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

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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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.”