Episode details

Sounds,02 Sep 2026,32 mins
Richard Osman on his latest novel and why the world is blurry to him
Access All: Disability News and Mental HealthAvailable for over a year
Bestselling author and TV presenter, Richard Osman, is visually impaired due to the eye condition, nystagmus, and, as a result he tells Access All, “the world is just blurred to me”. In this wide-ranging chat with Emma Tracey, Osman describes why his visual impairment sends him into panic mode at airports and why, when it comes to his TV career, he focuses on how people feel when watching a programme, not what they can see. He also talks about the hunch he has that disabled people could come into their own over the next decade as AI becomes more prominent, and when a premium will be put on people who think creatively when solving problems. And with his new book, We Chase Shadows, due to hit bookshelves around the world on 10 September he gives Emma a little preview of what it’s about, speaks about his writing process and explains why he doesn’t care what his characters look like. Presenter and producer: Emma Tracey Series producer: Beth Rose Studio Manager: Daffyd Jones Sound mix by: Mike Regaard Editor: Damon Rose Say to your smart speaker: “Play Access All on BBC Sounds” to get the latest edition. And email accessall@bbc.co.uk with all your thoughts.
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