Romesh Ranganathan has opened up about his childhood (Image: GETTY)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeRomesh Ranganathan has become a regular on our TV screens over recent years, from hosting shows including the BAFTAs with fellow comedian Rob Beckett to taking over as the presenter of BBC’s Weakest Link. Known for his deadpan and deprecating humour, Romesh has become a fan favourite among comedy and TV fans alike. The 46 year old has had an incredible rise to fame, having worked as a maths teacher prior to becoming a household name. Romesh has been open and honest about his struggles in his younger years, previously telling how his family life fell apart and he ended up leaving school.
The comedian has revealed there was struggles in his younger years
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Romesh’s parents came over to the UK from Sri Lanka after his father has finished his accountancy exams. The comedian previously told how he and his family lived a “comfortable” life in a nice house, admitting he and his brother were “spoilt” as children. However, this ideal family life didn’t last and, as Romesh puts it, “it all went a bit wrong”. The breakdown of his parents’ marriage was the catalyst for the unfortunate events which then took place. Writing in the Big Issue, Romesh previously said: “My parents’ marriage broke up, our house got repossessed and my dad ended up going to prison. This all happened very, very quickly. It was a struggle. My mum found out my dad had been messing around. He fell into financial difficulty so we ended up getting our house taken away.” He told how he, his mum and his brother wound up living in a B&B for over a year while his father was in prison. Romesh described this time in his life as “insane” having gone from being “super comfortable” to “everything falling away”. Further trouble ensued at school fro Romesh, as he had a scholarship to private school but had to leave as his dad was in arrears with the fees. The comedian admitted: “So I just left. I didn’t say goodbye; I didn’t want anyone to know. Looking back, moving to the local comp gave me a lot of the values I have today.”
Romesh hosts hit gameshow Weakest Link
(Image: BBC/Alan Peebles)
Yet, everything worked out in the end. Romesh now has a thriving career in TV and comedy, with plenty of regular work flowing in. One of his biggest TV gigs is hosting BBC’s iconic gameshow Weakest Link, which he began fronting in 2021. He also presents a morning show on BBC Radio 2 on Saturdays. The Weakest Link returns on Saturday, 28 September with a comedians special on BBC One. Romesh will be joined by Angela Barnes, Phil Wang, Josh Pugh, Laura Smyth, Ria Lina, Maisie Adam, Iain Stirling and Geoff Norcott as they compete to be the strongest link and win money for their chosen charity.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnRomesh Ranganathan
