Richard Osman, the bestselling author of the hit ‘Thursday Murder Club’ novel series and former co-host of ‘Pointless’ and ‘House of Games’, was among several prominent figures to receive an OBE (Order of the British Empire), one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious civilian honours awarded for outstanding contributions to public life, from the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. Comedian and musician Bill Bailey and celebrity chef Marcus Wareing were also among those recognised at the ceremony.
Richard Osman on receiving his OBE
According to a report by the BBC, Osman received the honour for services to literature and broadcasting, Bailey, who won ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in 2020, received an MBE for services to entertainment, while Wareing was made an MBE for services to the culinary arts and broadcasting. Speaking after the ceremony, he told the Press Association he was “very proud of being from Britain” and spoke warmly about the opportunities the country had given him.“I’m very proud of growing up in a country that’s full of writers and funny people and creative people,” he said. “I owe this country an awful lot, and I intend to pay as much of that back as I can”, he said.After co-hosting ‘Pointless’ for 13 years, Osman, 55, turned his attention to fiction, releasing the first instalment of his ‘Thursday Murder Club’ series in 2020. The six books follow a group of pensioners in a Kent village who join together to solve murders, and have gone on to become a publishing phenomenon. Last year, the story was adapted into a film starring Dame Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. In March, it was also announced that actor Michael Sheen will succeed Osman as the presenter of ‘House of Games’.
Bill Bailey and Marcus Wareing’s achievements
Bailey broke through in the mid-1990s and went on to front his own comedy show before featuring as the character Manny in the beloved sitcom ‘Black Books’ from 2000 to 2004. Over the years, he has appeared regularly on popular panel shows including ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’, ‘Have I Got News for You’, and ‘QI’. In 2020, then aged 55, he made history by becoming the oldest winner of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.Wareing, also 55, began his culinary career as a teenager at the Savoy in London before going on to establish several successful Michelin-starred restaurants. He is also well known as a judge on ‘MasterChef: The Professionals’. In 2006, he served a custard tart to the late Queen Elizabeth II as part of her 80th birthday celebrations.
