BBC’s Pointless reveals new string of celebrity guests hosts including Strictly stars and top comedians
THE BBC has confirmed a number of fresh new faces will be gracing the Pointless set this year as they get ready to guest host the popular quiz show alongside Alexander Armstrong.
Alexander, 53, presented the show from 2009 to 2022 alongside Richard Osman. After Richard, also 53, departed to focus on other career aspirations, Alexander was joined by a number of celebrity guest hosts.
The celebrities that have filled Osman’s chair, including Sally Lindsay, Stephen Mangan, Ed Gamble and Vick Hope and the guest list will continue to expand in 2024.
“We have another amazing line-up full of TV personalities and comedians to help Alexander co-host Pointless this year,” teased the BBC’s Commissioning Editor, Daytime & Entertainment Neil McCallum.
“It is great to see the excitement with which each of our co-hosts were welcomed on the show by the audiences, and I hope we can keep surprising them with some great names in the future,” he added.
Eager to take their turn in the hot seat this year are Mel Giedroyc, Liza Tarbuck, Josh Widdicombe, Anita Rani, Gok Wan, Chris Ramsey, Gabby Logan, Phil Wang, Hugh Dennis, Ellie Taylor, Rob Rinder and Desiree Burch.
Speaking on her upcoming appearance, former Great British Bake Off presenter Mel, 55, exclaimed: “Alongside the Roosevelt desk, The News at 10 desk and that of David Brent, the Pointless desk is iconic, and I feel beyond privileged to get to take a seat behind it as co-host for the new series of Pointless. The chance to quiz with Xander just makes the whole thing the epitome of perfection – I cannot wait.”
Actress and radio host Liza, 59, commented: “I love a quiz and I think Pointless is a brilliant concept…we have quiz hour at Tarby Towers, sit down with a cup of tea to play along, so I wanted to amuse Mum and Dad and be on it. I’m really looking forward to working alongside Xander, he’s effortlessly charming and generous, which is one of the reasons we let him into our homes every afternoon. I think I’m going to love it.”
Meanwhile, comedian Josh, 40, said that he’ll be trying hard to fill Richard’s shoes, perhaps in more ways than one. “I am thrilled to be given the chance to pretend to be Richard Osman for a couple of weeks, and to any publishers watching, yes, I will write you a murder mystery,” he joked.
Like many of the celebs set to appear on Pointless this year, Strictly star Antia, 46, told the BBC that having the opportunity to co-host is a “dream come true.”
“I’m usually at home with my cup of tea and my favourite biscuits watching Pointless, and now I’ll be in the studio sitting next to Xander and playing along with the contestants (and hopefully some tea and biscuits). It’s like some kind of dream come true. I can’t wait,” she said.
Meanwhile, fashion icon Gok Wan, 49, is putting himself in the hot seat in the hopes of redeeming himself after “doing so painfully badly” when he appeared as a celebrity contestant in 2020.
Thrilled with the celebrities joining him this year, Alexander gushed: “I can’t wait to get my teeth into a new run of Pointless with all these brilliant people. I’m so enjoying glancing over to the desk to find so many fabulous faces looking back and furnishing me, and our lovely viewers, with facts.”
Laura Turner, Executive Producer, Remarkable Entertainment, added: “We’re so excited to welcome more incredible names to this new era for Pointless. With Xander at the helm and all these new co-hosts, we are in for a real treat. I can’t wait to see these guys get comfy behind the desk and deliver some top-notch facts to the nation.”
Pointless airs on weekdays on BBC One at 5:15pm and is available to stream in iPlayer.