Romesh Ranganathan, who is hosting Parents’ Evening tonight (Saturday, November 16), once opened up about the eye infection that changed the way he looked.
The comic has become a regular fixture on British telly over the past few years, thanks to hosting shows such as The Weakest Link and being one of the regulars on A League Of Their Own.
And he is always quick to poke fun at the way he looks, branding his right eye “the elephant in the room”.
Romesh Ranganathan on his eye condition
When the comedian was three years old, he developed a serious infection.
This infection left him with ptosis, which causes the eyelid to droop. The star has embraced the condition and doesn’t shy away from it. In fact, Romesh is quite happy to poke fun at it.
‘I always look like I’m midway through a wink’
Speaking to The Sun ahead of hosting his first series of The Weakest Link, Romesh joked that he always looks like he’s “mid-wink”.
Anne Robinson famously winked quite a lot while she was host of The Weakest Link, which became something of a trademark. However, Romesh was quick to confirm that he wouldn’t be doing that when he hosted the show.
“The honest truth is, let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room, I always look like I’m midway through a wink – at all times,” he said.
I’ve got a lazy eye and I’m brown – I think that really helps. I help TV shows tick a lot of boxes.
“I did think about it. We talked about it at the beginning but there are certain things that Anne did that were textbook her, and so I just made sure I didn’t do. You want to do it in your own way.”
The star then continued: “But listen, I just want to categorically state now that I don’t remember exactly my every movement, it’s possible that I did wink at one stage – I don’t know for definite. If I did, I just want to say I apologise – it’s accidental,” he joked.
‘Diversity quotas have really helped me out’
It’s not the first time that Romesh has made fun of his own appearance.
Speaking about being an in-demand star with SBS, he said: “I think diversity quotas have really helped me out, do you know what I mean?
“I’ve got a lazy eye and I’m brown – I think that really helps. I help TV shows tick a lot of boxes. If they get me on then they don’t have to worry about [their diversity quota] for a couple of episodes.”
Read more: Romesh Ranganathan admits he ‘considered taking his own life’: ‘I’d fantasise about it’
Romesh Ranganathan’s Parents’ Evening airs tonight (Saturday, November 16) at 9.15pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Share your thoughts on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.