Good morning, dear Times reader, and welcome to the week where we learnt that one of the country’s most beloved people, Richard Osman — of “teatime quiz show and bestselling murder mystery novels” fame — could easily have had a totally different career: as a spy.
In an interview with The Guardian last week Osman revealed he got “the tap” from MI6 while at Cambridge, and took a series of “fun” tests, which he ultimately failed. “I would have been terrible,” he admitted. “I’m too tall [6ft 7in], not bright enough, and if I have a secret, I tell everybody. You could not find a worse spy.”
I have to say, in my adult years, learning more about the British spy recruitment process has been
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