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Privacy NoticeRomesh Ranganathan seems to have it all. Brilliant comic timing, a TV presenting career that includes hosting the ever-popular The Weakest Link, and a BBC Radio 2 show. The 46 year old comedian took over from Claudia Winkleman back in April in the 10am-1pm slot with a brand new morning show. Claudia announced last December that she was quitting to spend more time with her family and emotionally bowed out. But Romesh has experienced private family turmoil that that led to a falling out with his brother following their father’s passing. He was navigating the challenges of new fatherhood and a career shift from teaching to comedy when his dad Ranga’s death in 2011 uncovered deep financial troubles within the family.
Romesh Ranganathan opened up on the financial heartache that caused a rift between him and his brother
(Image: Getty Images for BAUER)
This revelation sparked an intense dispute with his younger sibling Dinesh, who believed Romesh wasn’t contributing enough. Opening up on the Griefcast podcast, Romesh recounted: “My dad passing away caused massive problems with me and my brother. We had this situation where we found out our financial situation was a house of cards, and we weren’t sure what was going to happen to the house.” He continued, detailing the strain of trying to make it in comedy while dealing with family finances: “At the same time I wasn’t making any money from comedy, and it was a really high-pressure situation.” Dinesh’s frustration boiled over into a belief that Romesh was shirking his responsibilities, leading to a heated confrontation: “My brother felt like I wasn’t doing enough to help out.” Romesh vividly described the pivotal argument that altered their bond: “I remember having a massive row with him in the foyer of a theatre.”
Dinesh felt Romesh, pictured here with his mum, wasn’t ‘pulling his weight’ to support his family
(Image: No credit)
In the heat of the moment, emotions ran high as he recalled yelling: “I’m never going to forget how you’ve treated me.” Romesh explained it created a rift between the pair that took months to sort out. Romesh reflected on the lasting impact of their rift: “Every now and again… it’s like a scar. If one of us perceives the other to be not doing the brotherly thing, we’ll fall back on that dynamic very easily.” The comedian’s family history previously saw upheaval when their father left their mother, Shanthi, for another woman when Romesh was just 12 years old. Despite attending the prestigious Reigate Grammar School, the brothers’ lives were also turned upside down when their father was imprisoned for fraud, leading to the loss of their family home and a subsequent move to a local comprehensive school.
Romesh recalls an argument with his brother Dinesh, pictured here with their mum Shanthi
(Image: No credit)
The trio endured a tough period, living in a bed and breakfast for a year and a half before finally being allocated a council house. After serving his time, Ranga returned to the fold and took over a pub in East Grinstead, West Sussex, but sadly passed away from a heart attack. Ranga and Shanthi had originally made their way to the UK from Sri Lanka in the 1970s, settling in Crawley, West Sussex. Romesh has previously shared his feelings about his father, saying: “I did hero-worship my dad. My mum was dealing with what my dad was being like and two kids who thought she was making a big deal about nothing. But it turns out she wasn’t making a big enough deal about it.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnThe Weakest LinkComedy
