Romesh Ranganathan to host Weakest Link as quiz show returns

THE BBC’S popular quiz show The Weakest Link will make a comeback with award-winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan replacing Anne Robinson as its host.

Ranganathan will present 12 episodes of the celebrity version of the show, each running 45 minutes during prime time on BBC One.

Set for filming in Glasgow, the show will see celebrities answer general knowledge questions to remain in the contest.

“It’s an honour to bring back a TV institution,” Ranganathan said referring to the revival of the show which last aired in November 2017.

"Anne was an amazing host and to step into her shoes is an anxiety-inducing privilege," said the British Sri Lankan, whose show The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, recently won him a Bafta award.

"I'm hoping we've found a way to make both the fans of the show happy as well as bringing a new audience to it."

The Weakest Link is the third major project Ranganathan has been chosen for in recent weeks after the sports-themed panel show A League of Their Own of Sky television and the BBC’s The Misinvestigations Of Romesh Ranganathan.

Kate Phillips, the BBC's director of entertainment, who described Robinson as a “terrific and formidable host” said Ranganathan will bring a unique style of presentation to the quiz show.

"Weakest Link has always been a firm favourite with audiences and Anne Robinson was a terrific and formidable host… I can't wait to see Romesh bring his own unique style of presenting to one of TV's most memorable roles," Philips said.

Robinson, who hosted more than 1,690 editions of the show between 2000 and 2012 and again in 2017, said the selection of Ranganathan was a “clever” move.

"I think it's quite clever to have a guy doing it, a comedian whose approach will be very different to mine.”