Romesh Ranganathan
 

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[Closed] Romesh Ranganathan

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I watched last night's visit to Albania.

Stunning mountains. Deeply impoverished place. Welcoming people.

I alternated wonderfully between awkwardness at his behaviour to properly laugh out loud, particularly the last 5 seconds from the shepherd at the end. I'm not sure I have watched a programme recently that had such a reaction from me.

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Posted : 06/01/2020 1:11 pm
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I didn't get as far as the last 5 seconds. What I found funny about Romesh now seems dull and formulaic, for instance why does he always have to get his fat body out?


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 1:46 pm
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The interest in those programmes is as much about how he gets on with his 'minder/guide' as the surroundings. I'm amazed at the level of insulting banter he manages to get away with, though a few of them give as good as they get.


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 1:48 pm
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In general, I really enjoyed that series and he's clearly a decent bloke. However, the set piece things he does are proper cringy and there's this attitude of snarky Londoner about him sometimes, like he's too cool to be seen to be enjoying something.


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 2:01 pm
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Was this a repeat? I saw something about a year ago with him visiting Eastern Europe and being an insufferable prick.

Wasn't aware he was a comedian at the time. Wouldn't have guessed from his interactions with the locals, where he seemed to be either sneering or just unwilling to engage.

Is that his schtick?


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 2:03 pm
 DezB
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I tend to avoid most things he's in. I might watch this though, just so I can come back and say how much I don't like him 😀


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 2:05 pm
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there’s this attitude of snarky Londoner about him sometimes, like he’s too cool to be seen to be enjoying something.

That's what I meant yeah, you put it better than me.


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 2:07 pm
 nuke
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Found them fairly entertaining but as said, it does depend on the guide ...the Columbia guide & Romesh had a good bit of banter together if i remember right


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 2:12 pm
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Never watched his shows, but liked this bit of his guardian column about his albania trip

As part of a travel show I filmed for BBC Two last year, I visited Albania, where I met an ex-con who offered me a tattoo. I wasn’t completely up to speed on the social etiquette of this situation, but I decided that if you are in a bunker with an ex-con and he suggests inking you, it is probably safer to accept and deal with the repercussions later. I loved Albania, so it didn’t feel that big a deal to get its flag tattooed on my wrist. The producers of the show were slightly more worried, asking if my wife would be upset; but the truth is she is so unbothered by such things that I could get a swastika tattooed on my face and she would probably say, “It’s better than the Autobot one.”

A few months after my Albania trip, I found myself in a restaurant with my family and the waiter told me that the manager would like a word. Moments later, a surly looking man emerged from the back of the restaurant. “I saw your Albania show,” he said. “Is the tattoo real?” I told him it was and he asked to see it. He looked upon the two-headed eagle and nodded. “I am Albanian. You never have to pay for anything here, ever again.”

While it was great to have a meal for free, I certainly can’t return. Either they will all assume I’m back because I’m a cheap bastard; or the manager won’t be in, I’ll try to pay with my wrist and they’ll think that I’m a cheap bastard.


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 3:07 pm
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His tarve; show can be hit or miss

I do enjoy Judge Romesh on Dave


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 3:26 pm
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If you've not seen the whole series try and catch up with the Ethiopia one. Ignore Romesh if necessary, the places he was taken were absolutely epic.


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 3:59 pm
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I watched his visit to the Canadian northern territories and found it amusing, annoying, fascinating, weird and frustrating. Recommended.

I look forward to watching the Albanian programmme.


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 6:03 pm
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Not seen much of him on TV, but really enjoy his 'Hip-hop Saved My Life' podcast.


 
Posted : 06/01/2020 7:20 pm
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Weirdly not a massive fan of his standup but have really enjoyed his travel stuff . The Sahara one was excellent.


 
Posted : 07/01/2020 7:54 am
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My barber is Albanian.... big burly ugly geezer with a surprising soft touch !!

Love chatting to him about his homeland.... No Xmas there when he was going up all religion was band, no crime/no agro among the population but flip side of that was they were weary of the secret police.

He took over the little shop from a Russian lady... she was a proper battle axe ... get in the chair snip here, snip there, no small talk done in 5 mins and somehow your barnet always looked good.... I did get her chatting once about growing up in Soviet Russia but only scratched the surface. I think she thought i was taking the pee instead of actually having an interest .... shame.


 
Posted : 07/01/2020 12:02 pm
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I really like the Romesh travel programmes, I think the appeal is that despite his outwardly surly demeanor he genuinely grows to like the places he visits and the people he is with. Loved the banter he had with the inuit on the Canada one, they seemed to really understand his humour and give back in the same form.


 
Posted : 07/01/2020 12:11 pm
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He's rumoured (on Popbitch) to be a beneficiary of The Shappi Clause for many of his panel show appearances.


 
Posted : 07/01/2020 2:21 pm

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