On a significant day for readers of TopMob, Richard Osman was strolling through his local grounds, Kew, the prestigious royal botanic gardens not far from his West London residence, with purpose in his steps.
In the secluded haven of my garden’s grand brick enclosure, I often find myself – a former TV quiz star turned author – immersed in quiet introspection, either mulling over plot ideas or seeking solace amidst the tranquil beauty of its remarkable flora and fauna.
he was participating in a unique ‘In Conversation’ event organized by TopMob.
About two weeks ago, the Netflix adaptation of the popular crime thriller book, “The Thursday Murder Club,” caused a sensation on the streaming platform. It filled up movie theaters in the UK and reached the highest spot on the streaming rankings.
On a damp Thursday afternoon, following the end of a heatwave, 750 fortunate TopMob readers joined fans clutching books, eagerly waiting for their chance to meet the moment’s star, Osman. They came for autographs, photos, and to participate in a quiz led by Osman and his Pointless co-host, Alexander Armstrong. Despite him being quick to acknowledge that he didn’t write the film, Osman was certainly the center of attention.
Following his revelations about his nearly 40-year tenure in television, including some scandalous stories about which celebrities were the most difficult on “Pointless Celebrities”, the conversation shifted towards the inhabitants of Cooper’s Chase.
After the successful movie adaptation of Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron, and Ibrahim’s story, it came as a surprise to learn that Osman didn’t find the voices of Celia Imrie, Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley interfering with his imagination while he was writing.
He mentioned that he was aware of the characters’ identities. To him, it seemed as though Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie were portraying them in a reenactment. They exist for him; he knows who they are, even if he can’t picture their physical appearance. However, he is quite certain about their emotions.
Nevertheless, the selection of a specific Hollywood actor sparked Osman to subtly include a recognizable allusion in his newest novel, The Impossible Fortune, due for release in bookstores on the 25th of September.
In the newly published book, a thought crossed my mind: “I must hide a small Easter egg somewhere in this new work.” Therefore, you’ll find a conversation between Ron and Ibrahim about their preferred James Bonds. It turns out that Ron favors Pierce Brosnan, while Ibrahim prefers Timothy Dalton.
The viewers found out that one plot thread, notably, is a tribute to the author’s own family’s personal struggles. “A significant dementia plotline runs throughout the initial four books, as the character Stephen (portrayed by Sir Jonathan Pryce in the movie) grapples with dementia.
In his later life, my grandfather struggled with dementia. Each person’s encounter with dementia is unique, yet we all wish for commonalities. I’d like to share my grandfather’s personal story with you.
One aspect I truly enjoy about writing my book is that individuals often approach me to discuss their own experiences with dementia within their families. They share their stories, express gratitude for my writing, and mention how personal the book seems to resonate universally as well.
Despite the acclaimed success of his blockbuster movie, Osman maintains his daily writing routine, consistently producing 1,500 words in two hours each day, regardless of which book he’s currently working on. Like many authors, he finds deadlines essential to completing his work. Every September, a new book (approximately 90,000 words) is published, with one book from The Thursday Murder Club series and another from We Solve Murders being released annually, alternating between the two series each year.
It seems like he is expected to submit his next manuscript by May, as he described it as similar to having to do your homework at 7:30 PM on a Sunday night.
Fans who were concerned about the series ending too soon can now breathe easy, as the creator clarified that although the characters will age in the story, he considers this to be acceptable.
Perhaps I should acknowledge that my characters don’t seem to age at the usual rate. Writing a series with everyone being in their late 70s might not have been well-considered initially. However, John le Carré brought George Smiley back even though he was supposedly over 100 years old. As long as we are willing to suspend our disbelief, I plan to continue the series for many years.
Which is no surprise. As it sounds like his characters have become old friends.
This time around, I returned to them after a year had passed, and I found myself reflecting, ‘Goodness gracious, they haven’t yet started on the projects they aspire to accomplish and the things they wish to express.’
Thus far, the readers of book 5, titled “The Impossible Fortune,” have consistently praised it as their favorite. It’s delightful to hear such positive feedback, and I will continue crafting stories until perhaps there comes a time when we all mutually decide that it’s time for something fresh and different. Although I usually have a knack for sensing when this moment arrives, I haven’t quite reached that point yet.
“There’s definitely this new one and another one. And my guess is there’ll be many more to come.”
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2025-09-12 09:37