Welsh actor Michael Sheen has officially taken over as the host of BBC Two’s popular quiz show House of Games. He follows original presenter Richard Osman, who stepped down on October 2, 2026, after a remarkable nine-year tenure.
Osman concluded his final regular series with a special “Champion of Champion of Champions” tournament. This featured previous winners Miles Jupp, Cariad Lloyd, Lucy Porter, and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, with Porter ultimately claiming the final victory of Osman’s era.
The Handover and Official Debut
The broadcast ended with a memorable post-credits scene. Osman formally presented the host’s chair to Sheen. The Good Omens star confirmed he would accept the position before making his official hosting debut on October 5, 2026.
This marks Sheen’s first time presenting a quiz show. The Newport-born actor is slated to preside over 100 episodes. He previously portrayed Who Wants to be a Millionaire? host Chris Tarrant in the ITV drama about the infamous Coughing Major scandal, but this marks his first foray into real-world quiz hosting.
Reflecting on stepping into the role, Sheen said: “Quite literally very large shoes to fill, but as a huge fan of the show, I’m incredibly excited to be able to move into the House and at long last see my silhouette on a fondue set.”
Reactions from Production and the BBC
Richard Osman expressed his support on Instagram prior to the handover, promising to tidy up before the new presenter arrived. “Beyond thrilled to be handing the #HouseOfGames keys over to the one and only Michael Sheen. I promise to put the hoover round before he arrives,” Osman wrote.
Caroline O’Neill, BBC commissioning executive, shared her enthusiasm for the new casting choice: “We’re delighted to have Michael Sheen stepping into the House of Games. His charisma and passion for playfulness will be a joy for audiences and we’ve no doubt he’ll relish throwing himself into a fiercely fought Answer Smash.”
Tamara Gilder, Joint Managing Director for Remarkable Entertainment-the Banijay UK label that produces the show-added that the production team was thrilled to give Sheen the keys to the house for the upcoming series.
What is BBC’s House of Games?
Produced by Remarkable Entertainment for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, House of Games features four celebrity contestants going head-to-head across a week of trivia tasks and general knowledge games. They accumulate double points during Friday’s finale.
While Richard Osman created and fronted the quiz format for nearly a decade, his departure coincides with other major creative endeavors. These include his bestselling Thursday Murder Club novel adaptations and his work on the Rest is Entertainment podcast.
