An interesting twist on the usual format this week with four contestants who didn't win having another crack at bagging the star prize. And those taking part are Fern Britton, JB Gill, John Kearns and Sally Lindsay.
I will be tuning in to watch them all do their best but will be cheering on comedian John Kearns in particular. Kearns is one of my favourite stand-ups and I'm not alone. He is the only comedian to win the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer and also the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show. And, even more impressively, he did it in consecutive years.
More recently I saw him doing a brilliantly bizarre show with fellow Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Adam Riches where they played Michael Ball and Alfie Boe. Kearns was Boe, even though he is not, how can I put this, not a natural singer. The show was such a success more dates have been added in April – details here – but unfortunately there are currently no plans to tour.
Kearns also made a splash on Taskmaster where he entertained viewers with his own idiosyncratic take on Greg Davies and Alex Horne's games. Expect him to be slightly less idiosyncratic when faced by Richard Osman but equally entertaining.
You might also know him as Sara Pascoe's sidekick on the show Guessable. He has also appeared recently on Live at the Apollo and his last stand-up show The Varnish Days was shown on Sky and is still available on catch-up.
Oh, and did I mention that when he does stand-up he usually wears a monk's bald wig and false teeth? As I said, he's idiosyncratic. But also very funny.
Richard Osman's House of Games, Monday, January 27 - Friday, January 31. 6pm, BBC Two.
Picture Credit: BBC/Remarkable TV/Graeme Hunter
