Crawley-born comedian and presenter Romesh Ranganathan has revealed that he plans to take a step back from his busy career, though he emphasised that he is not retiring.
The 47-year-old, known for his sharp wit and self-deprecating humour, shared the news while appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne.
Ranganathan, a former maths teacher turned household name, currently hosts BBC game show The Weakest Link and co-stars in the BAFTA-winning Rob and Romesh Vs alongside Rob Beckett. He has also fronted several acclaimed documentary series, including The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan and Asian Provocateur.
"Just Doing Whatever Feels Good"
"There is no strategy. There’s no game plan. I have no end game," Ranganathan told Laverne. "I do feel like I’m settling into… not winding things up, but taking a step back. I want to be at home a bit more."
He made it clear that this is not a retirement announcement, but rather a conscious move toward being "more measured" with his time and workload. "I think I might take a bigger break between bits," he said. "It’s not going to be [a breakthrough project] if I don’t go off and just live life."
From the Classroom to the Stage
Ranganathan also reflected on his former career as a secondary school maths teacher, describing it as more stressful than anything he’s encountered in comedy.
"There wasn’t a single day of that job that I didn’t feel completely fulfilled," he said. "But it’s the most stressed I’ve ever been in my life."
He praised teachers and the profession, stating, "I cannot speak highly enough of teachers and teaching and how I loved that job."
A Voice Across BBC Platforms
Ranganathan has become one of the BBC’s most prominent stars, recently taking over Claudia Winkleman’s Saturday morning Radio 2 slot, and continuing to host For The Love of Hip Hop on the same station. He remains a fixture on both TV and radio, beloved for his candid humour and relatability.
While Ranganathan’s next move remains unclear, fans can expect him to prioritise family time and adopt a slower pace in future projects.
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