Goodbye from Richard

'Pointless' co-host and creator Richard Osman has announced today that he is leaving the show to focus on his career as a writer.

Osman and his co-host Alexander Armstrong have been working on the show since its inception back in 2009, airing for three years on BBC Two, before moving to BBC One.

Since then, the show has become a stalwart of the BBC, airing 1,326 regular episodes and 211 celebrity specials.

While Richard is leaving the regular shows, he will still appear on Saturdays for 'Pointless Celebrities.' Armstrong will remain on hosting duties with a rotating panel of celebrity co-hosts from now on.

In a statement the 51-year-old 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."

Armstrong added, '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.'

Osman released his first crime novel 'The Thursday Murder Club' in 2019 to critical acclaim. It subsequently became a Sunday Times number one bestseller. He followed up with a sequel last year titled 'The Man Who Died Twice.'

As well as weekend duties on 'Pointless', Osman will still host his own gameshow 'House of Games', which airs on BBC Two on weekdays.