“Our house was repossessed and we lived in a B&B until we got a council house. It was a struggle, but Mum just got her head down, found cleaning jobs and never complained. I owe her a lot, so I now do everything she says.”

British comedian, actor, and presenter

Romesh Ranganathan is a British comedian, actor, and presenter. Known for his deadpan, often self-deprecating style, he has built a career in stand-up and television. His comedy often returns to questions of identity, especially his own description of himself as a British “coconut”, a label he connects to being raised by his mother, Shanthi Ranganathan. That perspective gives much of his work its personal edge, with material shaped by family, culture, and the awkwardness of everyday life.