Richard Osman

Author

Richard Osman is a British television presenter, producer, and author who became one of the UK's bestselling fiction writers with his debut novel The Thursday Murder Club in 2020. Already a household name as the co-host of the BBC quiz show Pointless alongside Alexander Armstrong, Osman proved that his talents extended well beyond the... television studio. Born in Haywards Heath, West Sussex in 1970, Osman studied Politics and Sociology at Trinity College, Cambridge. He built a successful career in television production, working as a creative director at Endemol UK, where he helped develop hit shows including Deal or No Deal, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and, of course, Pointless, which has been a BBC One fixture since 2009. He also became a regular on panel shows and a popular presence on social media, known for his dry wit and genuinely warm personality. But it was The Thursday Murder Club that transformed his career. The novel follows four retirees in a luxury retirement village who meet weekly to investigate unsolved murders — until a real killing brings the case uncomfortably close to home. The book became the fastest-selling adult debut novel since records began, selling over a million copies in its first year. Critics and readers alike were charmed by the book's clever plotting, loveable characters, and gentle humour. The audiobook edition, narrated by Osman himself, became a massive hit in its own right, with his familiar, warm voice perfectly suited to the material. Three sequels have followed — The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed, and The Last Devil to Die — each building on the success of the first and cementing the Thursday Murder Club as one of the most popular book and audiobook series of recent years. Steven Spielberg acquired the film rights, and the franchise shows no sign of slowing down. Osman has been open about his personal life, discussing his struggles with food addiction and his close relationship with his family, including his brother, the television presenter Mat Osman. He married actress Ingrid Oliver in 2022. In late 2022, Osman stepped back from his daily role on Pointless to focus on his writing career, a move that surprised many but reflected just how seriously he takes his second act as an author. Whether you discover the Thursday Murder Club through the books or the audiobooks, Osman's writing offers a warm, witty, and thoroughly entertaining escape. Read more Show less