Richard Osman, the best-selling author of the “Thursday Murder Club” novel series and former host of “Pointless” and “House of Games,” was among several notable figures to receive an Order of the British Empire (OBE), one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious civilian honors given 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 among the gala’s honorees.
Richard Osman receiving an MBE
According to a report by the BBC, Osman received the honor for his services to literature and broadcasting, Bailey, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, was awarded an OBE for services to entertainment, while Wearing was awarded an OBE for services to the culinary arts and broadcasting. Speaking after the ceremony, he told the Press Association he was “very proud to be British” and spoke warmly of the opportunities the country had given him.“I am very proud of growing up in a country full of writers and fun, creative people,” he said. “I owe this country a lot, and I intend to repay as much of that amount as possible,” he said.After co-hosting “Pointless” for 13 years, Osman, 55, turned his attention to fiction, releasing the first part of the “Thursday Murder Club” series in 2020. The six books follow a group of retirees in a Kent village who band together to solve murders, and have become a publishing phenomenon.
Last year, the story was made into a film starring Dame Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. In March, it was also announced that actor Michael Sheen would succeed Osman as host of “House of Games.”
Achievements of Bill Bailey and Marcus Wareing
Billy made his breakthrough in the mid-1990s and continued his own comedy show before appearing as the character Manny on the beloved sitcom “Black Books” from 2000 to 2004. Over the years, he appeared regularly on popular shows including “Never Mind the Buzzcocks,” “Have I Got News for You,” and “QI.”
In 2020, aged 55, he made history by becoming the oldest winner of the Strictly Come Dancing competition.Wareing, also 55, began his culinary career as a teenager at the Savoy Hotel in London before setting up several successful Michelin-starred restaurants. He is also known as one of the judges of the show “MasterChef: The Professionals”. In 2006, he served a custard tart to the late Queen Elizabeth II as part of her 80th birthday celebrations.
