The Ranganation
The Ranganation is a British comedy show hosted by Romesh Ranganathan and broadcast on BBC Two. Ranganathan joins a group of 25 members of the public, including his mother, to discuss news events of the week. Two celebrity guests are also featured. The first series of six 45-minute episodes premiered on 19 May 2019. The second series of six episodes was filmed remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and first aired on 10 May 2020.
| The Ranganation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Directed by | Barbara Wiltshire |
| Presented by | Romesh Ranganathan |
| Starring | Shanthi Ranganathan |
| Opening theme | "No CD" by Loyle Carner |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 22 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producers | Mark Barrett Mia Cross Monica Long |
| Production locations | Television Centre, London (2019) BBC Elstree Centre (2019) Pinewood Studios (2021–) |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company | Zeppotron |
| Distributor | Banijay |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Two |
| Picture format | 16:9 |
| Original release | 19 May 2019 – present |
Production
A pilot was filmed on 20 May 2018, produced by Zeppotron.[1][2] The first series was commissioned in August 2018.[3] It consisted of six weekly 45-minute episodes, beginning on 19 May 2019 and ending on 23 June 2019.
Ranganathan said that he wanted the programme to be a "topical show not a political show". He said that the casting was focused around recruiting a diverse group of "regular people who are opinionated and passionate", and that he enjoys the honesty of the panelists. Asked who his ideal guest would be in 2018, Ranganathan said it would be Justin Trudeau if he was British, or Idris Elba.[4] When asked again in 2020, he suggested Patrick Stewart.[5]
The second series of six episodes aired in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] It was one of several topical British shows to be filmed and hosted by each participant remotely from their home, along with Have I Got News for You, The Mash Report and The Last Leg. Ranganathan filmed in his garage, requiring him to move out equipment he had bought in order to learn how to DJ during the pandemic. Some panelists from the first series returned, while others were replaced by new people. The first episode aired on 10 May 2020 in a Sunday 9:15 p.m. timeslot. The production aimed to talk about a mixture of topics, despite the pandemic dominating the news.[7][8][5]
On 18 January 2021, the BBC Press office announced a third series of the Ranganation would return in February that year. While Ranganathan broadcast the show from a studio, the guests and focus group participated remotely from home.[9] A fourth series began in October 2021; following relaxation of social distancing guidelines in the summer, Ranganathan and celebrity guests are now in the studio, with the Ranganation members still contributing via video link.
Awards and nominations
- Nominated for the 'Best Comedy Entertainment Programme' award at BAFTA 2020 [10]
- Winner of the 'Comedy Entertainment' award at the Royal Television Society 2021 awards [11]
- Winner of the 'Best Lockdown Programme: Entertainment, Comedy & Scripted' award at the Broadcast 2021 awards [12]
- Nominated for the 'Best Comedy Entertainment Programme' and 'Best Entertainment' awards at BAFTA 2021 [13]
Episodes
Series 1
| No. overall | No. in series | Guests | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [14] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Rob Beckett and Fay Ripley | 19 May 2019 | 1.49 |
| 2 | 2 | Natasia Demetriou and Katherine Ryan | 26 May 2019 | 1.19 |
| 3 | 3 | Jessica Hynes and Jon Richardson | 2 June 2019 | 1.01 |
| 4 | 4 | Tom Davis and Sara Pascoe | 9 June 2019 | N/A (< 1.15)[lower-alpha 1] |
| 5 | 5 | Kerry Godliman and Richard Osman | 16 June 2019 | 1.29 |
| 6 | 6 | Angela Scanlon and Tom Allen | 23 June 2019 | 1.25 |
Series 2
| No. overall | No. in series | Guests | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | Danny Dyer and Katherine Ryan | 10 May 2020 | TBA |
| 8 | 2 | Jon Richardson and Scarlett Moffatt | 17 May 2020 | TBA |
| 9 | 3 | Rob Beckett and Jo Brand | 24 May 2020 | TBA |
| 10 | 4 | Jason Manford and Aisling Bea | 31 May 2020 | TBA |
| 11 | 5 | Tom Allen and Paloma Faith | 7 June 2020 | TBA |
| 12 | 6 | Andrew Flintoff and Sara Pascoe | 14 June 2020 | TBA |
Series 3
| No. overall | No. in series | Guests | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | Jack Dee and Alex Jones | 7 February 2021 | TBA |
| 14 | 2 | Katherine Ryan and Mo Gilligan | 14 February 2021 | TBA |
| 15 | 3 | Nish Kumar and Rosie Jones | 21 February 2021 | TBA |
| 16 | 4 | Judi Love and Joe Lycett | 28 February 2021 | TBA |
| 17 | 5 | Jamie Laing and Roisin Conaty | 7 March 2021 | TBA |
| 18 | 6 | Richard Madeley and Maisie Adam | 14 March 2021 | TBA |
Series 4
| No. overall | No. in series | Guests | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | Jack Dee and Hannah Waddingham | 3 October 2021 | TBA |
| 20 | 2 | Jon Richardson and Nadiya Hussain | 10 October 2021 | TBA |
| 21 | 3 | Roisin Conaty and Guz Khan | 17 October 2021 | TBA |
| 22 | 4 | Richard Osman and Harriet Kemsley | 24 October 2021 | TBA |
| 23 | 5 | Jo Brand and Ranj Singh | 31 October 2021 | TBA |
Topics
The 2019 series included a wide variety of discussion including:
- Episode 1: Do you wash your legs in the shower? [15]
- Episode 2: Should plastic straws be banned? [16]
- Episode 3: Should homework be banned? [17]
- Episode 4: Do you believe in UFOs? [18]
- Episode 5: The staggering number of UK adults sleeping with a soft toy [19]
- Episode 6: Trying to answer stupid job interview questions [20]
The Ranganation Members
2019 Series 1 Members
The Ranganation has included a diverse cross section of members from the public including:
Top row: Vlogger, Vicars Daughter, Privileged, Yes Miss, Football Mad, OMG PHD, Lord Dave, Selfie Queen, EcoVegan, Wannabe MP, Mindful, Oxbridge, Dog Father, Technophobe
Middle row: Table for One, Small Town Girl, Ex Banker, Gen Z, Wheeler Dealer, The Skipper, Single Dad, You're History, Witness the Fitness
Bottom row: Romesh's Mum, Never Voted, Granny To Be, Pride of Wales, Comic Book Guy, Green Fingers
2020 Series 2 Members
The Ranganation series 2 has included 25 members from the public including:
Top row: Romesh's mum, Craft Beard, Privileged, You're History, Never Voted, Lord Dave
2nd row: Small Town Girl, Pride of Wales, Ex Banker, Mani-Pedi, Vlogger
3rd row: Glam Gran, Wheeler Dealer, Technophobe, Metalhead, Old Bill, Green Fingers, Gen Z
Bottom row: Football Mad, Watch Your Language, Wine Buff, The Dogfather, Oxbridge, The Skipper, Comic Book Guy
2021 Series 3 Members
The Ranganation series 3 has included 20 members from the public including:
Top row: Romesh's mum, Old Bill, The Dogfather, You're History, Never Voted,
2nd row: Lord Dave, Small Town Girl, Ex Banker, Pride of Wales, Oxbridge
3rd row: Country Life (New Member), Vlogger, Wheeler Dealer, Technophobe, Gen Z, Picture This (new member)
Bottom row: Football Mad, Watch Your Language, The Skipper, Comic Book Guy, Metalhead, Glam Gran, Folk Hero
The display screen has also changed to allow the Ranganation person who is talking to appear in the centre of the screen, with the other Ranganation members appearing around them. The central talking member still appears in the smaller windows around them.
In Episode 2, Oxbridge and Country Life Switched rows, and Ex Banker switched with Technophobe
In Episode 3, Vlogger was on the top row and Country Life went to 2nd row.
In Episode 4, Vlogger returned to the third row, Folk Hero went to the top row, Technophobe went to the second row, Country Life dropped back to the 3rd row and there were no new members.
In Episode 5, Folk Hero was in the third row, Football Mad returned and went to the third row, there were no new members.
In Episode 6, Oxbridge appears in the third row, Country Life appears in the 4th row, there were no new members.
Non-returning from Series 2 so far: Craft Beard, Privileged, Man-Pedi, Green Fingered, Wine Buff
2021 Series 4 Members
The Ranganation series 4 has included 22 members from the public including:
Top row: Romesh's mum, Vlogger, You're History, The Dogfather, Never Voted,
2nd row: Lord Dave, Small Town Girl, Pride of Wales, Folk Hero, Technophobe
3rd row: Wheeler Dealer,Country Life, Renaissance Man (new member), Oxbridge, Chippy Tea (new member), Ex Banker
Bottom row: Glam Gran, Football Mad, Metalhead, Watch Your Language, Comic Book Guy, Flying Circus, Gen Z
So far non returning members: The Skipper
In Episode 2, Oxbridge and Country Life Switched rows. Chippy Tea moves to the bottom row. Glam Gran does not appear. Renaissance Man makes his first appearance.
In Episode 4, Metalhead did not appear. Flying Circus made their first appearance in his stead.
Notes
- Not reported in the weekly top 15 programmes for BBC Two
References
- Richardson, Jay (18 May 2018). "Romesh Ranganathan pilots topical BBC Two panel show". Chortle. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- "Romesh Ranganathan to host new BBC panel show pilot". British Comedy Guide. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- "The Ranganation ordered by BBC Two". British Comedy Guide. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- "'I pretend I consider the public equals...'". Chortle. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- "There's going to be a blank square where my mum should be..." Chortle. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "The Ranganation". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "The Ranganation is back - from Romesh's garage". Chortle. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "Romesh Ranganathan back with new series of topical comedy show The Ranganation". The Irish News. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- "The Ranganation set to return to BBC Two and BBC iPlayer for third series". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- "BAFTA TV 2020: Winners of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". www.bafta.org. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- "Winners of the RTS Programme Awards 2021 announced". Royal Television Society. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- Guide, British Comedy (27 May 2021). "Friday Night Dinner wins at Broadcast Awards 2021". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- "BAFTA TV 2021: Nominations and Winners of the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". www.bafta.org. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- "Weekly top 10 programmes BARB". www.barb.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- Do you wash your legs in the shower? | The Ranganation - BBC, retrieved 11 August 2019
- Should plastic straws be banned? | The Ranganation - BBC, retrieved 11 August 2019
- Should homework be banned? | The Ranganation - BBC, retrieved 11 August 2019
- Do you believe in UFOs? | The Ranganation - BBC, retrieved 11 August 2019
- The staggering number of UK adults sleeping with a soft toy 🤯 | The Ranganation - BBC, retrieved 11 August 2019
- Trying to answer stupid job interview questions | The Ranganation - BBC, retrieved 11 August 2019