MailOnline can reveal the full extent and bitterness of Richard Osman, Pointless star,’s family rift.
The BBC’s favourite revealed this week that his childhood was broken when his father left his family to marry another woman when he turned nine years old.
The TV quiz show host reveals in a new book that his paternal grandmother stopped all contact and never sent him even a Christmas card.
Revealed: The full extent of Pointless star Richard Osman’s bitter family rift can be revealed for the first time by MailOnline (pictured Richard)
Mabel Osman (90) has denied that this was the truth.
She claimed that Alice, his gran, had lavished affection on him and Mat (the bass player in the rock band Suede).
MailOnline exclusive: She spoke exclusively to MailOnline and said that Richard’s grandmother loved him, and wanted to make contact with him.
“After his father’s departure, Brenda didn’t want to have anything to do or with us. It wasn’t the Osmans who cut off contact.
Claims: Mabel instead blamed the brothers’ heartbroken mother Brenda (pictured) for shutting out his father’s side of the family
“Before the breakup, his gran would go with Richard to the family home to meet Richard and his brother. But it all stopped.
‘I don’t think she ever wanted Brenda to marry her son. She loved her grandchildren and would not have stopped seeing Richard. She was not that kinda woman and would have done anything for her grandchildren.
“I’m certain she also sent him Christmas cards. He may not have received them.
Osman, 50, shared the news about his split with his family in Letter To My Younger Self. The book features interviews from 100 ‘inspiring individuals on the moments which shaped their lives. It is published in aid to the Big Issue
Childhood: The BBC favourite revealed this week that his childhood was shattered when his father walked out on his family for another woman when he was nine-years-old (Richard pictured with his brother Mat)
Jane Graham, Jane Graham’s editor and creator of the book, was the interviewer. The comedian, 6ft 4ins tall, said that it was difficult for him to think back on his childhood and not have his dad in it in some way. [his father left the family home suddenly when Richard was nine].
“Maybe he’s kind of there in my brain, I suppose, however, he’s certainly not in my heart.
‘I remember very clearly when I was nine, and my world was a fairly great place, and I walked into the front room — he was there, my mum was there, my grandmother was there, which was weird, though of course I realised later that was for moral support — and they just said, ‘Look, your dad is in love with somebody else and he’s leaving.’
“I thought, “Riiight,” okay. He left, and the entire family never spoke to him again.
Osman claimed that he reconnected with his father, his paternal relatives, and attended the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of one of his father’s brothers a few decades ago.
He did however risk upsetting his father’s relatives by calling the party ‘cold’ and saying that the Osmans were different to the Wrights’ loving and open relatives.
Pointless: Richard pictured with co-host Alexander Armstrong
Osman stated that he went to visit his dad a few years back. It was his 50th wedding anniversary, so I thought, “I am going to take my kids, they should really see the rest of this family.”
“But it was so cold. They stood around talking about how extraordinary my paternal grandmother had been.
They said to me, “What do you think of her?” I said, “Honestly she literally never spoke to my dad after he left, never sent me Christmas cards.”
“So that’s not really an opportunity for them to have a conversation. Some families are like that.
Exclusively speaking to MailOnline she said that Richard’s gran loved him, and wanted contact with him. (pictured Brenda).
‘The other half of my family, fortunately, my mom’s side, is completely the opposite. Loving and open. I did everything right.
Mabel reacted to Osman’s recollection by saying that Richard’s uncle John was the only brother of David who had a 50th anniversary.
“I went there and I don’t remember Richard being there. At any point. I can’t remember what occasion he refers to.
“As for the party being “cold” while the Osmans are “cold”, I don’t believe that’s true.
We are not a cold, family. In fact, we are the opposite. The entire family is friendly. I don’t know why he would do such a thing.
Osman said in his interview, “I think if it was me talking to my younger self I would say, “You know what? You are a Wright, not an Osman. You’ll live like one and have the same kind of career, life, kindness, and happiness as a Wright.