Pointless

So I'm a Pointless-fan from Sweden. Pointless is without a doubt my favorite game show. Its concept is different from other game shows. You're supposed to give an answer that as few (of those 100 people they've asked before the show) as possible have answered. You're looking for the obscure answers.. The more obscure, the better.

The show is hosted by Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman. They're both excellent hosts. I love their friendship bromance that they've got going on. Richard is very funny.

To summarize: This show always cheers me up when I'm feeling low. The concept, the hosts, the contestants, the trivia, the guests.. I love everything about this show!

It's a good show and I like it, Alexander's goofy yet whimsical personality and the questions can be very interesting.

However, it's not as good as the old days! I saw an old episode recently and the chat between Alexander and Richard where they play off each other was much better, the contestants were more chatty. Now everything seems a bit wooden even between the contestants and them and Alexander. Also the rotation of guest hosts because no one wants to do it permanently now. Also Richard was more class - he was authoritative with his knowledge and didn't need to keep reading off the computer like the other new guest hosts! He would just say it from memorising or whatever.

I sometimes tune in for the Celebrity version nowadays but that's about it. I suggest you see some old eps on the PointlessTV channel on YouTube and you'll see what I mean.

I am a bit of a saddo, as I really like this show when I catch it. Alexander Armstrong is an excellent front man for it and I really like him as a performer and was surprised to see him doing this. He has a special quality which comes across to the viewer (well this viewer anyway). The premise is that people try to find a pointless answer to the question posed thereby scoring as low as possible. Gentle humour is employed throughout and I like the fact that no-one is humiliated or made fools of in any way. I feel that the programme would benefit from a little faster pace but that is a minor quibble. It is almost educational sometimes too as one finds out facts one did not know before. Long may it last. Well I am adding to my review 16 months on and I am still addicted to it. If anything more so. It has really hit it's stride and Richard and Alexander's banter is witty, original and, unusually for a daytime quiz, funny. This one should run and run.

Stephen Fry described 'Pointless' as 'the greatest show in the history of television' - and who am I to argue with him?

Alexander is a tremendous host, he's funny, but he's smart and down to Earth, I really like him, but I really do miss Richard Osman, it's just not quite the same anymore.

The format still works, and it's always great to see people scoop the prize. Somehow it needs a different kind of knowledge, sometimes the questions leave you absolutely stumped.

As of 2025, there's still no permanent replacement for Richard Osman, a shame, some have worked well, some are just out of place.

I've also noticed now that episodes have someone signing, BBC please could you give us an option to switch it on or off? I just can't watch it, I understand about inclusivity, but give us the choice, it's made me switch off.

7/10.