Pointless meets Doctor Who ‘as Osman’s new love moves in’

ON A recent episode of Richard Osman’s House Of Games, celebrity contestant Ingrid Oliver won a suitcase emblazoned with the host’s silhouette.

Now, according to friends, she will be able to put it to good use after finding love with the TV presenter and being invited to move into his new home in West London.

The Pointless star and Ms Oliver, who is best known as Dr Who sidekick Petronella Osgood, have known each other for years after meeting through mutual friends.

But The Mail on Sunday understands they have been dating, with Mr Osman, 50, reportedly telling pals: ‘Ingrid is the one.’

As well as his love life reaching new heights, the 6ft 7in star has enjoyed a metaphorical rise as an author. His debut novel, The Thursday Murder Club, has sold more than a million copies and Steven Spielberg has bought film rights.

Ms Oliver, 44, attended the selective Tiffin Girls’ School in Surrey and won praise for her BBC sketch show Watson & Oliver with school friend Lorna Watson.

Even before her relationship with Mr Osman began, there were signs that Ms Oliver, who studied languages at Oxford, respected his opinion. When she asked her Twitter followers last May if she should watch a film about a pandemic, Contagion, the result was split until he wrote: ‘Don’t watch it.’ She replied: ‘This is very authoritative and convincing.’ Mr Osman, who has two grown-up children, then said: ‘I just felt that was what you were looking for.’

Fans soon picked up on it. One posted: ‘You’re in there my son.’

The couple, who are thought to have got together at a dinner party after the first lockdown, did not respond to requests for comment.

Ms Oliver’s mother, the Conservative MP Jo Gideon, coyly said that she wanted to check with her daughter before speaking.

Last year Mr Osman admitted he feared history was repeating itself when his marriage collapsed. The TV star’s father had walked out on his wife when Richard was eight.

He revealed fears that separation was ‘going to be awful’, but things ‘quickly worked out’ and that he sees his children ‘non-stop’.