He’s the hardest working man in showbiz, but Romesh Ranganathan’s latest stand-up routine is not about to reinvent his winning comedy formula
Romesh Ranganathan: The Cynic’s Mixtape
Eventim Apollo, London On tour until June 19
Despite his easygoing, devil-may-care attitude, Romesh Ranganathan has wrested the title of Hardest Working Man in Showbiz from Jimmy Carr.
A Bafta-winning travel show, a Bafta-winning topical comedy show, countless panel shows, a podcast, a sitcom, books, a turn as the new Anne Robinson on the revived Weakest Link, and now a six-month tour including a string of dates at London’s Eventim Apollo.
And all that in little more than three jam-packed years.
Romesh Ranganathan (above), father of three boys, is so well known for slating his second son, people approach the family in the street and ask him, ‘Which one’s the d***head then?’
But incredibly, this is only his second UK stand-up tour, so maybe he’s lazier than we think. The Cynic’s Mixtape is not about to reinvent the winning Romesh formula that has propelled him this far.
Self-deprecating to the max, he mixes excruciating levels of honesty with world-class cynicism. And when he’s not putting himself down, he turns his comic firepower on his nearest and dearest.
The father of three boys, he’s now so well known for slating his second son, people approach the family in the street and ask him, ‘Which one’s the d***head then?’
The tour started pre-pandemic. Consequently, he says, couples are coming to his shows who have already split up. In fact, he reckons most punters are not even sure they like him any more because ‘he’s on everything’.
There are few surprises here: his veganism, annoying family and famously wonky eye are all ticked off summarily. But there are moments when he addresses racism and body image where you think his next show could be a real belter.
That’s assuming he can find the time to write it.