Quick Read
- Richard Osman was diagnosed with nystagmus, affecting his vision since childhood.
- He writes using a specialized setup, working just inches from his screen.
- Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series has achieved bestseller status and inspired a Netflix adaptation.
- His creative process is spontaneous, letting characters shape the plot.
- Osman’s openness about his condition raises awareness and inspires others.
Richard Osman’s Health Battle Shapes a Unique Creative Path
In the landscape of modern British crime fiction, few names echo as loudly as Richard Osman. Yet behind the bestselling novels and cheeky television appearances lies a story of resilience and adaptation—a narrative that goes beyond the page and into the heart of what it means to create under constraint.
Osman, now a household name thanks to his Thursday Murder Club series, was diagnosed with nystagmus in childhood—a condition that causes involuntary eye movements and affects vision. According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), nystagmus impacts roughly one in every 1,000 people, and while it doesn’t lead to total blindness, it alters everyday experience in subtle, persistent ways. Osman has spoken candidly about how this condition has shaped his approach to writing, requiring him to work inches from his screen, with large fonts and a meticulously arranged home setup. While other authors might write in cafés or on trains, Osman’s creative world is carefully curated in the comfort of his own upstairs study.
“Compared to a lot of jobs, you wouldn’t call writing ‘hard’, but these books are fairly big beasts and nystagmus means that even with large font sizes, I have to sit no more than five or six inches from the screen. It’s an intense process,” Osman explained to Saga magazine. The process may be intense, but the results speak for themselves.
From TV Presenter to Literary Sensation
Osman first captured the nation’s attention as a witty and sharp TV presenter, notably on the BBC’s game show Pointless. His transition into literature in 2020 marked the start of a new chapter: The Thursday Murder Club, featuring a group of elderly amateur detectives, quickly became a runaway bestseller. Five books and counting, Osman’s stories have been celebrated for their warmth, humor, and unexpected twists—qualities that mirror the author’s own public persona.
His latest novel, The Impossible Fortune, was released to eager fans this September. Osman’s books have not only dominated bestseller lists but have also made the leap to other media. The Thursday Murder Club was adapted into a film with a limited cinema release, before landing on Netflix and topping the platform’s charts for a time—an achievement that cements Osman’s place in British cultural life.
On the morning of his latest book launch, Osman appeared on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen, bringing his signature wit to the screen alongside host Matt Tebbutt. The exchange was playful—Tebbutt asked whether Osman ever lets his characters dictate the plot, to which Osman replied with mock indignation, “How dare you suggest I wouldn’t care what people think about what happens to Joyce!” The moment, reported by Express, exemplified Osman’s rapport with both his characters and his audience.
The Creative Process: Surprises, Structure, and Heart
Osman’s creative philosophy is refreshingly organic. “Genuinely, in my head and my heart they’re very real,” he shared. “So, actually, a lot of the time they lead me. They’ll say something and the plot becomes different. I don’t plan my plots at all.” This improvisational approach is not only “renegade,” as Tebbutt described, but also deeply human—mirroring the unpredictability and messiness of real life.
His characters—Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim—are more than just puzzle-solvers. They are vessels for empathy, wit, and the small triumphs of aging. Osman’s depiction of older protagonists is a quiet revolution in a genre often populated by hard-boiled detectives or tortured anti-heroes. In his world, wisdom and camaraderie triumph over cynicism, and laughter is never far from tragedy.
Osman’s writing process, shaped by his health condition, is a testament to adaptability. The constraints of nystagmus have led him to develop a work routine that prioritizes comfort and focus, showing that creativity often flourishes within boundaries. His success is a reminder that limitations can be transformed into strengths when met with ingenuity and perseverance.
Cultural Impact: Redefining Crime Fiction and Representation
Osman’s rise coincides with a broader shift in British culture—a hunger for stories that blend suspense with warmth, and mystery with relatability. His books have been credited with reinvigorating the cozy crime genre, attracting readers who might otherwise shy away from darker, more violent fare. The Thursday Murder Club’s adaptation for Netflix brought his work to a global audience, further amplifying his influence.
Beyond the books, Osman’s openness about his health challenges has fostered greater awareness of nystagmus and visual impairments. His story, featured in outlets like Daily Star and Gloucestershire Live, highlights the importance of accessibility and representation in creative fields. Osman’s achievements are not in spite of his condition, but in dialogue with it—a point that resonates with readers and viewers alike.
His presence on television remains as dynamic as ever. On Saturday Kitchen, Osman’s banter and authenticity offer a glimpse into the mind of an author who refuses to be defined by limitations. Whether discussing the fate of Joyce or the mechanics of plotting, Osman brings a sense of joy and curiosity to every conversation.
What’s Next for Richard Osman?
With five novels under his belt and a film adaptation already making waves, Osman shows no signs of slowing down. The Thursday Murder Club series continues to evolve, with each new installment drawing readers deeper into the world of Cooper’s Chase and its intrepid detectives. Osman’s willingness to let his characters lead the way ensures that surprises—and laughter—are always in store.
His advocacy for accessibility, both in his own work and in the broader literary community, sets a powerful example. By sharing his challenges and triumphs, Osman invites others to rethink the boundaries of creativity and possibility.
As Osman himself might say, the best stories are those that surprise not only the reader, but the writer as well. And in the story of Richard Osman, every chapter is a testament to ingenuity, humor, and the quiet power of perseverance.
Richard Osman’s journey is a vivid illustration of how personal adversity can fuel creative innovation. By turning the challenges of nystagmus into a source of discipline and empathy, Osman has transformed British crime fiction—making it richer, warmer, and more inclusive. His legacy is not just in the books he writes, but in the boundaries he breaks, showing that great stories are born wherever resilience meets imagination.