Romesh Ranganathan on West End Debut, Mum’s Brutal Feedback, and the Art of Stand-Up
Comedian and presenter Romesh Ranganathan, 47, has been sharing candid insights into his recent foray into the West End, his mother’s hilariously blunt critiques, and his evolving approach to stand-up comedy. Appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show, Ranganathan opened up about the challenges and unexpected reactions surrounding his role in the play Woman in Mind.
The Nerve-Wracking World of Stage Acting
Ranganathan took on the role of a doctor in the West End production, a discipline vastly different from his usual television work. He admitted to the significant nerves involved, particularly the pressure of acting opposite acclaimed actress Sheridan Smith.
“Sheridan [Smith] is one of the reasons I wanted to do the play; getting to act opposite someone who is one of our greats,” Ranganathan explained. “It’s quite intimidating. I’ve done a bit of TV acting, but stage acting is such a different discipline… you’ve got to have the audience in the conversation, play out to the theatre… all things I’d never done before.”
The comedian noted that many people found his decision to perform in a play surprising. His own mother, Shanthi, famously questioned his qualifications for the role.
“My mum said, ‘What’s your character?’ I said I was playing a doctor. She said: ‘But you don’t have any training?’ I said: ‘It’s scripted.’ She said: ‘What happens if you go to treat somebody?’ I was saying: ‘It’s a play!’” Ranganathan recounted with a chuckle.
Even the audience’s reactions occasionally blurred the lines between performance and reality. Ranganathan recalled an instance where he was struggling to open a prop briefcase as part of the play, only for a theatregoer to shout, “Go on Romesh, you can do it.”
Mum’s Unvarnished Review
Despite the initial confusion, Ranganathan revealed that his mother was ultimately impressed by his acting. However, her feedback was characteristically direct and included two key criticisms.
“She had two bits of negative feedback: ‘First of all,’ she said, ‘I thought your acting was good, I thought you looked horrible,’” he shared.
Adding another layer to her critique, Ranganathan continued, “There’s a bit in the play where my character declares his love for Sheridan’s character and my mum said, ‘I thought, to be honest, it was a little bit creepy.’ So she wasn’t that happy with that. I had to explain to her that that was scripted [too].”
On-Screen Chemistry and Awkward Kisses
The conversation also touched upon Ranganathan’s experiences working with fellow guest Aisling Bea, particularly their on-screen romantic scenes in the film Avoidance. Ranganathan acknowledged Bea’s openness about the awkwardness of kissing a long-time friend for a role.
“Aisling’s been very public… [she] played my love interest in Avoidance. She was great in the role,” Ranganathan stated. “I’ve seen a number of interviews, where she said about how awkward it was…”
Bea chimed in, directly addressing the presenter: “Did you not find it weird that we had to kiss each other after knowing each other [for so many years]?”
Ranganathan, with a touch of humour, agreed. “But no, it is awkward. We’re really good friends… that helped with the chemistry, getting on, but you get to the point where you have to do something like that… it’s horrible.”
Bea further elaborated on the peculiar nature of such scenes. “If you look at each other at the wrong time… and there’s a camera crew looking at you… it’s just very silly!” She confessed to feeling self-conscious about her kissing technique, joking, “I felt like I was doing bad kissing. [I was thinking] ‘He’s going to tell James Acaster and all the boys I kiss badly…’”
The Evolution of Stand-Up: “Will Change Your Life” Tour
Looking ahead, Ranganathan discussed his upcoming tour, Romesh Ranganathan Will Change Your Life. He revealed a shift in his creative process, moving towards themes of contentment and happiness, inspired by books like The Courage To Be Disliked.
“Whenever you start to write a stand up show it’s wherever your mentality is. This time I’ve started to really get into thinking about contentment and happiness. I read The Courage To Be Disliked and I found that inspiring, and thought maybe I could start writing stand up that has a bit of an outlook on life,” he explained.
He described his writing method as organic, with material developing on stage rather than being pre-written. “I’ve literally just started writing it. I come up with a routine, I never write any of it down, I find it on stage, take what works, keep that in… it gradually builds and builds… [then you] have a time when you panic and phone your agent, [you’re saying] ‘I need to pull the tour’, then suddenly it comes together.”
The Narcissistic Nature of Comedy and Last One Laughing
Ranganathan also shared his thoughts on the competitive world of comedy, referencing his participation in Last One Laughing. In this format, comedians are challenged to make each other laugh, with host Jimmy Carr’s “Deputy” often playing a strategic role.
Of his fellow competitors, Ranganathan identified Alan Carr as a particularly formidable opponent. “Alan Carr’s a tricky guy because he’s sort of, easily ‘takedownable’, but he’s also a dangerous weapon. Early on I thought, ‘I’m going to try and take him out.’ The problem is, everything he does is funny. He’s lab designed to be funny that guy.”
He also expressed relief at not having to face Bob Mortimer in the competition. “Did not want to see Bob Mortimer back. I like Bob Mortimer, but not in that house.”
Reflecting on the nature of his profession, Ranganathan offered a poignant observation: “Comedy is the most narcissistic form of entertainment ever. We require the audience to laugh at us to boost our self-esteem… it’s a blow torch to your self-esteem.”
The Jonathan Ross Show airs Saturdays on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
