Richard Osman has described the upcoming Netflix adaptation of his bestselling murder-mystery book as ‘a real treat’ – and shared an update on the status of filming in Buckinghamshire.

The best-selling author and House of Games host appeared on Chris Moyle’s Radio X breakfast show yesterday, Wednesday, September 11, to promote his newest novel We Solve Murders – and, naturally, discuss the star-studded production of his literary debut, The Thursday Murder Club, which has filmed across southeast England this summer.

He revealed that shooting for the adaptation, which will enjoy a limited cinema run before premiering on the streamer late next year, had wrapped on Wednesday, describing it as “a real treat” to see unfold despite having only visited the set a few times and largely “leaving them to it” – “My job is to write the books, they’re making the film of it!”

Osman also shared an insight into a surprise visit from Steven Spielberg to the on-location set of St Mark’s Church near Theale in August – telling Moyles that the legendary director “came by helicopter from a yacht in the South of France” and outshone his star power in the eyes of disbelieving extras.

The production, which is directed by Home Alone’s Chris Columbus and stars, in no particular order, Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Richard E. Grant and Ben Kingsley, began filming in the UK in June, with a lengthy spell in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire over the summer.

Closures across the two counties included a three-day spell at The Red Lion pub in Little Missenden, formerly home to the Midsomer Murders cast, and Stratton Road in Beaconsfield.

Crews were also spotted around the Englefield Estate near Theale last month, with St Mark’s Church nabbing appearance on Osman’s Instagram during Spielberg’s visit – brought about by his company Amblin Productions’ involvement with the shoot.

The Thursday Murder Club follows a group of plucky retirees living at Coopers Chase Retirement Village in the fictional town of Fairhaven, Kent, who gather weekly to swap theories on cold case murders.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim get more than they bargained for, however, when a real-life murder happens right on their doorstep, paving the way for a character-driven cosy crime novel that helped to reinvigorate the genre on its release in the tail end of 2020.

He may now be a literary celebrity as well as a familiar face on British TV but Osman also revealed yesterday that he wouldn’t make a cameo in the new film, perhaps holding off his Netflix debut for one of the inevitable sequels.

Speaking on Radio X yesterday, he said: “I’m not in it, but I might do one little voice thing. I can’t be in it, because people would be like, ‘Why’s the guy from Pointless in a Sussex police station?’”