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 focused on recruiting a diverse group of "regular people who are opinionated and passionate", and that he enjoyed the honesty of the panellists. 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 remove DJ equipment he bought to learn how to disc jockey during the pandemic. On Sunday, 10 May 2020 at 9:15 p.m., the first episode aired. The production aimed to incorporate a mixture of topics, despite homogeneous pandemic news coverage. [7] [8] [5]
On 18 January 2021, the BBC Press office announced the third series of The Ranganation would return that February. While Ranganathan was filmed from a studio, the guests participated from home. [9] A fourth series began in October 2021. Following the relaxation of social distancing guidelines in the summer, Ranganathan and celebrity guests record in the studio while members still contribute remotely.
Series members
Each series of The Ranganation includes a diverse cross-section of the public with each member having a unique nickname. Some notable participants include Romesh's mum, Scott Caizley under the nickname OMG PHD, Param Singh who is Wheeler Dealer, Anglia TV announcer Katie Glass who is You're History, and Anthony Nguyen, the Ranganation's first ever Drag Queen, Tequila Thirst, with the moniker Life's A Drag, who opened for Chappell Roan on tour.
Series 1
In the first series, 29 people appeared on the show: Vlogger, Vicars Daughter, Privileged, Yes Miss, Football Mad, OMG PHD, Lord Dave, Selfie Queen, EcoVegan, Wannabe MP, Mindful, Oxbridge, Dog Father, Technophobe, Table for One, Small Town Girl, Ex Banker, Gen Z, Wheeler Dealer, The Skipper, Single Dad, You're History, Witness the Fitness, Romesh's Mum, Never Voted, Granny To Be, Pride of Wales, Comic Book Guy, and Green Fingers.
Series 2
Series two included 25 members from the public: Romesh's mum, Old Bill, Craft Beard, Privileged, You're History, Never Voted, Lord Dave, Small Town Girl, Pride of Wales, Ex Banker, Mani-Pedi, Vlogger, Glam Gran, Wheeler Dealer, Technophobe, Metalhead, Old Bill, Green Fingers, Gen Z, Football Mad, Watch Your Language, Wine Buff, The Dogfather, Oxbridge, The Skipper, and Comic Book Guy.
Series 3
The third series included 20 members from the public including Romesh's mum, Old Bill, The Dogfather, You're History, Never Voted, Lord Dave, Small Town Girl, Ex Banker, Pride of Wales, Oxbridge, Country Life (New Member), Vlogger, Wheeler Dealer, Technophobe, Gen Z, Picture This, Football Mad, Watch Your Language, The Skipper, Comic Book Guy, Metalhead, Glam Gran, and Folk Hero.
The display screen also changed to show the current speaker in the centre with the other people appearing around them. The central talking member still appears in the smaller windows around them.
Series 4
The Ranganation series 4 has included 22 members from the public including Romesh's mum, Old Bill, Vlogger, You're History, The Dogfather, Never Voted, Lord Dave, Small Town Girl, Pride of Wales, Folk Hero, Technophobe, Wheeler Dealer, Country Life, Renaissance Man, Oxbridge, Chippy Tea, Ex Banker, Glam Gran, Football Mad, Metalhead, Watch Your Language, Comic Book Guy, Flying Circus, and Gen Z.
Series 5
The Ranganation Series 5 included 2 new members Life's A Drag, and Bingo, from the public, joining the existing cast.
The show continued to have a large display screen in the studio of the cast - alongside Romesh and special studio guests.
