Richard Osman issues epic comeback about council estate upbringing leading to first TV job

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Jeremy jokes with Richard Osman

House of Games host Richard Osman, 50, has revealed he was misjudged in the past during a job interview due to his degree from the prestigious University of Cambridge. The presenter, producer, and writer was wrongly presumed to have less in common with the general public because of his educational background.

However, Richard was quick to point out to his interviewer that he was in fact born on a housing estate in Billericay.

The Pointless presenter issued his comeback after applying for a researcher role on a show about computer games. 

Richard, who now describes his interviewer as “a terrible inverted snob”, was asked how he could make a show that would speak to someone on a housing estate in Basildon.

Pointing out that his degree and middle-class manner didn’t completely define him as a person, Richard recalled: “And I said, ‘Well the good news is that I was born on a housing estate in Billericay, which is five miles down the road. I think I’ll be OK.’”

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The Thursday Murder Club author’s retort led him to landing his first job in television.

While reflecting on the interview, the star added: “And from that moment on I haven’t had a day off, which is lovely.”

Richard went on to say the secret behind his success is his passion for his work.

He revealed: “Telly, especially in those days, was full of people who didn’t watch telly. 

 

“And so it was almost impossible not to be successful when you were surrounded by people who were in the job because they knew someone and didn’t like telly that much.”

As creative director for Endemol, the TV star has helped create a number of quiz shows that are currently on television.

Richard accidentally landed his first presenting role on Pointless while pitching the show to the BBC.

During the meeting he acted out the co-presenter role he went on to make his own, and portrayed it so well that bosses were keen on him taking it on for real.

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Reflecting on his move from producing to hosting programmes, the television personality told The Times: “I never wanted to be a television presenter at all. 

“I’m not an extrovert in that way, it was entirely accidental. And I guess the unconscious deal I made with myself was that I’ll do anything if I can be myself. 

“I’ve never given a piece of myself away for coin. I was 40 before I was on telly and you sort of have the personality you deserve by the age of 40. 

“I’m fairly comfortable with myself and I just thought, well, if people are happy to watch me as me on television, that saves me a lot of effort.”

Last month Richard took to Twitter to inform fans that the time was right for him to move on from Endemol and “create new shows with new people”.

His post began: “I’ve worked at Endemol since I was 29, but it’s time for me to move on.

“Will still be doing Pointless/House Of Games & working with brilliant people there. But also looking forward to creating new shows with new people,” he told his 994,800 followers.

“It’s been a wonderful 20 years, and I will miss it very much,” Richard went on to say.

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