Richard Osman's House of Games builds up to the festive season with some festive repeats for the next two weeks. Jessica Knappett is among the guests during this week's rerun and then on December 22 a brand new festive week edition starts - and please note the Yuletime time - it's on at 7pm not 6pm on BBC Two for the December 22 week.

And there's a good contingent of comedy faces taking part in the Christmas editions. Battling for those all important prizes are Mathew Baynton, Mel Giedroyc, Harriet Kemsley and Eastenders star Charles Venn. 

I had somehow assumed that star of Ghosts Mathew Baynton had been on House of Games before, but i guess I'm getting confused with his unforgettable appearance in his far-too-short shorts on Taskmaster, where he was one of the stand-out performers of his season.

Harriet Kemsley is a familiar House of Games face though. She was on in 2023 and then appeared again in a House of Champions episode. And she was also in the same Taskmaster series as Mathew Baynton.

Kemsley, who was previously married to fellow comedian Bobby Mair, is clearly turning into a TV regular. She was in the Prime Video hit Last One Laughing UK, which was won by Bob Mortimer, and was recently on Michael McIntyre's The Wheel. She also popped up last week on Dave's broadcast of the comedy-wrestling mash-up, Clash of the Comedians.

If you want to see more of Kemsley she is touring in 2026 with Floozy, a brand show "about dating, mushrooms, and her ongoing mission to embrace her inner chaos." Details here.

Mel Giedroyc is surely on her way to being a national treasure and can always be relied upon to bring intelligence as well as oodles to charm to the table. Charles Venn is probably best known for playing Ray Dixon in EastEnders. 

Now, get those Christmas cracker hats on and may the best person win...

Richard Osman's House of Games Festive Week, from December 22 (not Dec 24), 7pm, BBC Two. 

Picture Credit: BBC/Remarkable TV/Graeme Hunter