BBC presenter's humiliating film star encounter: 'My mum stopped talking to me'
07.05.2024 - 11:37
/ ok.co.uk
The BAFTA Television Awards return to our screens on Sunday, with the biggest stars heading to London's South Bank to celebrate top telly of the past year. However, there's one star who host Romesh Ranganathan will be avoiding after an awkward encounter years before - and that's Idris Elba. The comedian - who is back to host the TV BAFTAs with Rob Beckett - has revealed that he's learnt never to meet his heroes after an "embarrassing" run-in with the Luther star at his first ceremony.
Speaking to OK! in an exclusive interview, Romesh, 46, said that he does get "starstruck" by celebs - but prefers not to meet them. "I'd rather they never had any interaction with me than have the sort of interactions that I do have with those sorts of people," he said. “The first time I went to the BAFTAs, I went with my mum and wife and they both wanted to meet Idris Elba," says Romesh, who is married to teacher Leesa Ranganathan, 45.
“It didn’t happen because I’d spoken to Idris and it had gone quite badly. He was with Tom Hiddleston and I made a joke.
Tom then whispered something in Idris’ ear and they moved away. "My wife said to me, ‘That was embarrassing.’ It was embarrassing but I didn't need her confirming it.
I went back inside and I said, 'I'm sorry Mum, I can't take you to meet Idris Elba.' "She stopped talking to me for the rest of the evening. It was really horrible. It’s for that reason that when I see people I really like, it’s better I don’t approach them.” Romesh's mum, Shanthi Ranganathan, is no stranger to fame herself, having starred alongside Romesh on a number of his shows.
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