Krishnan Guru-Murthy: The optimistic Channel 4 News interviewer lets off steam on Strictly Come Dancing

It is Be sure to come dance Once again… and you know what that means.

A selection of nimble celebrities tango, foxtrot and pirouette onto the dance floor in the 21st series of the hit BBC reality competition.

This year’s nominees include Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Channel 4’s highly respected news broadcaster.

Guru-Murthy, now 53, was born in Liverpool in 1970, the child of an Indian radiology consultant.

After growing up near Burnley and going to school in Blackburn, he studied at Hertford College, Oxford, before being employed by the BBC in 1988.

Guru-Murthy started out as a presenter on the BBC Two show Open to questions And reporta youth-oriented current affairs program.

Between 1991 and 1994 he presented News roundand produced for News eveningand joins BBC News 24’s first presenting team.

In 1998 Guru-Murthy moved to Beeb competitor Channel 4 and became a presenter there Channel 4 News.

During his 25 years at Channel 4, the newsreader gained a reputation for his strong, direct interview style, which occasionally led to him clashing with interviewees.

Among those who objected to Guru-Murthy’s questions were Robert Downey Jr., who walked out of an interview after being questioned about his past drug abuse, and filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who told the host, “I reject your question . I am not your slave and you are not my master. You can’t make me dance to your tune. I’m not a monkey.”

In a 2015 interview, he spoke about his bad reputation ViceGuru-Murthy noted, “I am basically the person I always was. I don’t play a character on TV; I am my self.

“My desire to get straight to the point, ask clear questions and confront and challenge people when I think they need it. I’m sure you can trace this personality trait back to my school days in Blackburn.”

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He previously appeared in a celebrity version of the cooking series The Great British Bake Offand has made cameo appearances in films including Shaun of the Dead.

In October 2022, Guru-Murthy was taken off air by Channel 4 for a week after he was caught swearing at Northern Ireland Tory MP Steve Baker.

Immediately after a combative interview with Baker, the host was caught on the microphone saying, “What a piece of shit.”

Shortly afterwards he apologized on Twitter, writing: “After an extensive interview with MP Steve Baker, in an incautious moment off air I used a very offensive word. Although this word was not broadcast in any context, it does not meet the standards I have set for myself and I apologize unreservedly. I have contacted Steve Baker to apologize.”

Channel 4 banned him for a week, confirming the outburst had breached its code of conduct.

Offscreen, Guru-Murthy suffers from Crohn’s disease and also has a genetic heart defect. He is married with two children and his sister, Geeta Guru-Murthy, also works in television for BBC News.

Before his arrival on StrictlyGuru-Murthy wanted to reassure viewers that his participation would not interfere with his normal interview duties.

Asked by The Observer On whether he was worried that the audience would take him less seriously, Guru-Murthy replied: “I have no idea how I will do, but I think the audience knows me well. They grew up with me and know what I stand for. As for the guests? It might be helpful to have something soft to break the opponent’s ice.

“I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. I think it would be very funny if someone dared to take me less seriously when I go into an interview because I do Strictly. Good luck with it. “See how you do,” I would tell them.”

You can read the rest StrictlyThe line-up for 2023 can be found here.

Strictly airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One.