“We've all seen comedians look like they're reaching just a little bit too much for the laugh. This is counterproductive. The conceit of standup is that it is effortless, which makes the prospect of generating new comedy a tricky one: you are trying to be funny without looking like you are trying to be funny.”

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.