Michael Sheen introduced as House of Games’ shock new host
There’s a new resident moving into BBC Two’s House of Games – with the broadcaster announcing that Bafta-winning actor Michael Sheen will be the new host.
The Welsh actor, 57, will be taking over from Richard Osman, who announced this month that he would be quitting the show after nine years as host.
In a statement, Sheen said he’s a big fan of the show, adding that he has “quite literally very large shoes to fill” – Osman is 6ft 7in tall and has previously said he has size 14 feet.
“I’m incredibly excited to be able to move into the House and at long last see my silhouette on a fondue set.”
House of Games will mark Sheen’s debut as a quiz show host, although he did play one in the 2021 drama Quiz. The actor portrayed former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host Chris Tarrant in the ITV series, which told the story of how contestant Charles Ingram was accused of cheating after winning the show.
Sheen is best known for his illustrious career in film, TV and theatre, having played Tony Blair in 2003’s The Deal, 2006 docudrama The Queen and 2010’s The Special Relationship.
His other notable roles include playing David Frost in Frost/Nixon – he received an Olivier Award nomination for the play and then reprising the role in the 2008 film – as well as performances in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Good Omens and A Very Royal Scandal.
In recent years, Sheen has branched out into presenting, having hosted the Channel 4 documentary Michael Sheen’s Secret Million Pound Giveaway last year and BBC One’s Michael Sheen: Lifting the Lid on the Care System.
Earlier in March, long-time House of Games host Osman took fans by surprise by announcing that he would be leaving the show after nine years.
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Sharing the news on his podcast, The Rest is Entertainment, Osman said on 3 March: “It will be somebody else’s House of Games. I gladly hand over the keys.
“I just wanted to go on record saying how much I love it and loved it.”
He later said that hosting the quiz show was “a great pleasure and honour” but that it was “time to let someone else have a go”.
Sheen’s appointment will come as a surprise to many fans, with some speculating that Liza Tarbuck would take over after quitting her BBC Radio 2 show this month.
The series began airing on BBC Two in 2017, with Osman inviting a new line-up of celebrities each week to take part in various quiz rounds every day. It’s spawned various spin-offs – including Richard Osman’s House of Games Night, which aired on BBC One for two series, and an Australian version hosted by comedian Claire Hooper.
