Comedian Larry Dean joins the line-up of guests this week hoping to take away one of Richard Osman's highly desirable prizes on House of Games. Dean is up against Kirsty Gallagher, Sam Quek and Lemn Sissay. Sam Quek is a hockey player turned presenter, Gallagher is a presenter whose sister Laura is married to Russell Brand. And Lemn Sissay is an acclaimed poet who has written movingly about growing up in care.

Dean is an intriguing comedian. I first saw him in a new talent competition in London where he came across as a working class 'ned' who looked like he had just arrived on the overnight Megabus. In recent years he has smoothed over the rougher edges and become more like what seems to be his real self onstage – a more sophisticated sharp, funny Scot talking about everything from relationship ups and downs to his mental health.

His live shows regularly receive critical plaudits, including being crowned Scottish Comedian of the Year. He was shortlisted for the Edinburgh Comedy Award (Best Newcomer) in 2015 for 'Out Now' and nominated for the Best Show Award in 2018 and 2022. His shows always seem to feel like events when I go and see him. In one show in Edinburgh a couple of people walked out mid-set for apparently no particular reason. Dean's response was hilarious. During another show Dean had to pause while a member of the audience was taken ill. He continued after it was all sorted out and handled it brilliantly.

His most recent show Fandan took in his attempt to win friends via a bank robbery, getting tea with murderers and memorable misdemeanours in a Dubai hotel room. Never afraid to go into too much detail, Larry journeys through ghosting, battling being the disorganised one in relationships and announcing his sexuality with a bang, all in a distinctly Scottish voice. 

Richard Osman's House of Games, Monday, October 23 - Friday, October 27, BBC Two, 6pm.