logo
Romesh Ranganathan to step back from comedy and presenting roles

Romesh Ranganathan to step back from comedy and presenting roles

He is host of BBC game show The Weakest Link and also starred in Bafta Award-winning TV series Rob And Romesh Vs, alongside fellow comedian Rob Beckett.
Ranganathan has also featured in several BBC documentary series - The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan (BBC Two) and Asian Provocateur (BBC Three).
In 2024, he took over Claudia Winkleman's Saturday morning slot on BBC Radio 2 and he also presents Romesh Ranganathan: For The Love Of Hip Hop on the same station.
BBC's highest-paid stars (2023/24)
Romesh Ranganathan to take a "step back" from career
However, Ranganathan, who hails from Crawley, has now revealed he will be "taking a step back" from his career, but emphasised he was not retiring.
Speaking to Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Ranganathan said: "I know that people sort of say I'm busy and I'm always like, trying to work and stuff.
"There is no strategy. There's no game plan. I have no end game.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Dragons' Den star reveals strict rule their children's friends must follow
Dragons' Den star reveals strict rule their children's friends must follow

Metro

timean hour ago

  • Metro

Dragons' Den star reveals strict rule their children's friends must follow

A Dragons' Den star has unveiled her strict rule when it comes to inviting her children's friends over for playtime. Sara Davies, 41, joined the hit BBC show as its youngest ever female investor in 2019. In that time, she has gone on to make several successful investments in companies such as Sibstar, My Chocolate Shop, and Redcote Leisure Ltd. However, in March she revealed that she was stepping away from the show to focus on her business 'for now'. Despite her exit, Sara seems to be turning her attention towards her two children, Oliver, 11, and Charlie, eight, whom she shares with her husband of almost 20 years, Simon Davies. Talking to Daily Mail's Eden Confidential, she said: 'I have a box at the front door, so when they come to my house, they put their phones and iPads in the box, and it stays in my bedroom.' The 41-year-old continued: 'I like to be the fun mam where the other kids come around and I get pizzas, [but] I've seen it where the kids come and have phones and iPads and one of them will withdraw and sit on their iPad. 'I don't want the other parents to think that I'm judging them because they've let their kid [have a smartphone]. 'I'm too nervous to say anything about it in the school WhatsApp group.' Sara is frequently speaking about motherhood to her followers, telling Mother & Baby that her kids help to keep her 'grounded'. The successful businesswoman explained: 'It's hard because I want to give them everything I didn't have, and I have the money and the means to give them everything, but giving them material things isn't gonna make them a better person.' She added that, when she was young, her parents' didn't have much money at all' but going on camping holidays didn't 'affect [her] growing up'. 'I want my kids to grow up like I did—appreciating things and appreciating the value of money. I also had to work for things; it wasn't just given. 'And Simon was the same – we both came from very working class families. We are absolutely on the same page on how we want our kids to grow up.' Breaking the news of her exit from the hit show, Sara wrote on Instagram: 'Little update from me….. 'As this last run of Dragons' comes to an end I have to say I've loved every minute of this series so far and I'm so proud of the businesses I've invested in this year! 'As a lot of you will know, I've taken up my position again as CEO of Crafter's Companion and my business is my big priority this year. And when I commit to a business, I really commit, which is why I find Dragons' Den such a rewarding role. 'As well as filming an incredible show, being a Dragon requires so much dedication and time behind the scenes as you join the life of each business you invest in. 'It means seeing through your investment and committing to your part in that organisation. It's so much more than a TV show. 'That's why I've taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business, which was my first baby! So I won't be filming with the team this year for the next series.' Recently, Sara backed calls for footballer-turned-pundit Gary Neville to be her replacement on the programme. In her first live TV appearance since sharing the announcement with fans, she told The One Show host Alex Jones exactly why she could see him sitting in the hot seat. 'You know, I loved it when Gary was in last year, Gary Neville. And I feel like he really had that empathy and warmth that I think I bring to the Den that I worried will be lost,' she reflected. Cheekily adding: 'So yeah, Gary for President!' The ex Strictly star founded the global company Crafter's Companion, a retail business that specialises in craft tools, in her bedroom while at university in 2005. More Trending According to reports, earlier this year she again became a major shareholder in the business, returning as chief executive. The entrepreneur, who is from County Durham, was made a Member Of The Order Of The British Empire (MBE) in 2016, recognised for services to the economy. View More » Dragons' Den is available to watch on BBC. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: I gave gentle parenting a try and absolutely hated it MORE: Disgraced Strictly star slams 'double standards' at BBC after Naga Munchetty 'sex jibe' MORE: Legendary BBC series hailed as 'guilty pleasure' streaming on completely free UK service

'I wish more shows were like this': Your favourite underrated crime dramas
'I wish more shows were like this': Your favourite underrated crime dramas

Metro

time2 hours ago

  • Metro

'I wish more shows were like this': Your favourite underrated crime dramas

Police procedurals, legal dramas and Scandi noir. Whatever your poison, you've probably binged one or two TV crime shows in your time. Line of Duty, The Fall and Broadchurch are just a few of the most popular in the genre, keeping viewers gripped episode after episode with their complex conspiracies and sudden twists. But while they're certainly deserving of the praise, sometimes the most bingeable series are those that fly under the radar, despite glowing reviews. We asked Metro readers to share their favourite underrated crime dramas, and these are the lesser-known series they recommend adding to your watch list… One user, called Evan_Underscore, heaped praise on Mr Inbetween, an Australian TV series that follows a criminal for hire. 'The dialogues and the situations feel so realistic that everything feels theatrical compared to it,' they wrote. 'It's also great in mixing terrible and funny in a way that they only complement each other.' Another user, wobbsey, recommended Giri/Haji, a BBC production from 2019 that is available on Netflix. In their glowing assessment of the series, they wrote: 'Set in Japan and the UK. Family loyalty and conflict. Yakuza mobsters. Cops. It's suspenseful and moving. Gorgeous cinematography which is something I rarely even notice!' They added: 'The last episode is particularly stunning. Not enough people know this show, under appreciated gem.' Meanwhile, AltruisticCableCar is clearly a fan of Scandi noir, recommending three Swedish crime dramas. They suggested Wallander, both the original series and the British remake, though they added 'I prefer the remake'. They went on 'Also Glaskupan (The Glass Dome). Just recently watched this and whoa. Åremorden (The Åre Murders) is another one.' Other lesser-known crime series recommended by Metro readers included Damages, starring Glenn Close, 2019 BBC series The Capture and American police procedural Major Crimes. Looking for more TV recommendations? We also asked Metro readers about their favourite underrated TV thrillers, and these series came out top: House of Cards — No, not the Kevin Spacey series, but the original British version following a fictional Chief Whip of the Conservative Party. — No, not the Kevin Spacey series, but the original British version following a fictional Chief Whip of the Conservative Party. Edge of Darkness — Policeman Ronald Craven attempts to solve the brutal murder of his daughter, leading him to uncover a government conspiracy. — Policeman Ronald Craven attempts to solve the brutal murder of his daughter, leading him to uncover a government conspiracy. River — A brilliant police officer attempts to hunt down his colleague's killer, all while dealing with her estranged family, his new partner and a psychiatric evaluation. — A brilliant police officer attempts to hunt down his colleague's killer, all while dealing with her estranged family, his new partner and a psychiatric evaluation. Stag — A black comedy following an obnoxious group of friends in the Scottish Highlands on a deer hunting weekend. Things turn sinister when they find themselves being picked off one by one. — A black comedy following an obnoxious group of friends in the Scottish Highlands on a deer hunting weekend. Things turn sinister when they find themselves being picked off one by one. Collateral — DI Kip Glaspie investigates the murder of a pizza delivery driver, who was gunned down by a masked shooter while delivering to the ex-wife of a politician. — DI Kip Glaspie investigates the murder of a pizza delivery driver, who was gunned down by a masked shooter while delivering to the ex-wife of a politician. The Worricker Trilogy — The three films star Bill Nighy as MI5 officer Johnny Worricker, whose life is turned upside down when his boss and best friend dies suddenly. Read all about these underrated TV thrillers. This dark comedy follows Ray Shoesmith (Scott Ryan), a father who's struggling to juggle his relationship, parental responsibilities, friendships and a sick brother — all while working as a criminal for hire. Inspired by the cult film The Magician, in which a hitman hires a student to document his life, Mr Inbetween has proved extremely popular with viewers, earning a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and a near-perfect 98% audience score. Fans have called it 'criminally underrated', with many comparing it to smash hit series Breaking Bad. Where to watch: Seasons one to three are available to stream on Disney Plus. Giri/Haji's perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score speaks for itself. Cruelly axed by BBC and Netflix after just one series (despite being nominated for three Baftas), this series is a true hidden gem. It follows a Tokyo detective (Takehiro Hira) who is searching for his missing brother in London's underworld, after he became mixed up with the Yakuza, a Japanese organised crime syndicate, and accused of murder. If you're a fan of Netflix's Black Doves, which stormed up the streamer's most-watched chart in December last year, Giri/Haji is worth checking out, as both dramas were created by screenwriter Joe Barton. In a review, The New Yorker called the series 'violently stylish' and a 'sexy police thriller', while the Daily Telegraph called it 'bold, bewitching and slightly bonkers'. Where to watch: All eight episodes are available to stream on Netflix. The BBC's Wallander stars Kenneth Branagh as a Swedish detective who investigates a series of gruesome murders. The series, which first aired on BBC One in 2008 and is an adaptation of the mystery novels by Henning Mankell, has been hailed as 'wonderful' and 'terrific', with plenty of praise for Branagh as the lead. Viewer Anthony Pearce wrote in a Google review: 'Having watched this series for the second time I can only say it was as wonderful and fantastically acted as I had remembered. Kenneth Branagh is undoubtedly one of our finest actors'. And Anne Norton added: 'Wallander was terrific!!! My first Swedish crime show, and it didn't disappoint. Kenneth Branagh's acting is just outstanding'. Last month, Variety reported that Wallander is set to return to screens in a reboot, which will see detective Kurt Wallander, now 42, struggle to get his life under control, having separated from his wife and become estranged from his daughter. Where to watch: Series one to four are available for free on BBC iPlayer. A much more recent release, The Glass Dome (Glaskupan in Swedish) landed on Netflix in April this year. The six-part series follows a criminologist (Léonie Vincent) who returns to her small hometown and 'becomes wrapped up in the investigation of a missing girl and its haunting similarities to her own childhood abduction'. Perhaps less of a hidden gem than the others on this list, it quickly climbed the ranks on Netflix to peak at number two on the streamer's weekly round-up of most-watched shows. But, as non-English language shows can sometimes go overlooked by British viewers, The Glass Dome remains unfamiliar to some. Don't let the language barrier put you off, though, it's been praised as 'gripping' and 'tanatalising' by critics, while viewers have called it 'haunting' and 'brilliant'. Where to watch: Stream all six episodes on Netflix. Another hit from Sweden, The Åre Murders is based on a popular series of books by author Viveca Sten. The Nordic noir follows a detective who has been suspended from duty (Carla Sehn), seeking solace in the idyllic but eerie ski resort town of Åre. But she soon becomes wrapped up in investigating the mysterious disappearance of a young woman. Netflix subscribers clearly love a Scandi drama, as this series achieved a whopping 11,000,000 views in one week when it landed in February this year. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics praised the drama as well as its Scandinavian setting. Common Sense Media's review read: 'This is an edge-of-your-seat crime series that spans two separate murders in one small, snowy, Swedish town.' And Decider wrote: 'The Åre Murders features all the hallmarks of the Nordic noir genre… throw in some fantastic location shots of Sweden's mountainous north, and we're all the way in on this investigation.' Where to watch: Stream all five episodes on Netflix. Glenn Close stars as Patty Hewes, a brilliant but ruthless lawyer whose life is changed forever when she hires a young, ambitious protégé (Rose Byrne). Though the series focuses on the complex relationship between the two professionals, it also charts the cases they work on — taking a three-pronged approach as a legal thriller, gripping murder mystery and an adrenaline-fueled character study. The series has an impressive 91% average score on Rotten Tomatoes, with series three and four both receiving a 100% rating. A review from the Los Angeles Times called Damages 'one of the best shows on television', while New York Daily News wrote 'few shows on television are written and acted with such fascinating mystery.' Where to watch: Available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video from £2.49. Starring Callum Turner, Ben Miles and Paapa Essiedu, this BBC crime thriller explores the 'terrifying world of deepfake technology' through the eyes of an 'ambitious young Detective Inspector' (played by Holliday Grainger). The first season sees a soldier's past conviction of murder, which was overturned due to flawed video evidence, come back to haunt him, while season two follows a new conspiracy involving Chinese spies and a British politician. Fans have praised it as 'stunningly good', with one anonymous user writing on Rotten Tomatoes: 'Absolutely gripping show. Moves at a great pace with great actors and a great storyline. Twists and turns and super realistic to the current world.' Another said: 'One of the best series I've ever watched. Thought the first season was good but the 2nd takes it to the next level. Need more series like this. The ending was sublime, left me utterly speechless.' Where to watch: Series one and two are available on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. If you're a fan of American police procedural The Closer, you might also want to check out Major Crimes, which is set in the same police department. Captain Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell) leads the team in the LAPD's Major Crimes Division, and is attempting to repair burned bridges and win the trust of her colleagues while dealing with high-profile crimes and building air-tight cases. More Trending On Google reviews, Sherel Hallford wrote of the series: 'Such an Outstanding show! Characters and actors are admirable and realistic. The storylines [are] so enjoyable. Mary McDonnell portrayed Captain Raydor so well, showing dignity, integrity, strength and intelligence.' And Lesly S called Major Crimes 'one of my favorite shows of all time.' They added: 'This show was a classic and I wish more shows were like this.' View More » Where to watch: Available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video from £2.49. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.

‘Very strange' – Nick Kyrgios lets slip who BBC have replaced him with for Wimbledon and immediately fires dig at him
‘Very strange' – Nick Kyrgios lets slip who BBC have replaced him with for Wimbledon and immediately fires dig at him

The Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Sun

‘Very strange' – Nick Kyrgios lets slip who BBC have replaced him with for Wimbledon and immediately fires dig at him

NICK KYRGIOS has revealed that world No108 Christopher Eubanks will replace him on the BBC's Wimbledon coverage this year. Kyrgios, 30, worked for the Beeb during last year's Championships, providing a fresh voice and perspective alongside usual suspects John McEnroe and Tim Henman. 5 5 Despite generally going down well with viewers, Kyrgios has not been signed up by the BBC for this year's tournament. The Aussie is set to miss his third Wimbledon in a row, having struggled with persistent knee and wrist injuries. Kyrgios' last match at the All-England Club was the 2022 final, in which he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets. Eubanks' best run at Wimbledon came in the following year, when he stunned the likes of Cameron Norrie and Stefanos Tsitsipas before losing in five sets to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals. On not being selected by the Beeb this year, Kyrgios told The Guardian: "It's unfortunate but it's probably their loss more than mine. "I understand they've got Chris Eubanks but he hasn't beaten the greatest of all time multiple times. "When someone's beaten Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic and has incredible insights, it's very strange you wouldn't want that person adding knowledge to tennis fans." In addition to working for the BBC at Wimbledon, Kyrgios has also appeared on Tennis Channel's coverage of the sport in the United States. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 5 5 American Eubanks, meanwhile, has been juggling his playing career with plenty of punditry. The former world No29 has also worked on Tennis Channel, as well as ESPN and most recently TNT Sports during Roland Garros. Nick Kyrgios breaks silence on split with ex-girlfriend Costeen Hatzi as Wimbledon finalist reveals new look Kyrgios has not shut the door on working for the BBC again in future. The former Australian Open men's doubles champion said: "I'm sure our paths will cross again. I only ever want to add humour, some knowledge and some great atmosphere." Due to injuries, Kyrgios has played just six singles matches since October 2022. The crowd entertainer last played in Miami in March, losing to Karen Khachanov in the second round. Despite his uncertain status, having since pulled out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Kyrgios is determined to resume playing during the US hard court swing, culminating in a first appearance at Flushing Meadows in three years. He added: "Yes, for sure. I'm definitely playing the US swing and I'll take it one day at a time." 5

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store