Romesh Ranganathan was racially abused when he attended private school.

Romesh Ranganathan was racially abused when he attended private school.

Romesh Ranganathan was racially abused when he attended private school.

The 45-year-old comedian - whose parents are Sri Lankan - has told how he "didn't enjoy" his time in private education because of the vile abuse he received, but he later moved to a state school, and he had a "great time" there.

Romesh later returned to the state school in Crawley as a teacher, and he met his future wife Leesa, who was a drama teacher at the education facility.

He told the Radio Times magazine: "My parents had come from Sri Lanka and they were obsessed with me going to private school.

"I didn’t enjoy my time there. Without getting too dark, I was racially abused. So, I wasn’t that bothered about leaving.

"I went to a state school, had a great time and went on to teach at that same school, which is where I met my wife."

Romesh currently hosts the likes of 'A League of Their Own' and 'The Weakest Link', but he was shocked when he was offered the chance to front the BBC quiz show.

The star - who replaced Anne Robinson as the programme's presenter - said: "I was genuinely surprised when I got that call.

"But the truth is, the quiz is bulletproof.

"As long as I can read out loud, I’ll do all right."

In October, Romesh told how he once considered taking his own life when he was a teenager.

The star ended up at such a low point when his dad was sent to prison for two years in in the early 1990s after being convicted for fraud.

He said: "Back when I was a teenager, my dad was sent to prison, and it led to me considering taking my own life.

"It's a moment that sits alongside the other low points I've had that have really hammered home just how vital help is when you're struggling.

"I'm becoming CALM Patron because I know talking about suicide really does make a difference and that anyone can hit rock bottom.

"It's vital we all understand that those feelings won't last forever, so I'll be helping to make sure more people know about CALM's life-saving services and raising as much money as I can to support as many people as possible."

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