Who are the Pointless guest hosts?

In 2022, Osman announced that he was stepping down as Pointless co-host after 14 years, and has since been replaced by a rotating carousel of celebrities.

Up first this week is Josh Widdicombe, who will be helping out Armstrong in the brainy quiz – but who are the other eclectic mix of actors, comedians and broadcasters joining him as the season goes on?

Here is everything you need to know about the new Pointless presenters.

Pointless guest hosts

• Mel Giedroyc
• Liza Tarbuck
• Chris Ramsey
• Gok Wan
• Anita Rani
• Gabby Logan
• Josh Widdicombe
• Phil Wang
• Hugh Dennis
• Ellie Taylor
• Rob Rinder
• Desiree Burch

Josh Widdicombe

Many viewers will recognise stand-up comic Josh Widdicombe from being one of the three hosts on The Last Leg, alongside Adam Hills and Alex Brooker.

As for taking part in Pointless, Widdicombe said: "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."

Mel Giedroyc

Television presenter Mel Giedroyc is no stranger to hosting duties, having been a co-host on The Great British Bake off, Light Lunch and Let It Shine.

Many viewers will remember Giedroyc's iconic moment from Eurovision last year in which she churned butter in a short cameo during the signing contest.

The comedian has also featured in Taskmaster, Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker and the Big Fat Quiz of the Year.

Ahead of her guest hosting duties on Pointless, Giedroyc said: "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."

Liza Tarbuck

Known for her role in Upstart Crow as Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway, Tarbuck has a wealth of credits to her name including Linda Green, The Big Breakfast and Comedy Game Night.

The BBC Radio 2 host will be stepping into the hosting seat for a few episodes on Pointless this year.

"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," said Tarbuck of her guest hosting duties.

"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."

Chris Ramsey

Comedian Chris Ramsey rose to fame after starring as Jack in the BBC comedy Hebburn. Since then, he has presented the likes of I'm a Celebrity: Extra Camp, Children in Need and Virtually Famous.

More recently, he has been one half of the hilarious Sh**ged, Married, Annoyed podcast, alongside his wife Rosie Ramsey.

He said of joining the Pointless family: "I'm very excited to be part of such an iconic game show and even more excited to be the guy who already knows all the answers to the questions… like some kind of game show Neo. No pressure, just correcting people's wrong answers. Absolute dream come true."

Gok Wan

Gok Wan rose to fame presenting How to Look Good Naked and Gok's Fashion Fix before presenting a range of TV shows including Gok's Clothes Roadshow and Gok Cooks Chinese.

He also DJs across the UK and abroad and in 2020, he released his debut single.

Gok Wan said: "Having appeared on the show as a contestant, and doing so painfully badly, I am hoping by going on and filling those notorious shoes behind the desk, I can redeem myself. I am very excited to be joining the Pointless team in this landmark show."

Anita Rani

Best known of co-hosting Countryfile on the BBC, Rani is no stranger to a presenting gig. Some of her presenting roles have included Four Rooms, The Answer Trip and Aldi's Next Big Thing.

In 2022, Rani was announced as the new chancellor of the University of Bradford.

She said of joining Pointless as a guest host: "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."

Gabby Logan

Welsh TV and radio presenter, Gabby Logan has hosted Final Score for BBC Sport, Sports Personality of The Year and the second season of The Edge.

As of 2023, Logan presented the BBC’s coverage for the Six Nations, the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Great North Run.

As she gets ready to sit in the all knowing chair, Logan said: "I'm very excited for my turn in the Pointless co-hosting chair! I've been a fan for years, can't wait to join Alexander, learn a few things and cheer on the winning team!"

Phil Wang

Phil Wang has previously been a contestant on Pointless and is ready to use the opportunity has guest host "to dominate from behind the desk", given he knows all the answers.

Wang is a stand-up comedian and writer, who alongside his comedy specials has starred in David Mitchell's Outsiders and Taskmaster.

Hugh Dennis

Many fans will recognise Dennis as Pete Brockman from BBC sitcom Outnumbered, as well as Toby from Not Going Out alongside Lee Mack and Sally Bretton.

Dennis is no stranger to the host's chair as he was co-host on Mock the Week prior to its end in 2022.

He said: "I am very pleased to have been invited to co-host Pointless. I've been practicing reading the answers from a laptop, while looking like I knew them all anyway..."

Ellie Taylor

Comedian Ellie Taylor has been on our TV screens for over a decade and has presented and taken part in a number of programmes everyone loves.

Some of those include 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, Strictly Come Dancing, The Great Pottery Throw Down and Stand-Up Central.

Taylor said she "can't wait" to work on Pointless.

Rob Rinder

Of Judge Rinder fame, Rob Rinder believes he was "born for" being a guest host on Pointless.

He said: "Pointless is the quiz show of all quiz shows, especially for someone like me who loves their facts and stats. This is the role I was born for, gatekeeper to all the obscure trivia we love on Pointless and I couldn’t be more ready."

As well as being host of Judge Rinder, the barrister has hosted The Rob Rinder Verdict and became a regular host on Good Morning Britain in 2022.

Desiree Burch

Desiree Burch is a comedian and actress and has appeared on Live at the Apollo, Would I Lie to You? and Richard Osman's House of Games.

Ahead of her appearance on the show, Burch said: "There are a select few friends back in America for whom my appearance on Pointless will be, possibly, the standout achievement of my career. As for myself, I just feel lucky to have stumbled upon a chance at redemption.

"Having been caught as dumbfounded as anyone whilst on Pointless Celebrities, I somehow find myself fortunate enough to have made it to the side of the stage with all the answers? Here's to failing upwards and onwards, folks!"

Former guest hosts

Andi Oliver

Andi Oliver is a TV chef and presenter who is best known for her role on the Great British Menu.

While she was previously a member of the band Rip Rig + Panic, she went on to move into broadcasting, presenting shows like Badaas TV, the BBC's Glastonbury coverage, The Truth About Food, Neneh and Andi Dish It Up, the Sky Arts Book Club and The Selector. She also ran ephemeral restaurant The Moveable Feast before opening her own kitchen The Jackdaw and Star.

On guest-hosting Pointless, Oliver said: "Oh I’m SO excited to be getting to sit in the famous chair next to the delicious Alexander Armstrong! I’ve been on both ends of the Pointless scale, winning AND being booted off first! So I’m rather thrilled that this time I’ve been invited to be in the comfy seat! Sign me up!"

Sally Phillips

Actress and comedian Sally Phillips is the co-creator and star of Smack the Pony and has previously appeared in Jam & Jerusalem, I'm Alan Partridge, Miranda and the Bridget Jones franchise.

She also took on roles in Skins, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Trollied, Friday Night Dinner, and competed in the fifth season of Taskmaster.

On joining the presenter line-up, Phillips said: "I am so looking forward to trying Richard Osman’s big shoes on and being the answer police on Pointless. I am certain the power of the Pointless laptop will go to my head, and I will become insufferable, which I am also really looking forward to."

Ed Gamble

Ed Gamble is a comedian who has appeared on Russell Howard's Good News, Mock the Week, Taskmaster and Great British Menu. He is also known for hosting Off Menu with James Acaster, as well as The Peacock and Gamble Podcast.

Gamble begins co-hosting Pointless with Alexander Armstrong from Monday 3rd April onwards.

Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth is a broadcaster and former politician who has appeared on Countdown, Good Morning Britain and Celebrity Gogglebox. He regularly appeared on Countdown's Dictionary Corner and TV-am's Good Morning Britain before becoming the Conservative MP for the City of Chester from 1992 until 1997.

He has since published multiple books and appeared on Room 101, Richard Osman's House of Games, Great Canal Journeys, Bargain Hunt, The One Show, Doctor Who and radio shows like Just a Minute and The Westminster Hour.

On joining the Pointless line-up, Brandreth said: "As a little boy, I dreamed of being one of Santa’s little helpers. I have to tell you, being Xander’s little helper is even more fun. It’s like Christmas every day. I love it."

Nish Kumar

Nish Kumar is a stand-up comedian who has hosted The Mash Report, Late Night Mash and BBC Radio 4 Extra's Newsjack. He has appeared on Frankie Boyle's New World Order, Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Big Fat Quiz and other shows.

On joining the line-up, Kumar said: "I can’t wait to sit behind the desk and give out all the clever answers and obscure facts, as if I knew any of them. Richard’s shoes are definitely big ones to fill, but I am looking forward to it very much."

Lucy Porter

Lucy Porter is an actress and comedian who has performed at Edinburgh Fringe and other stand-up gigs. She has appeared in EastEnders, Annually Retentive, Mock the Week, The Weakest Link, Celebrity Mastermind, Pointless Celebrities and QI.

On joining the line-up, Porter said: "I’m delighted to be joining my favourite TV quiz. I loved Pointless first as a viewer, then as a contestant, and now I’m thrilled to be getting a turn in Richard’s seat. I’m hoping they’ll let me have a go at operating the cameras next.

"I’m looking forward to delivering my favourite catchphrase: 'And by country we mean a sovereign state that’s a member of the EU in its own right.'"

Ria Lina

Ria Lina is a comedian and actress who has appeared on Mock the Week, Steph's Packed Lunch, Sky News and Have I Got News For You. She has competed on Celebrity Mastermind and voiced the character Perun in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

On joining the Pointless line-up, Lina said: "Having been not only an avid fan playing from home, but also a contestant on Celebrity Pointless, I can't tell you how much it means to me to be able to sit in that hallowed chair and finally have all the answers!

"I'm especially looking forward to working with Xander and encouraging as many teams as possible to win that Pointless jackpot."

Rose Matafeo

New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo is best known for creating and starring in BBC Three's Starstruck and for appearing on QI, House of Games and Taskmaster.

She recently competed on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off and has previously taken on acting roles in The Breaker Upperers, Baby Done, W1A, Golden Boy and Dead Pixels.

On joining the Pointless guest presenter line-up, Matafeo said: "I am over the moon to be co-hosting Pointless. As an ardent fan of television quiz shows, this is my Everest.

"When I first moved to the UK, I had a lot of time on my hands to watch hours of TV, ingratiating myself into British society with the help of insights I would learn from this nightly poll of 100 people. I also did it to make my friends jealous."

Vick Hope

Vick Hope is a broadcaster who is best known for hosting BBC Radio 1's drive time show with Jordan North.

She has previously hosted Capital Breakfast and BBC Radio 1's Official Chart: First Look, as well as TV shows such as Sky One's Carnage, I'm a Celebrity... The Daily Drop, the BAFTA Film Awards pre-show red carpet and Britain's Best Young Artist. In 2019, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing.

On joining the presenting line-up, Hope said: "What an absolute joy to get quizzy at teatime on the most iconic game show around! I love Pointless, am obsessed with trivia and quizzes, and can’t wait to join Xander and the contestants every day from Richard’s hot seat. One very excited pointless co-host incoming…!"

Alex Brooker

Alex Brooker is a presenter and comedian who is best known for co-hosting Channel 4's The Last Leg alongside Adam Hills and Josh Widdicombe. He has also hosted The Jump, The Superhumans Show and documentary Alex Brooker: Disability and Me, with the comedian having been born with hand and arm deformities and a twisted right leg that needed amputation.

Brooker co-hosted Pointless from 7th February until 21st February 2023.

Konnie Huq

Konnie Huq is best known for presenting Blue Peter for more than 10 years, before appearing on Comic Relief Does Fame Academy, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Weakest Link, Pointless Celebrities and MI High.

She has also hosted The Xtra Factor, Guinness World Records Smashed, The Daily Politics, King of the Nerds, The One Show and made cameos in Charlie Brooker's Screen Wipe franchise.

Huq co-hosted Pointless from 23rd January until 6th February this year.

Lauren Laverne

Lauren Laverne is a radio DJ and presenter who rose to fame as a member of the band Kenickie, before branching out into broadcasting. She currently presents BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs and has hosted Channel 4's Alternative Election Night, The Culture Show and appeared on Would I Lie to You, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Have I Got News for You.

Laverne co-hosted Pointless from 20th October until 3rd November last year.

Stephen Mangan

Stephen Mangan is an actor and comedian who has starred in hit comedies like Green Wing, I'm Alan Partridge, Episodes and Hang Ups. He has also appeared in The Split, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Have I Got News For You and Jane Hall.

Mangan co-hosted Pointless from 5th October until 19th October last year.

Sally Lindsay

Comedian and actor Sally Lindsay is best known for her roles on Coronation Street, Mount Pleasant, Still Open All Hours and The Madame Blanc Mysteries. Since last year, she has been the host of ITV game show Tenable.

She co-hosted Pointless alongside Alexander Armstrong for 11 episodes from September until 4th October.

Pointless airs weekdays at 5:15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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