Richard Osman hosting Pointless
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Former Pointless host Richard Osman’s ‘terror’ over daughter’s huge life decision at 17

She made the shock decision when she was 17

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Pointless and House of Games star Richard Osman admitted that he wasn’t initially thrilled about his daughter’s decision as she reached adulthood.

Although he is famously tall – 6ft 7 to be exact – the Pointless host isn’t fearless. In fact, he admitted he found the thought of his daughter going to university in China “terrifying”.

Richard, 53, revealed his reservations about daughter Ruby’s education.

Despite preferring his holidays to involve swimming pools and a good book, when his daughter said she wanted the family to visit the country, he gave in.

Richard recently announced he would be quitting his job on Pointless. (Credit: BBC)
Richard has stepped down from his job on Pointless (Credit: BBC)

Pointless star Richard Osman on fears for daughter

In the 2015 piece for the Daily Mail, he wrote: “Ruby decided she wanted to study Chinese at university. However, she then decided that she actually wanted to study it in China. This, I thought, was a slightly more terrifying idea, as it meant her actually going to China.  To make matters worse, she then suggested we all go and visit China first, so we could experience it before she disappears there to study.

“Well, there are times when you have to pretend to be a good dad, and this was one of them. So the two of us, and my 15-year-old son, decided that a week in Shanghai, meeting the people, seeing a bit of the country and sampling the culture, would be a grand idea. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

While he was in Shanghai, he and his family soaked up the culture and history, which is “bloody, and much of it illegal”. They also sampled the local food, which he described as “superb, without being too daunting”.

With Ruby’s decision made, Richard’s mind was put at rest when she was treated like a “goddess” during their trip: “My daughter is 6ft tall – I don’t know where she gets that from – and was essentially treated as a goddess by the Chinese.”

He ended the piece by saying that he would be returning, to visit his little girl as she moved to the country for her education.

Richard’s famous wife

As well as letting slip information about his kids, Richard is also open about his love life.

He is married to Dr Who actress Ingrid Oliver, who he previously described as his life partner.

Ingrid has also made appearances in Peep Show, Doc Martin, Silent Witness and teen rom-com Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.

Read more: Richard Osman opens up on four decade-long food addiction that started aged nine: ‘It’s more powerful than you’

Richard Osman’s House of Games airs on weekdays from 6pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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