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Original poster

To wonder why Romesh Ranganathan…

293 replies

Rainymoondays · 11/10/2025 22:24

Had so much exposure on TV? He’s really really unfunny, he’s a crap stilted presenter and just makes everything awkward.

OP posts:
everyoldsock · 13/10/2025 16:29

SprayWhiteDung · 13/10/2025 16:21

Yes, he has - but clearly as part of his self-deprecating style of humour; and quite probably to get in there first before the racists accuse him of it, so he can diffuse their unfounded beliefs.

Do you really think for a moment that he would have the nerve to say that if it were actually true?

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I don’t know. I don’t know him, so I don’t know why he said it. None of us are mind-readers.

SprayWhiteDung · 13/10/2025 16:21

everyoldsock · 13/10/2025 12:13

Hasn’t he said himself he ticks boxes?

Yes, he has - but clearly as part of his self-deprecating style of humour; and quite probably to get in there first before the racists accuse him of it, so he can diffuse their unfounded beliefs.

Do you really think for a moment that he would have the nerve to say that if it were actually true?

dunroamingfornow · 13/10/2025 16:11

I find him hilarious . His travel stuff in particular

ApplesCrumbleButtons · 13/10/2025 16:10

Romeshs mum is exactly like this in real life. Romeshs dad went to prison when he was a child and the family had to move into a BnB. They were living in one room.

Anyway his dad died at some point so think he's quite protective and involves her as she's on her own.

Crawley has a big fish in a little pond mentality like many small towns and I think Romeshs dry self deprecating humour is kind of what you develop to survive in those kind of towns.

Sartre · 13/10/2025 13:58

I don’t think he’s particularly funny either and he does come across as awkward. I tried watching The Weakest Link with teenage DS a few months back when he was going through a game show phase and I thought he was terrible. I don’t like a lot of comedians though tbh- Lee Mack, Michael Macintyre, Jason Manford, Peter Kay even. I accept lots and lots of people love them so whatever. It’s subjective as with anything.

FightingFish · 13/10/2025 13:54

A bit far fetched to say calling him scruffy is racist when he is, as are lots of people of all races! If it was said about someone well groomed you would have a point. If that was said about Rishi Sunak for example.

everyoldsock · 13/10/2025 12:13

Hasn’t he said himself he ticks boxes?

BadWoIf · 13/10/2025 11:39

I haven't seen any comedy with him, but I thought he was great in Avoidance - very deadpan and droll. His character, Jonathan, reminded me of somebody I know.

Original poster
Rainymoondays · 13/10/2025 11:29

SprayWhiteDung · 13/10/2025 10:33

Somebody upthread said/implied that Romesh only got where he is today because he 'ticks DEI boxes'.

Presumably, the suggestion is that Romesh only got to where he is today because he's not white; and by the same token, millions of people who choose to watch Romesh because they like his presenting and/or find him and his programmes witty/funny/intelligent/engaging/entertaining are actually mistaken and are only watching him because he's not white and, for some reason, they feel that they therefore 'should do their duty', even though they don't actually like him or his output at all.

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Ok one person said that. It wasn’t me. That was racist. That does not make the thread ‘full of racist dog whistles’ it just makes one person that posted an idiot.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rainymoondays · 13/10/2025 11:28

Nowhere and at no point have I mentioned his race or even alluded to it.

He does look grubby and dirty to me. But then as someone else above said, Joe Wilkinson does to her. It’s a massive stretch to say I think that because of his Sri Lankan heritage and probably says more about your perceptions than mine.

This is what he used to look like versus now. He looks like he needs a good hairwash, haircut and beard trim to me. End of.

To wonder why Romesh Ranganathan…
To wonder why Romesh Ranganathan…
OP posts:
FrenchandSaunders · 13/10/2025 11:20

I think he's great ... love most of the stuff he's in. I love self deprecating humour. His podcast with Tom Davis is excellent ... they both come across as really decent men IMO. I'm going to their live tour in Brighton in a couple of weeks.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 13/10/2025 10:44

He is meant to be a curmudgeon. A bit like Jack Dee. I find very funny. 🤩

louderthan · 13/10/2025 10:41

I like him because of his general unimpressed-ness. He’s like a cat in human form.
Asian Provocateur is one of the few things I could watch and enjoy when I was signed off work with depression a few years ago.

Algen · 13/10/2025 10:33

jumpingthehighjump · 13/10/2025 10:24

I think saying a Sri Lankan man is grubby and dirty and needs a good wash is an unpleasant thing to say. But of course, you wouldn't be able to recognise that as wrong would you

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I don’t think that particularly about Romesh Ranganathan, but quite a few comedians come across as though they do need a good wash. I don’t know if some of them deliberately cultivate “scruffy” as part of their act. Joe Wilkinson, who I hadn’t heard of until Celebrity Traitors, definitely falls into that category for me.

SprayWhiteDung · 13/10/2025 10:33

Rainymoondays · 13/10/2025 10:14

Racism? Where!?

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Somebody upthread said/implied that Romesh only got where he is today because he 'ticks DEI boxes'.

Presumably, the suggestion is that Romesh only got to where he is today because he's not white; and by the same token, millions of people who choose to watch Romesh because they like his presenting and/or find him and his programmes witty/funny/intelligent/engaging/entertaining are actually mistaken and are only watching him because he's not white and, for some reason, they feel that they therefore 'should do their duty', even though they don't actually like him or his output at all.

Rainbows41 · 13/10/2025 10:28

I'm with you on this OP. He makes me cringe. To me, he comes across as not giving a shit and trying to turn this into some kind of joke. It's not funny, it's painful to watch. He seems empty and emotionless.
However other people do find him hilarious. I don't see it, but each to their own!

jumpingthehighjump · 13/10/2025 10:24

Rainymoondays · 13/10/2025 10:14

Racism? Where!?

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I think saying a Sri Lankan man is grubby and dirty and needs a good wash is an unpleasant thing to say. But of course, you wouldn't be able to recognise that as wrong would you

everyoldsock · 13/10/2025 10:22

CurlewKate · 13/10/2025 06:26

Lots of dog whistle racism on here! Incidentally- his parents gave him an English first name because they thought it would help him integrate. Which I thought would be considered a good thing….

Try looking up the definition of racism or maybe you could give an example of it on this thread.

Original poster
Rainymoondays · 13/10/2025 10:14

CurlewKate · 13/10/2025 06:26

Lots of dog whistle racism on here! Incidentally- his parents gave him an English first name because they thought it would help him integrate. Which I thought would be considered a good thing….

Racism? Where!?

OP posts:
Thissickbeat · 13/10/2025 08:22

He's funny. We love his travel series.
Ranganation was wonderful in the pandemic.

Redpeach · 13/10/2025 08:16

CurlewKate · 13/10/2025 07:05

There’s another Shri Lankan comedian you can find on YouTube called Vidura. I like him a lot. Although some of you might think he needs a good wash….

Yes some of the views on here are rather 1950s

DingDongJingle · 13/10/2025 08:15

Yeah to be honest I really like him as a comedian but the school stuff was irritating. He was basically annoyed that the same rules that apply to everyone (that he hadn’t checked before moving) also applied to him.

cramptramp · 13/10/2025 08:12

I think he’s funny when he’s doing off the cuff stuff. When he’s scripted and doing his stand up, he’s not as funny. But I went off him when he had a massive tantrum because his child didn’t get into the school he wanted. The reason for this was because he’d moved house so he was further away from the school and children who lived nearer got the places.

SprayWhiteDung · 13/10/2025 08:09

Simonjt · 13/10/2025 05:15

He was a teacher, he was being racist and saying he was thankful to be around white people again and no longer felt like he needed to join a certain klan, Joe very much agreed with him. He also agreed with his brothers awful views of the women he met on the trip and both were particularly nasty about a gay pupil on the trip. It was in 2015. Luckily Rob had very poor facebook privacy so I was able to report him to his school.

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Wow, that is indeed extremely concerning. How horrible.

I really liked The Cockfields (never been so keen on his clowning around stuff on Catsdown), but that's put Joe in a very different light for me now.

CurlewKate · 13/10/2025 07:05

There’s another Shri Lankan comedian you can find on YouTube called Vidura. I like him a lot. Although some of you might think he needs a good wash….

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