To think that Romesh Ranganathan is everything that’s right with multiculturalism

[EvangelicalAboutButteredToast]

I’ve been listening to his podcast for a few weeks now, diving into the back episodes and the episodes with his mum on a Thursday and I loved him before and love him even more now. He is everything that’s wonderful about multiculturalism is my mind.

He is British but respects his Sri Lankan heritage, has close ties with his family but is also deprecating and honest about the culture clash. I don’t know. In a time when everyone is so negative about immigration and the supposed ‘melting pot’ of culture I just think isn’t it lovely to smile and laugh alongside someone who is the epitome of it being successful and loves Crawley into the bargain!

Well I don’t really like him but it’s nothing to do with culture or ethnicity.

Patronising.

Oh.

My bad. I was stupidly laughing along to an episode with Michael Sheen whilst enjoying the sunshine and I thought I’d write something positive. I shall never do that again 😬

I really try to like him but he's pretty insufferable on R2

I find him a little annoying but you are right on how he speaks about the culture clash etc

Sorry, I feel bad now as I've shot you down on this nice sunny day. He's not all bad and can be very funny although I've only ever seen him on tv and listened to him on R2. Enjoy the sunshine 🌞

Where are you all that it’s sunny?

I don’t find Romesh Ranganathan funny, so don’t watch or listen to him. So I can’t comment on the multicultural aspect but anyone who defends Crawley is a bit weird - it’s a complete dump.

Yes I agree with you OP. Although I find his radio show irritating, but he seems like a really nice intelligent guy with good values and beliefs.

Sunny here too - Gloucestershire.

I never had an opinion of him either way until I watched some programme he was in where he had to do a challenge, and lost. He was such a sore loser and he really showed a nasty side to him that me and partner went off him straight away. I can hear that patronising nastiness whenever I hear him on the radio and people probably think he’s ‘edgy’ but I don’t like it at all.

The only good thing about Crawley is its proximity to Gatwick.

I’m glad it’s not just me. Friends keep telling how funny RR is but I can’t warm to him. I thought the travel thing he did with his mum years ago was ok but since then he is so up himself that I can’t watch him.

I really like Romesh, and his mum. I don't listen to him on Radio 2 so my experience of him is from his TV appearances, I loved Avoidance. I didn't realise he had a podcast.

I think he’s flipping hilarious. I watched him on that winter Olympic challenge and he had to pull the captain (white bloke) along on cross country skis. He joked the whole time comparing it to the colonies.
He and Rob must’ve fallen over about 18 times.
The whole x country winter Olympic team were spluttering with laughter

His podcast is generally great although that does depend on his guest. I didn’t enjoy the Andy Murray one but when he interviews fellow comedians it’s hilarious. I also listen to the Harry Hill podcast which is also a viewable show and really enjoy that too. I used to love TV Burp though so I’m probably bias.

Enjoying RR’s podcast is fine but extending it to the current tensions around immigration is annoying. We live in a time where the Internet allows us to listen to podcasts from anywhere in the world

I apologise for annoying you.

Sorry but that just sounds like bog standard anyone of us who integrated so I am not particularly seeing it as "someone who is the epitome of it being successful" whatever that means 🙈

@EvangelicalAboutButteredToastIn answer to the actual point you were trying to make - yes, I agree, it’s good to hear from someone who does have that exact makeup of being English/British but still can allude to his Sri Lankan heritage and the part that plays in who he is.

He’s a smug twat. But can be amusing

In terms of their tske on their culture and ethnicity I prefer Shaparak Khorsandi and Fatiha El Ghorri (apols for spelling).

It's nice to have some positivity.

I can see that as one way to have positive multiculturalism.

I don't think however migrants and our kids who don't respect our heritage, don't want to be referred to by our heritage that we had no choice in, aren't close to our families in other counties, and/or would prefer to talk about anything other than where we/our family are from and the culture clashes around us are somehow less or unsuccessful.

I'm a huge Romesh fan, he is so quick! So very witty. Also reminds me in very many ways of a fantastic friend of mine who I've known for 40 years.

But hard, very hard, cringe at this thread and your op.

I mean... yes, embracing both your cultural heritage and the place where you live is great, but I don't think it's unusual. I teach a lot of kids from other heritages who have grown up in the UK and I think that feeling part of both while acknowledging the difference is totally normal for them tbh.

I've only ever seen Romesh on Taskmaster and found him really annoying too - sorry, OP! Maybe he's better on a podcast.

If you knew any 2nd or 3rd gen immigrants born here in the 70s or later, we are all like that. The people who don't agree with multiculturalism are always clearly the ones who don't have friendships with people like us. If they did, they would know that we are normal. We talk English and live like a white Brit. Yes we do the traditions, eat the food and sometimes wear the clothes, but we don't view our ancestry with rose tinted glasses, we take the piss out of it when warranted and wouldn't dream of relocating to live there. We question our elders who think it's the land of milk and honey and tell them to get a grip 😅