NEWS! After 13 wonderful years I’m leaving daytime Pointless, to concentrate on writing. 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.’
Alexander paid tribute to his co-star, saying that ‘daytime television’s loss is international best-selling crime fiction’s gain’, amid the report that Richard made the decision to step down to focus on other ventures in his career.
The presenter continued: ‘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.’
As well as continuing to present future series of Pointless Celebrities, Richard will also remain the host of his BBC Two show Richard Osman’s House of Games.
The BBC revealed that series 26 of Pointless, which aired in January, had a peak audience of 2.8million viewers, with the show being BBC One’s highest rating daytime quiz and game show this year and in 2021.
Tamara Gilder, creative director for Remarkable Entertainment, the company that produces Pointless, said that Richard’s ‘contribution to the show’s success is remarkable’.
‘We’ll be sad to not have him as part of the daytime series, but we are very glad that he’ll still be part of the Pointless family, presenting our celebrity specials, as well as continuing to host House of Games,’ she said.
Carla-Maria Lawson, Head of Daytime and Early Peak at the BBC, added that the broadcaster is ‘delighted that Richard will continue ribbing and riffing with celebrities in the evening schedules’, as well as continuing to host his eponymous show.
Pointless next airs today at 5.15pm on BBC One and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
