TV favourite Richard Osman has shared an intimate insight into married life with wife Ingrid Oliver, after the pair met on the set of his game show, House of Games, back in 2021.
Richard, 54, and Ingrid, 48, tied the knot in 2022, a day that he calls the ‘happiest of his life’.
It also appears to have been a healing day for the couple – Ingrid finally got her family, after fertility struggles and IVF, and Richard ‘finished his therapy journey’ after years of feeling like he ‘wasn’t made for these times’.
Inside Richard Osman’s love story with wife Ingrid
Richard admitted he fancied actress and comedian Ingrid from afar a year before they got together. He asked her pal Lou Sanders – a fellow comic – if she was single. The reply came that she wasn’t. But she was when she appeared on a 2021 episode of House of Games…
Richard said he was “instantly smitten”, with Ingrid – who has a part in his Thursday Murder Club Netflix film – admitting she “had an inkling” they’d end up together.
In a new interview with The Times, the couple admit they bonded over the “uncertainty” they experienced growing up. Richard has been open about his parents’ marriage. He has spoken about his dad, who left when he was just a young boy.
Ingrid revealed that her parents got married “eight times in total between them – including once to each other”. “I’d seen marriages not working, so I never wanted to make that commitment unless I knew for sure,” she said.
And it seems they instantly knew for sure…
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Therapy
Richard said he’d spent years in therapy. He has spoken about his food addiction. He also worked through “feeling too tall and feeling shame that he wasn’t made for these times” with his therapist.
You like someone because of their strengths but you fall in love with them because of their weaknesses.
And, while he was “happy” in himself, his therapist told him he wouldn’t ‘finish his journey’ until he met The One. Admitting his therapist was “right”, Richard conceded that he “always wanted to be part of a team”.
Blended family and IVF
Ingrid also spoke about her desire for a family, and revealed that she tried IVF before getting together with Richard, who has two grown-up children – daughter Ruby and son Sonny.
“When Richard first asked Lou if I was single, I was. But I’d decided to try IVF and thought, I can’t do this if I’m dating. I tried IVF three times (it was brutal) before accepting defeat. When Richard got back in touch, I’d made my peace with that process and was ready to move on. Before we met, I’d discussed not being able to have children with my therapist; they said: ‘Families can come in many forms.’ Now I feel so lucky. There are moments when our families are together I could weep,” she explained.
Richard said Ingrid had some “really bad examples” of what step-parents could be. However, her relationship with his kids couldn’t be better. The couple recently went to Italy with Richard’s daughter Ruby and her boyfriend. Ingrid’s brother came too. Richard calls his brother-in-law’s kids his “incredible” nieces and nephews, admitting it’s been “joyous” to see their families come together.
Lasting happiness… and Ingrid’s fears
However, while Richard feels as though they’ve both “earned the right to be happy”, Ingrid is a worrier – and worries it could all come crashing down at any moment.
“He’s incredibly relaxed, whereas I’m a catastrophiser and still think, this won’t last – maybe he’ll get hit by a car or I’ll get cancer. I’m trying to manage it and he’s helping me with it, bless him,” she admitted.
Richard, though, thinks the pair have “got it made”. “People talk about compatibility and chemistry but it’s also important to need the same thing and understand each other’s foibles. You like someone because of their strengths but you fall in love with them because of their weaknesses, and if you can help with each other’s, you’ve got it made,” he said.
Read more: Richard Osman hits out at John Torode and insists MasterChef star said ‘worst facial slur there is’
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