Archive for the ‘television’ Category
Death To 2020 | Netflix
3 December, 2020I was delighted to work on this review of this year.
Becoming You | Apple TV
26 October, 2020A long time in the making. There is something extraordinary in every episode.
Richard Osman’s House of Games | BBC2
8 October, 2020Series four starts on 12 October. Happily (for me), the question-editor bit of production preceded … the Unpleasantness.

See also: my book for Penguin, The Joy of Quiz. And, to a lesser extent, the official spin-off book.
Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe | BBC2
8 May, 2020Proud to have taken part. BBC2, 9pm, 14 May.

Inside No 9 | BBC2
25 February, 2020You should watch this episode first …

… then listen to the podcast to discover my indirect association.
The book in question is The Joy of Quiz.
See also: The Riddle of the Sphinx
The Best of 2010-2015 Wipe | BBC2
28 December, 2019Alternative Election Night | Channel 4
6 December, 2019Richard Osman’s House of Games | BBC2
7 October, 2019Have I Got News For You | BBC1
4 October, 2019Series 58 begins 9pm, Fri 11 October.
Richard Osman’s House of Games | BBC Books
2 August, 2019I am proud of this book, which comes out on 17 October.
It has some games from the TV show, and some new ones and, with a couple of exceptions, all new questions. There are some imaginary behind-the-scenes conversations and general nonsense.
- Previously: Two Girls, One on Each Knee: The Puzzling, Playful World of the Crossword; The Joy of Quiz
- £14.99 RRP hardback
- 17 October 2019 hardback
- BBC Books
- ISBN: 1785944622 and 978-1785944628
Blurb:
Do you know how many post boxes there are in the UK? Could you guess how many times the word ‘goat’ appeara in the King James Version of the bible? Fancy playing a game of charades where all of the books, films and plays are entirely made up? Now, look around the room. Is anyone there the kind of person who’ll say ‘I just don’t understand this’, when faced with something that’s not just perfectly easy to understand, but is … well, fun? Ask them to leave. Have they gone? Good. Now welcome inside the House of Games.
Have I Got News for You | BBC1
24 March, 2019Series 57 begins 9pm, Fri 5 April.
Have I Got News for You | BBC1
29 September, 2018Series 56 begins 9pm, Fri 5 October.
Richard Osman’s House Of Games | BBC2
29 May, 2018Series two begins on BBC2 today.
particularly pleasing… This is trivia, plus; it requires a bit of wit, and imagination, even, certainly silliness — Sam Wollaston, Guardian
…just how much I loved BBC2’s new quiz show Richard Osman’s House of Games… Like all the best TV quizzes, ROHOG scores very highly on the playalongability chart – so the half hour fair flies by — Ian Hyland, Mirror
the BBC’s new infectiously funny prime time show… deserves praise for finding a sweet spot which fits all audiences — Adam Bloodworth, Metro
it shouldn’t be a surprise that [Richard Osman’s House of Games] is terrific… The victor gets to choose between a dartboard, pasta maker, cushion and dressing gown, but really, we’re all winners here — Robert Epstein, Independent
viewers couldn’t stop laughing… The show’s debut was a success by all means as fans loved Richard’s new format — Helen Daly, Express
- BBC Two, 6pm weeknights from Mon 29 May
- See also: my book, The Joy of Quiz
- Also in quiz: Only Connect
Have I Got News for You | BBC1
29 March, 2018Series 55 begins 9pm, Fri 6 April.
Have I Got News for You | BBC1
1 October, 2017Series 54 begins 9pm, Fri 6 October.
Richard Osman’s House Of Games | BBC2
4 September, 2017I’m listed as question editor for a new quiz which starts today on BBC Two: Richard Osman’s House of Games.
particularly pleasing… This is trivia, plus; it requires a bit of wit, and imagination, even, certainly silliness — Sam Wollaston, Guardian
…just how much I loved BBC2’s new quiz show Richard Osman’s House of Games… Like all the best TV quizzes, ROHOG scores very highly on the playalongability chart – so the half hour fair flies by — Ian Hyland, Mirror
the BBC’s new infectiously funny prime time show… deserves praise for finding a sweet spot which fits all audiences — Adam Bloodworth, Metro
it shouldn’t be a surprise that [Richard Osman’s House of Games] is terrific… The victor gets to choose between a dartboard, pasta maker, cushion and dressing gown, but really, we’re all winners here — Robert Epstein, Independent
viewers couldn’t stop laughing… The show’s debut was a success by all means as fans loved Richard’s new format — Helen Daly, Express
- BBC Two, 6pm weeknights from Mon 4 Sept
- See also: my book, The Joy of Quiz
- Also in quiz: Only Connect
Alternative Election Night | Channel 4
5 June, 2017I have been enjoying working on Channel 4’s Alternative Election Night:
Jeremy Paxman, David Mitchell and Richard Osman present an all-night feast of comedy and comment in Channel 4’s very different take on election night
Have I Got News for You | BBC1
14 April, 2017Series 53 begins 9pm, Fri 21 April.
Inside No 9 | BBC2
28 February, 2017I am proud to have performed the minor role of “crossword consultant” for this excellent episode of Inside No 9, The Riddle of the Sphinx:
I’m further proud to have filled the role of some kind of muse:
- BBC Two, 10pm, 28 Feb 2017
- Two Girls, One on Each Knee
- Steve Pemberton set the episode’s crossword as ‘Sphinx’, which is also the Guardian’s cryptic on the day of broadcast
- Interview with Sphinx at the Guardian crossword blog
- More Inside No 9
Charlie Brooker’s 2016 Wipe | BBC2
5 December, 2016I am a proud member of Team 2016 Wipe, which is broadcast after Christmas.
Update 14 May 2017: Bafta winner, Comedy & Comedy Entertainment Programme