Richard Osman says 'loneliness is an epidemic' as he reflects on 'grief of loss'

Richard Osman says loneliness is an "epidemic" but it is never too old to change your habits.

The TV host and author has created hugely successful characters in Thursday Murder Club books he writes, who are enjoying life in retirement village Cooper’s Chase.

The stories give hope of meeting new people, even in old age, as that is part of the storyline. Osman told Saga magazine : "Well, if there’s one message I want to get out there, it’s the idea of ‘change'.

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"It doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s never too late to change. That might be a change in your routine, changing how you live or joining a club – it doesn’t have to be one that solves grisly murders!

“I watched Mum go through 10 or 15 years of grief. The pain and grief of loss and loneliness. That’s why I’m so happy she is where she is.”

The books are loosely inspired by the retirement village in Sussex where his mum Brenda now lives, having brought him and his brother up as a single parent.

Looking back, he explained: "Loneliness is an epidemic, and it isn’t just a problem in old age, it can happen any time. It can be the grief of death, the loss of a partner to dementia, or the pain of a divorce.

"I was only eight or nine when my dad left us – far too young to understand how my mum was feeling. Largely unaware of how difficult it was for her trying to find a new way to live, trying to hold down a job, trying to look after her two sons.

"We are social animals and yet we seem to have set up a world where it’s far too easy for loneliness to take hold. It’s this current generation that really worries me. Digital communications and social media have taken the place of real people and real conversations, and we’ve ended up with even more loneliness than ever before.”

Recently his first book has been turned into a Netflix film and he has the fifth ‘Murder club’ book being released this week, The Impossible Fortune.

But despite a growing number of adventures at old age, he hopes to keep the main characters Elizabeth West, Ibrahim Arif, Ron Ritchie and Joyce Meadowcroft around for some time yet.

Osman, 54, said: Look, I love spending time with The Thursday Murder Club and I have absolutely no interest in killing them off. The readers care for them and as long as they’re happy to suspend their disbelief, so am I.

"Don’t get me wrong, Elizabeth, Ibrahim, Joyce and Ron will continue to put themselves in situations they regret. Harm will come to them... serious harm. But I will keep them alive as long as possible. That’s a promise."

* The full interview with Richard is in October’s Saga Magazine out now.

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