Journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy has switched over from his usual home on Channel 4 to BBC One, as he takes on Strictly Come Dancing.
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“I’m surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of ‘you only live once!'” He said as the news was announced, “I can’t wait to start learning to dance.”
Krishnan Guru-Murthy career
The Beeb was actually where Krishnan began his journalism career, as a presenter on their children’s current affair programme, Newsround. He then worked his way up to presenting Newsnight.
In 1998, he made the move to Channel 4 News and has remained there ever since. He is the programme’s second-longest-serving presenter after Jon Snow.
Throughout his career, Krishnan has reported on countless world-altering events such as 9/11 and the Iraq War. He has also interviewed stars such as Quentin Tarantino and Robert John Downey Jr.
Showbiz experience?
While it’s not quite the dance experience of Layton Williams and Angela Rippon, it seems Krishnan may also have some performing prowess that he’s been keeping on the down-low.
During a podcast appearance last year, he spoke about the years he spent in the National Youth Theatre as a teenager and how he narrowly missed out on the big time.
“When I was seventeen I was approached by a casting agent for a movie.” He revealed, “It was called Madame Souzatska, John Schlesinger directing, Twiggy and Dame Peggy Aschroft starring and they were looking for a young male lead. I got to the last two…then lost out to actor Navin Chowdhry.”
What did Krishnan Guru-Murthy say?
Since signing up for Strictly, Krishnan has come under fire for some comments he previously made about the BBC.
In conversation with Politics Joe, he described his previous employer as “a big bureaucratic beast”. He suggested that he felt restricted by their strict rules on political impartiality.
According to the Sun, he said in another interview: “I worked for them for 10 years but I do relish it when they are in trouble. There may be a boss you knew 20 years ago that you might enjoy watching screw up. There are grudges in the media obviously.”
Krishnan also weighed in on Gary Lineker’s freedom of speech row with the broadcaster earlier this year, saying that the BBC “did mess it up, obviously”.
It’s not the first time Krishnan has proven himself to be outspoken. In October 2022, he was suspended for a week by Channel 4 after calling Northern Ireland minister, Steve Baker, the c word.
Does Krishnan Guru-Murthy have a sister?
Krishnan’s sister, Geeta Guru-Murthy is a BBC journalist herself. She has presented news bulletins on BBC Radio 4, BBC breakfast and BBC World News amongst others.
In 2017, Geetawas one of several female BBC employees campaigning against the gender pay gap. Earlier this year, she was laid off in cut-backs at the BBC News Channel.
How old is Krishnan Guru-Murthy?
Krishnan is 53-years-old. He has said that while he is “delighted” to be taking to the dancefloor, he is “slightly worried about [his] general decrepitude”.
I need to get over being unfit, overweight and uncoordinated with a dodgy heart condition
Since beginning Strictly training he has opened up further about some health conditions that may stand in his way.
“I just need to get over being unfit, overweight and uncoordinated with a dodgy heart condition and it will be great!” He told fans via an Instagram story.
The star revealed in 2021 that he inherited a genetic heart condition from his father. He also reportedly suffers from Crohn’s disease.
Is Krishnan Guru-Murthy married?
Krishnan married photographer Lisa in 2005. His wife was apparently a driving force behind him accepting the Strictly gig.
“I told my wife first obviously and I sort of said: ‘What do you think? Do you think I should do it?’ And she was like: ‘Yes definitely do it.'” He told Radio 2, “Which is funny, because we’ve talked about it in the past and we were all like ‘no never’, but something changed this year. I think we all just kind of thought, now’s the time.”
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The couple also share two children, who have apparently had mixed creations to the news.
“I have an 18-year-old daughter who thought it was a brilliant idea.” The news anchor told Claudia Winkleman on her radio show, “And I have a 16-year-old son, who…I’m really, really sorry, I just have to apologise to him… but yeah, he’s appalled.”
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