Richard Osman announces 'brand-new' project after Netflix success

Throughout the years, Richard Osman has gained recognition primarily for his television work, alongside his more recent success as an author of multiple bestselling novels. However, he is now turning his attention to a fresh project.

Despite being recognised for developing and co-presenting Pointless, he has in recent years shifted more towards his literary pursuits.

While his books have all enjoyed different levels of critical acclaim, it was his first novel, The Thursday Murder Club, that became an immediate hit upon its publication in 2020.

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The book proved so popular that The Thursday Murder Club was adapted into a film this year, featuring Dame Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie in the lead roles. After its cinema debut, it also enjoyed tremendous success on Netflix, reaching the top spot on the streaming service for some time.

Following the success of the book’s screen adaptation, Osman has now revealed plans for a new venture.

In a recent interview with Candis magazine, he announced that The Thursday Murder Club is destined for the theatre: “I'm also working on a theatre play of The Thursday Murder Club. A brand-new story which sees our four heroes embarking on a brand-new adventure. More news on that next year, I suspect.”

The Thursday Murder Club, a tale of four retirement home residents who meet weekly to solve cold cases, takes an unexpected twist when they are tasked with investigating a real murder. The film features Dame Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, Celia Imrie as Joyce, Sir Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim and Pierce Brosnan as Ron.

Following the huge success of his first book series, Osman launched a new collection last year, with the first instalment, We Solve Murders, hitting shelves in September.

During his chat with Candis, he shared some exciting news about the series, saying: “I'm now writing the next book in the We Solve Murders series, which I'm very excited about.”

Before embarking on his career as a novelist, Osman began in television production, working on several popular game shows, including Deal or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats.

After creating the hit game show Pointless, he stepped into the spotlight to co-host the programme, a role he held for 13 years.

His game show career has since flourished, particularly with his BBC show House of Games, which is now in its eighth series.