Michael Sheen takes over House of Games as Richard Osman signs off

Michael Sheen takes over as host of House of Games on Monday 5 October, making his debut as a quiz show presenter after Richard Osman signed off from the BBC programme. The BBC Media Centre said the multi-award-winning actor was following in Osman’s footsteps, with Sheen saying he hoped the “warmth, humour, mischief and respect for the games that Richard had, will continue through me”.

Osman’s final episode aired on Friday 2 October after nine years as the face of the programme, according to the Manchester Evening News. The former Pointless star launched Richard Osman’s House of Games in 2017 and confirmed in March that he had decided to step away. His final week was won by Lucy Porter, who competed against fellow former winners Cariad Lloyd, Miles Jupp and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.

Key facts about Michael Sheen taking over House of Games

Detail	What we know
New host	Michael Sheen takes over from Monday 5 October 2026, according to the BBC Media Centre
Previous host	Richard Osman presented the programme for nine years, the Manchester Evening News reported
Sheen’s experience	The BBC Media Centre said this is the actor’s debut as a quiz show host
Format	Four celebrities play across five consecutive days to win daily prizes, according to the Manchester Evening News
Osman’s final winner	Lucy Porter won his final week against Cariad Lloyd, Miles Jupp and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, the Manchester Evening News reported
Sheen’s favourite games	He named “I’m Terrible At Dating” and “Where Is Kazakhstan?” in his BBC Media Centre interview
Osman’s possible return	Osman suggested on Instagram that he could appear as a contestant one day, according to the Manchester Evening News

Why Michael Sheen agreed to host House of Games

Sheen told the BBC Media Centre that his first reaction to being offered the role was a combination of excitement and nerves. He said he had been a fan of House of Games for a long time and watched it every day, while joking that he had previously complained about never being invited to appear. The prospect of succeeding Osman made him nervous because, in Sheen’s words, the programme was “so synonymous with Richard”.

The actor said Osman had been encouraging about the prospect of him taking over. Sheen explained that he felt it was an opportunity he could not turn down and that he would have regretted refusing it. Having accepted, he said he was “thoroughly enjoying it” and described himself as “incredibly excited and honoured to be asked”.

Rather than arriving with a fixed strategy for changing the programme, Sheen told the BBC Media Centre that he had tried to enjoy the experience and allow that enjoyment to come through. He joked that his way of putting his stamp on the show would be to make everything look difficult because Osman had made it look easy. In practice, he said he plays along with the games, laughs with the contestants and tries not to censor himself or follow a predetermined hosting plan.

What Michael Sheen wants to bring to the show

Sheen said the celebrities themselves provide much of the entertainment and that his role is largely to respond to them honestly. He told the BBC Media Centre that he concentrates on helping contestants feel comfortable and enjoy themselves, which in turn makes the experience more enjoyable for him. He described House of Games as having an intrinsic humour alongside the serious business of playing its games, with “a mischievousness and a lovely humour” running through it.

Asked what makes a strong contestant, Sheen said people who already know and like the programme tend to understand its spirit and throw themselves into the experience. He suggested that unfamiliar contestants can sometimes become nervous about whether they will perform well, while regular viewers understand that the programme is as much about having a laugh as taking the games seriously.

Sheen also praised the show’s mixture of personalities. He told the BBC Media Centre that one of his favourite things is seeing someone struggle in some rounds before suddenly finding a game that suits them. He said the best players are open to the experience and do not necessarily have to be focused on winning.

Michael Sheen reveals his favourite House of Games rounds

If Sheen were sitting in a contestant’s chair instead of hosting, he already knows which parts of the programme might cause trouble. He told the BBC Media Centre that “Games House Of” would be his least favourite in terms of his likely performance because his brain “just doesn’t work like that”. Despite considering himself smart, literary and good with words and letters, he said putting things into alphabetical order gives him a block.

His favourite games are “I’m Terrible At Dating” and “Where Is Kazakhstan?”, although he stressed that enjoying them does not mean he would necessarily excel. Sheen said “I’m Terrible At Dating” was probably the round he would be best at. He also named “House Rules” as the game he most enjoys watching other people play, saying he laughs a lot at it even though he thinks playing it himself would leave him frustrated and worked up.

Asked for a dream line-up drawn from history, Sheen chose Joyce Grenfell, Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench and Ron Howard. He said Grenfell would be fun because of the mischief beneath her stern appearance, while Olivier was one of the reasons Sheen wanted to become an actor. He described Dench as “wonderful” and Howard as one of the loveliest directors he had worked with, explaining that his choices were essentially people he would like to spend a week with.

Richard Osman leaves the door open for a return

Osman’s departure included an on-screen handover to his successor. According to the Manchester Evening News, he told viewers during his final programme that House of Games was what it was because of the people behind it rather than because of him, and reassured them they were in “very, very safe hands with this new host as well”.

After the credits, a special scene showed Osman sitting in a contestant’s chair while speaking to a mystery figure occupying his usual seat, the Manchester Evening News reported. Osman jokingly described the House of Games “house”, admitting it had no bedrooms, garden or kitchen but did have plenty of seating. The chair then turned to reveal Sheen, who replied: “I'll take it,” before smiling at the camera.

Osman continued the farewell on Instagram on Saturday 3 October. The Manchester Evening News reported that he called it “The very fondest of farewells to #HouseOfGames” and said the experience had been “a treat from start to finish”. He also indicated that leaving the presenter’s chair might not mean leaving the programme for good, writing: “And who knows, maybe I'll even turn up as a contestant one day?”

Frequently asked questions

Who is the new host of House of Games?

Michael Sheen takes over as host from Monday 5 October 2026, according to the BBC Media Centre. It is the multi-award-winning actor’s debut as a quiz show host.

Why did Richard Osman leave House of Games?

The Manchester Evening News reported that Osman confirmed in March that he had decided to step away after nine years. He said it was time to let somebody else “have a go”.

Will Richard Osman return to House of Games?

Osman has suggested it is possible. According to the Manchester Evening News, he wrote on Instagram: “And who knows, maybe I'll even turn up as a contestant one day?”