Main content

Romesh Ranganathan, comedian and broadcaster

Romesh Ranganathan, comedian and broadcaster, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would take with him if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Romesh Ranganathan is a comedian and BAFTA-winning broadcaster who has been a fixture on British television screens for the past decade. In addition to his TV shows and stand-up tours he presents the Weakest Link on BBC One, Radio Two’s Saturday morning show and another weekly Radio Two programme in which he shares his passion for hip hop music.

Romesh was born in Crawley in West Sussex where he still lives. His parents came to the UK from Sri Lanka in 1975. His father Ranga was an accountant who spent time in prison for fraud during Romesh’s teenage years. At that point Romesh and his brother were brought up by their mother Sivashanthini – known as Shanthi – who has appeared alongside Romesh on several of his television programmes.

In 2001 Romesh became a maths teacher at the school where he’d previously been a pupil. A few years later he started taking part in open mic evenings where he developed his skills as a stand-up. In 2011 he quit his teaching job to pursue a career in comedy.

He has spoken candidly about his own mental health and in 2023 he became a patron of the charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably).

Romesh lives in Crawley with his wife Leesa and their three sons.

DISC ONE: Lose Yourself - Eminem
DISC TWO: Let’s Hear it for the Boy - Deniece Williams
DISC THREE: The Power of Love - Huey Lewis & The News
DISC FOUR: Through the Wire - Kanye West
DISC FIVE: Broken Clocks - SZA
DISC SIX: Back at One - Brian McKnight
DISC SEVEN: I Wish - Stevie Wonder
DISC EIGHT: Bring the Noise - Public Enemy

BOOK CHOICE: Life of Pi by Yann Martel
LUXURY ITEM: An unlimited supply of aubergine curry
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Back at One - Brian McKnight

If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, including urgent support, a list of organisations that can help is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Paula McGinley

Available now

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Eminem

    Lose Yourself

    • 8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture.
    • Shady / Interscope.
    • 1.
  • Deniece Williams

    Let's Hear It For The Boy

    • Boogie Wonderland.
    • Columbia.
    • 4.
  • Huey Lewis and the News

    The Power Of Love

    • Hits Forever - Greatest Retro Songs.
    • Universal Music India Pvt Ltd..
    • 6.
  • Ye

    Through The Wire

    • The College Dropout.
    • Roc-A-Fella.
    • 19.
  • SZA

    Broken Clocks

    • Ctrl.
    • TDE / RCA.
    • 9.
  • Brian McKnight

    Back at One

    • The Best Soul & Funk Collection: Extra.
    • Universal Music Group International.
    • 2.
  • Stevie Wonder

    I Wish

    • Songs In The Key Of Life.
    • UNI/MOTOWN.
    • 6.
  • Public Enemy

    Bring The Noise

    • It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back.
    • Def Jam Recordings.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 1 Jun 2025 10:00
  • Friday 09:00

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Articles

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast