I've been so busy reading and watching and listening to other things that Richard Osman does – from books to podcasts to Pointless – that I didn't even spot that House of Games has returned for a brand new series.It's the kind of show that always finds a place for comedians in the line-up. Plenty of nice TV profile exposure and you don't even have to learn the foxtrot to be on it. In the first week of the new series last week stand-up Ahir Shah was a guest. I'd have bet my shirt on him winning but in fact TV doctor Xand Van Telleken triumphed.

So who is going to make me lose another shirt this week? The guests competing are Michael Ball, Snoochie Shy and Jodie Prenger. The comedy contestant is Laurence Rickard, who is best known for Horrible Histories and of course, the smash hit BBC sitcom Ghosts, which he co-writes and appears in as grunting caveman Rogh/Robin and also as the head of decapitated nobleman Sir Humphrey Bone.

Rickard is up against some tough opposition here. Michael Ball is best known as a singer on the stage in shows such as Les Miserables but he also has a decent sense of self-mocking humour, popping up in Toast of London and most recently in the very last episode of Inside No 9. 

Snoochie Shy, real name Charlotte Davide, is a radio and TV presenter and musicals star Jodie Prenger has also appeared in Les Miserables and, more recently, onstage as Miss Hannigan is Annie.

Can Laurence Rickard do the honours in the eighth series and notch up another victory for the comedy world? You'll have to tune in to find out...

Richard Osman's House Of Games, Monday, September 30  to Friday, October 4, 6pm, BBC Two.

Picture Credit: BBC/Remarkable TV/Graeme Hunter