Actor Michael Sheen made his debut as the new presenter of House Of Games on BBC Two on Monday, prompting mixed reactions from viewers following the departure of longtime host Richard Osman.
The Welsh star took his seat in the quiz show's famous red chair to host a new line-up of celebrity contestants including television presenter Andi Peters, actor Stephen Mangan, former EastEnders actress Shona McGarty, and comedian Nina Wadia.
While several fans welcomed Sheen to the afternoon slot, others expressed frustration on social media platform X, claiming the programme had lost the signature humour brought by Osman over nine years.
One viewer criticized the replacement on social media, writing that producers should have chosen a comedian to replace Osman. The user added that House Of Games felt as though it had lost its humour and had become a bit dull.
Other audience members offered warm praise for Sheen's first appearance. One fan noted that unlike recent presenter changes on BBC ballroom contest Strictly Come Dancing, the broadcaster appeared to have nailed the transition, adding that Sheen looked as if he had been hosting for years despite replacing a tough act.
Another fan praised Sheen for delivering a perfect start in the chair, while a third viewer acknowledged that although Sheen was very good, Osman remained one of the few figures on television who was truly irreplaceable. Another contributor highlighted that Sheen did not repeat familiar catchphrases such as "what do you think at home?" or "shall we?" every 30 seconds.
Telegraph review and presenter transition
The launch episode also drew commentary from print critics. Benji Wilson of The Telegraph awarded the debut three stars out of five, writing that Sheen lacked Osman's stature to take over the show.
Wilson described Sheen's first episode as a masterclass in circumspection. He wrote that Sheen took a resolutely Hippocratic approach - first, do no harm - which he implemented by doing almost nothing at all. The reviewer noted that Sheen read the questions from the teleprompter, smiled at the guests, and made one, possibly two, jokes.
Osman had announced in March that he was stepping down from House Of Games after nine years as host. The presenter and author chose to step back from the daily game show to focus on his fiction writing career and other presenting commitments.
House Of Games challenges four celebrity contestants to go toe-to-toe in testing their general knowledge skills over a series of consecutive days. A daily winner is announced across the week, culminating in an overall champion at the end of each weekly run.
Background on Michael Sheen and celebrity contestants
Sheen, an acclaimed Welsh actor of stage and screen, is widely known for portraying prominent figures in films such as The Queen and Frost/Nixon, as well as starring in television series including Good Omens, Staged, and Masters of Sex. Alongside his new hosting duties, Sheen is appearing on the new series of BBC reality competition show Celebrity Traitors, where he was chosen as a Faithful contestant and has managed to avoid being murdered so far.
The panel of contestants joining Sheen for his opening week features established personalities from British broadcasting. Andi Peters has worked as a presenter and producer for decades, rising to fame on BBC children's television before becoming a regular host on ITV daytime programming such as Live & Kicking and Good Morning Britain.
Stephen Mangan is a veteran stage and screen actor best known for his roles in hit television comedy series including Green Wing, Episodes, and legal drama series The Split.
They are joined by Shona McGarty, who spent more than 15 years playing Whitney Dean on BBC flagship soap opera EastEnders, and Nina Wadia, an award-winning actress and comedian recognized for her work on sketch comedy show Goodness Gracious Me and her role as Zainab Masood on EastEnders.
Richard Osman on podcast discussion and show future
Prior to the broadcast of the new series, Osman discussed the transition on his media podcast The Rest is Entertainment, which he co-hosts with journalist Marina Hyde. Osman reassured listeners that Sheen would be making the show his own while maintaining the format's popularity.
Osman revealed that the production team was producing prizes featuring Sheen's face, with the series being branded as Michael Sheen's House of Games. He expressed delight that Sheen had agreed to host, noting that Sheen was working with the best team in television and would have an absolute ball.
Addressing whether he would ever return to the show as a player, Osman confirmed that he would like to compete in a few years time, suggesting a Christmas week special. However, Osman explained that returning in the near future would feel too meta, emphasizing that a new host needed time to get their feet under the table.
Osman added that he had messaged Sheen directly to wish him luck, describing House Of Games as a fun show with a lovely gang. The quiz show continues to air weekdays at 6pm on BBC Two.
