Romesh & Shanthi React To Idris Elba's Apology

Has Shanthi finally forgiven Idris Elba? In this Thursday episode of The Romesh Ranganathan Show, Shanthi reacts to an unexpected peace offering from Idris Elba after their long-running, one-sided "feud." Elsewhere, Romesh recommends one of his favourite TV shows, we try an improvised jingle and Romesh and Shanthi answer your listener questions on ageing, plastic surgery, dating apps and whether you should use celebrity selfies on them. Plus the team celebrates a huge podcast milestone on the podcast! A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Platform Media. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:30 A mystic exercise for Shanthi 09:43 Shanthi & Romesh’s favourite episodes 11:10 An apology gift for Shanthi 15:00 A kind of apology to Idris Elba 25:37 A Rommy Recommendation 28:45 A show jingle 30:00 A team announcement 30:45 A question on plastic surgery and ageing 38:31 Celeb pictures on dating apps 42:28 Some compliments & advice for Romesh 44:45 Shanthi’s out of the dating game 48:11 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• 0:00Speaker 00

  Here you go, Mum. This was sent in for you.

• 0:04Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 0:04Speaker 00

  Shall I open it for you?

• 0:06Speaker 01

  Did you buy this?

• 0:07Speaker 00

  No, it was sent into the podcast.

• 0:09Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 0:10Speaker 00

  And there's a card.

• 0:12Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 0:12Speaker 00

  Why don't you read the card?

• 0:15Speaker 01

  Dear Romesh and Shanthi, I here, I have accidentally landed myself in Shanthi's bad books. Hopefully, this helps. Love.

• 0:31Speaker 00

  Ben, congratulations on this fit, bro.

• 0:34Speaker 02

  This?

• 0:34Speaker 00

  Love it. Really good.

• 0:38Speaker 02

  Yeah?

• 0:38Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 0:40Speaker 03

  I think you look wonderful.

• 0:41Speaker 00

  Thanks.

• 0:41Speaker 01

  Yeah, I like that combination.

• 0:44Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 0:45Speaker 01

  Brown and beige.

• 0:49Speaker 00

  Why are you doing that face off the back of it? It suggests that you don't like it.

• 0:53Speaker 01

  I love it. I love it. I wear things like that.

• 0:55Speaker 00

  Yeah, there you go.

• 0:57Speaker 03

  Neutrals.

• 0:58Speaker 00

  You're dressing like a Sri Lankan woman in her seventies.

• 1:02Speaker 01

  Why do you have to bring my age?

• 1:05Speaker 00

  Shall we start the app?

• 1:06Speaker 02

  Feels like we have.

• 1:07Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 1:18Speaker 01

  With me, Shanthi.

• 1:21Speaker 00

  Ready?

• 1:22Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 1:22Speaker 00

  Okay. Yo, smack a ball bag on the arse and call it daddy. It's the Romesh, Ranga and Nathan Show, Thursday edition. Yeah.

• 1:39Speaker 01

  No swearing.

• 1:40Speaker 00

  Do you wanna do a sound effect? Do a sound effect, Mum.

• 1:43Speaker 01

  Like what?

• 1:44Speaker 00

  Anything you want. Yeah. Nice. Every Thursday, we reflect on Monday's episode and answer your questions and dilemmas. As always, I'm joined by my mother, Shanthi Ranganathan.

• 1:59Speaker 01

  Hi, hi, everybody.

• 2:01Speaker 00

  And the team, or as they've been officially been branded, the Uggos. Little group of monsters, little trolls. You can't see, but they're in a little cage and they shit in it and it stinks. And we have to sort of put up a little barrier in between us and them because otherwise the smell will be too repulsive to record the podcast. Uh, last week, we had the chili oil special, which was a lot. And today it's gonna be much more mango chutney slash raitha. Raitha, raitha. Raitha vibes. Uh, Mum, could you please introduce the show like you're a psychic with your crystal ball? There's a ball, crystal ball next to you there. We've got props.

• 2:39Speaker 01

  Oh, what am I going to say, Mum?

• 2:41Speaker 00

  You can just, just.

• 2:42Speaker 02

  Imagine you're predicting the future of what this episode's gonna be like.

• 2:46Speaker 01

  Like that?

• 2:46Speaker 00

  Yeah, good.

• 2:48Speaker 01

  It's like a ball.

• 2:49Speaker 00

  Yeah, well, that's what it is. Okay, go for it. I don't know, we sort of... What's, what are you doing?

• 2:57Speaker 00

  Okay, go on. Good luck.

• 2:58Speaker 01

  Right.

• 2:59Speaker 00

  Down the barrel of the camera.

• 3:01Speaker 01

  Hi, everybody.

• 3:08Speaker 00

  I'm trying to help.

• 3:10Speaker 01

  Do that again.

• 3:11Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 3:13Speaker 00

  Go for it.

• 3:14Speaker 01

  I hope Romesh Ranganathan Show, this episode, will be successful and send so many, so much love towards you. And please send email to us and I love you all.

• 3:31Speaker 01

  That's it.

• 3:33Speaker 00

  Okay, it's not, sorry, they're not sure.

• 3:35Speaker 01

  I didn't like it, what I said.

• 3:37Speaker 00

  No.

• 3:38Speaker 01

  Yeah. What do, how do I say?

• 3:40Speaker 00

  You wanna do it like you're a psychic who's predicting the future? Shall I give you, give it her?

• 3:45Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 3:46Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 3:51Speaker 01

  That's like a ghost coming.

• 3:52Speaker 00

  This is Romesh the psychic and I predict many exciting and hilarious moments in this Thursday edition of the Romesh Ranganathan podcast.

• 4:02Speaker 01

  No.

• 4:03Speaker 00

  Something like that.

• 4:03Speaker 02

  Couldn't you look into the ball, though?

• 4:05Speaker 00

  Oh, sorry, okay. All right, yeah, cool. Oh.

• 4:11Speaker 01

  This is...

• 4:14Speaker 00

  I predict, what does it say? Oh, let me look into this. It says that we are gonna have some many hilarious moments on this Thursday episode of the Romesh Ranganathan podcast.

• 4:27Speaker 01

  He's doing much better than me. Yeah, go on, you do it.

• 4:31Speaker 00

  Well, why do I have to?

• 4:32Speaker 01

  I look like a mad woman with that.

• 4:34Speaker 00

  No, the whole, oh, yeah, and I looked like an absolute fucking legend when I did it. The point is, I'm supposed to do like the, this, let me tell you the structure of the podcast, right? I do all the shit bits of like links and stuff like that and then we throw to you and then you do something amazing and everybody goes, I'm much professional, Shanthi, in the comments. So we're trying to tee you up to do that. I'm doing the, oh, welcome to the... And then I throw to you and you go, I don't know. Everybody cracks up. Oh, my God, icon, queen, slay. That's what we're doing.

• 5:06Speaker 01

  Oh, shut up, mate.

• 5:07Speaker 00

  We're trying to tee you up so that you could be excellent. And now you're throwing these opportunities away. Here, give it a go.

• 5:14Speaker 01

  Give me the ball.

• 5:15Speaker 00

  I'm giving it, what do you, what do you think's happening here? All right, go on.

• 5:18Speaker 01

  What do, I can't, you should have prepped me.

• 5:23Speaker 00

  I shouldn't have. The Uggos should. Now, listen. I think what you're, what's happening, can I give you some advice? You're a little bit in your head. Just release yourself to the process and say whatever comes to you. Don't feel any embarrassment. Whatever you do will be brilliant. Let's see what happens.

• 5:41Speaker 01

  What do I say?

• 5:42Speaker 00

  Whatever you want.

• 5:45Speaker 01

  Nothing coming in my head.

• 5:47Speaker 00

  Okay, well, just look to the ball and see what the ball gives you.

• 5:49Speaker 01

  Next thing I'll do.

• 5:51Speaker 00

  No, no, no, next thing. Come on. Give it a go.

• 5:56Speaker 00

  Use the ball as a prop.

• 5:58Speaker 01

  Yeah?

• 5:59Speaker 00

  Okay, yeah, look into it. Okay, shall I help you?

• 6:02Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 6:03Speaker 00

  Mum?

• 6:03Speaker 01

  Both of us will do it.

• 6:04Speaker 00

  Okay, fine.

• 6:05Speaker 01

  Good, good, good. That makes sense, yeah.

• 6:07Speaker 00

  Yeah, it makes sense.

• 6:08Speaker 01

  You're giving me the ball and on my own.

• 6:11Speaker 00

  You're not on your own. It's a room full of people.

• 6:13Speaker 01

  No, both of us will do it. Okay.

• 6:16Speaker 00

  I'll tee you up, but you're gonna be the psychic in this, so in this role play.

• 6:19Speaker 01

  You ask me something.

• 6:20Speaker 00

  Yeah. Hello, Mum. Hello, Mystic Shanthi.

• 6:24Speaker 01

  Yes?

• 6:25Speaker 00

  Could you look into your ball and tell us what's gonna be happening in this week's episode? What, what do you predict?

• 6:30Speaker 01

  I predict it's going to be

• 6:36Speaker 01

  very successful and people are sending love towards us. I can feel that in my body.

• 6:44Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 6:45Speaker 01

  And so many emails are going to come.

• 6:47Speaker 00

  Oh. And do you think we'll check the correct account?

• 6:53Speaker 01

  Yes, we will.

• 6:55Speaker 00

  Yes, you do.

• 6:56Speaker 01

  You don't need to, it says, you don't need to worry about a thing. Everything will fall into place. That's what it says. I can read that, okay?

• 7:05Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 7:06Speaker 01

  Are you happy about that?

• 7:07Speaker 00

  I'm really happy. Welcome to the show.

• 7:16Speaker 04

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• 7:33Speaker 04

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• 7:53Speaker 00

  Uh, we should also, this is very exciting news, Mum.

• 7:57Speaker 01

  What's that?

• 7:58Speaker 00

  Our show was named one of the best so far 2026 by Apple Podcasts. One of the best so far 2026 by Apple Podcasts. So best so far. So what that is, is they basically look and they go, it's pretty good so far. We're not confident we're still gonna feel like this at the end of the year. So let's give them recognition now.

• 8:18Speaker 01

  No, you mustn't.

• 8:18Speaker 00

  I'm just saying, it's best so far. We're one of the best podcasts of 2026 so far.

• 8:24Speaker 01

  All right, yeah. You should be happy about that.

• 8:27Speaker 00

  We got some feedback. It's Shanthi's willingness to throw herself into the role plays in the intros that make the podcast so successful. She never refuses a request.

• 8:37Speaker 01

  That's...

• 8:38Speaker 00

  And that's what makes it so magical. I'm just reading off here.

• 8:41Speaker 01

  Oh.

• 8:42Speaker 00

  Uh, but anyway, we're one of the best podcasts so far 2026.

• 8:45Speaker 01

  I'm over the moon, I'm happy.

• 8:46Speaker 00

  Yeah, me too. Yeah. Big up yourself.

• 8:48Speaker 01

  Yes, I have been praying as well.

• 8:51Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 8:53Speaker 01

  Sometimes I feel...

• 8:54Speaker 00

  You weren't praying for that specifically, were you? Very niche. What were you praying for?

• 8:57Speaker 01

  Everything included. I pray for all of us, how much time they put in to make this successful.

• 9:03Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 9:03Speaker 01

  So I'm so happy. I do pray.

• 9:05Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 9:06Speaker 01

  That's why I'm going to Wales Temple.

• 9:09Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 9:10Speaker 01

  Yeah, and I will pray, pray, pray because the, that, um, temple was

• 9:17Speaker 01

  invented by a Sri Lankan.

• 9:19Speaker 00

  Hmm, we've gone on a bit of a digression.

• 9:21Speaker 01

  And all the, all the mantras

• 9:24Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 9:24Speaker 01

  Chanted by English people.

• 9:26Speaker 00

  Okay, that's cool.

• 9:27Speaker 01

  So it's cool, isn't it?

• 9:28Speaker 00

  So it doesn't really count, does it?

• 9:29Speaker 01

  What do you mean it doesn't count?

• 9:31Speaker 00

  Well, when them lot do it, it's not proper, is it? Do you know what I mean? Sri Lankan invented it and the honkeys turn up and fucking do their chants.

• 9:38Speaker 01

  I, that's not the nice way to say it, Romesh.

• 9:40Speaker 00

  Sorry, whiteys. I'm joking. It's great. It's really good.

• 9:46Speaker 00

  So yeah, so let's talk about this for a little bit before we carry on. You're going to on a day trip, aren't you? Is it a day trip? Are you staying over?

• 9:53Speaker 01

  No, I'm staying there for the night.

• 9:55Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 9:55Speaker 01

  Uh, then we get up early and go and do all the prayers.

• 9:59Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 10:00Speaker 01

  And listen to the, see the puja, they, we call it. Then travel back on the following.

• 10:05Speaker 00

  How are you getting there?

• 10:07Speaker 01

  We booked a van.

• 10:08Speaker 00

  You've booked a van?

• 10:09Speaker 01

  Yeah, I waited for the holidays, nothing happening, so I'm getting old. So while I'm walking, I'll go to this place, that's the study.

• 10:17Speaker 00

  How many of you going?

• 10:18Speaker 01

  Eight of us.

• 10:19Speaker 00

  Eight of you in a van?

• 10:20Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 10:20Speaker 00

  Okay. All in the main vehicle?

• 10:23Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 10:23Speaker 00

  There's nobody trying to sneak into Wales. Uh, anyway, best so far twenty twenty six by Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening to the show and making this happen. We're very, very grateful, aren't we, Mum?

• 10:32Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 10:33Speaker 00

  If you're new to the podcast, we recommend you check out a few of our, hmm. We recommend you check out a few of our, that's actually quite, a few of our favourite episodes. What are your favourite episodes, Mum? I know you don't listen to any of the Monday ones, so I'll do those. Uh, Ricky Gervais is very good.

• 10:48Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 10:48Speaker 00

  Hannah Fry was very good. Bryan Cranston was very good.

• 10:52Speaker 01

  To be honest with you, Romesh, I watch everything. Whenever I get time, I sit down and watch the Monday one.

• 10:57Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 10:58Speaker 01

  It's, everything is lovely.

• 11:00Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 11:00Speaker 01

  I, I learned quite a lot of things from that.

• 11:03Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 11:04Speaker 01

  Some of them are extremely funny, made me laugh.

• 11:06Speaker 00

  What's your favourite?

• 11:08Speaker 01

  Julie?

• 11:09Speaker 00

  Judy Love?

• 11:09Speaker 01

  Love, yeah.

• 11:10Speaker 00

  Oh, that's your favourite.

• 11:11Speaker 01

  Trying to give you a name, isn't she?

• 11:14Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 11:15Speaker 01

  What, what's name?

• 11:17Speaker 00

  Steve, I think.

• 11:19Speaker 01

  Did she give you a Steve?

• 11:20Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 11:22Speaker 01

  Okay, yeah, I, I like that.

• 11:24Speaker 00

  You're struggling to remember your favourite ever episode, but anyway. Uh, anyway, we're an amazing company on this list, so make sure you check out the full best so far twenty twenty six collection and discover amazing shows right now in the Apple Podcast app. We're one of them.

• 11:39Speaker 01

  Hooray.

• 11:39Speaker 00

  And, sick news, we've officially hit two hundred thousand subscribers on YouTube.

• 11:47Speaker 00

  Where is it?

• 11:50Speaker 00

  You don't get anything? You don't get, you don't get a plaque for two hundred K?

• 11:54Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 11:58Speaker 00

  Oh my god.

• 12:00Speaker 01

  What's that?

• 12:03Speaker 00

  Okay, something's been sent into the podcast, Mum.

• 12:06Speaker 01

  Yeah?

• 12:07Speaker 00

  For you.

• 12:08Speaker 01

  For me?

• 12:08Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 12:08Speaker 01

  For me?

• 12:09Speaker 00

  Yes.

• 12:10Speaker 01

  Not for you?

• 12:10Speaker 00

  Not for me, no.

• 12:11Speaker 01

  Why's that?

• 12:12Speaker 00

  I don't know. Would you like to see it?

• 12:14Speaker 01

  Yeah, I'd love to, I'd love to.

• 12:16Speaker 00

  Shall I, shall I grab it off you?

• 12:20Speaker 00

  Here you go, Mum. This was sent in for you.

• 12:25Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 12:25Speaker 00

  Shall I open it for you?

• 12:27Speaker 01

  Did you buy this?

• 12:28Speaker 00

  No, it was sent into the podcast.

• 12:30Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 12:32Speaker 00

  M and S hamper.

• 12:34Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 12:34Speaker 00

  They're good, aren't they? I love Percy Pigs.

• 12:38Speaker 00

  Okay, just opening it for you. Right, let me, I'm gonna show you what's in here.

• 12:44Speaker 02

  I think there's a little card in there.

• 12:45Speaker 00

  There is a card, but let's start with, with, with, there's some chocolates, there's some shamp, there's some.

• 12:51Speaker 01

  Prasaka?

• 12:52Speaker 00

  This is sparkling wine from Hampshire. And there's a card.

• 12:58Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 12:58Speaker 00

  There's some other bits in here, but before we get, before you enjoy that.

• 13:02Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 13:02Speaker 00

  Why don't you read the card?

• 13:06Speaker 01

  Who's writing this there?

• 13:07Speaker 00

  Uh, you're holding the envelope, Mum, why don't you?

• 13:11Speaker 00

  Read it out loud for us.

• 13:13Speaker 01

  Dear Romesh and Shanthi, I here, I have accidentally landed myself in Shanthi's bad books. I promise it wasn't intentional, intentional, Rom. Hopefully this helps. Love, Idris.

• 13:36Speaker 00

  Wow!

• 13:39Speaker 00

  Idris Elba himself, let me have a look, has sent you a hamper. Dear Romesh and Shanthi, I have accidentally landed myself in Shanthi's bad books. I promise it wasn't intentional, Rom. Hopefully this helps. Love, Idris. So that's good. You see, and I think that's a real lesson.

• 13:57Speaker 01

  Gentleman.

• 13:57Speaker 00

  If you want something, slag someone off. Really go in two footed on them, if, even if they don't deserve it, and they said you.

• 14:05Speaker 01

  That's a very bad advice.

• 14:06Speaker 00

  They will send you a fucking hamper and an apology. And I think that's a good life lesson.

• 14:12Speaker 01

  What a, what a gentleman.

• 14:13Speaker 00

  He didn't do anything wrong. You, we absolutely shooed him. Not only did we shoo him on the podcast, we clipped that up and put it on Instagram so that even if people that don't listen to the podcast can come across it and see you irrationally attacking him, and we got a fucking M and S hamper out of it. Whoa!

• 14:31Speaker 00

  That is the circle of life, baby. What, Mum, tell me, let's get into it. Why do you think Tom Hiddleston's a?

• 14:41Speaker 01

  Now I understand why.

• 14:45Speaker 00

  It's amazing, though, how do you feel?

• 14:47Speaker 01

  It is amazing, he's just a gentleman. The reason I had to say those things.

• 14:51Speaker 00

  You didn't have to.

• 14:54Speaker 00

  God, you look so angry. That was one of the most angry looks you've ever given him.

• 14:58Speaker 01

  Yeah, because you're interrupting me.

• 14:59Speaker 00

  Sorry, okay.

• 15:00Speaker 01

  Okay.

• 15:00Speaker 00

  Go on.

• 15:00Speaker 01

  Right. I, I went there for the, the BAFTA.

• 15:05Speaker 00

  Oh my god.

• 15:07Speaker 01

  To see him, I was psyching.

• 15:10Speaker 00

  I mean, his son was nominated, but anyway.

• 15:12Speaker 01

  Uh, psych, anyway, you were nominated, but you didn't win. So I didn't really mention that.

• 15:17Speaker 00

  Hmm.

• 15:17Speaker 01

  But you came back, spoke to him, you didn't even speak. You didn't have the chance to speak to Idris, did you?

• 15:25Speaker 00

  I did speak to him.

• 15:26Speaker 01

  Did you?

• 15:27Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 15:28Speaker 01

  So then why didn't you introduce me to him?

• 15:31Speaker 00

  Oh my god, we could, there is nothing new in this chain of events.

• 15:34Speaker 01

  Okay, okay.

• 15:35Speaker 00

  He didn't do anything wrong, is the point.

• 15:38Speaker 01

  But I tell you, I changed my mind.

• 15:41Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 15:41Speaker 01

  He's such a wonderful man.

• 15:42Speaker 00

  Do you want to say something down the barrel of the camera to Idris?

• 15:44Speaker 01

  Idris, I'm sorry I said that, but only thing I want, I would love to see you in our podcast. Please, please, please say yes and be a gentleman. I will come here, I will take a photograph, then you satisfy me, okay?

• 16:02Speaker 00

  Who the fuck are you, Kim Jong Shanthi? You can't just demand.

• 16:07Speaker 01

  I am not demanding, I'm not demanding.

• 16:09Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 16:10Speaker 01

  I'm begging, actually, yeah.

• 16:12Speaker 00

  You're begging?

• 16:13Speaker 01

  I'm begging.

• 16:13Speaker 00

  Yeah. Now, obviously, we're not.

• 16:15Speaker 01

  Because I won't apologize to you in person. There's nothing wrong with that, please.

• 16:20Speaker 00

  You're gonna apologize to him now?

• 16:21Speaker 01

  I am, for saying all those things.

• 16:23Speaker 00

  My god.

• 16:24Speaker 01

  Not because it's hamper, but, but a gentleman.

• 16:28Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 16:28Speaker 01

  For, uh, listen to me and send me this.

• 16:31Speaker 00

  Yeah, it's lovely, isn't it?

• 16:33Speaker 01

  I'm, I'm so grateful.

• 16:34Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 16:35Speaker 01

  Okay?

• 16:35Speaker 00

  Yeah, thanks, Idris.

• 16:36Speaker 01

  Please, Idris.

• 16:37Speaker 00

  Big Dris, I can tell you this now.

• 16:40Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 16:41Speaker 00

  And this is not a slut in Idris Elba. I think we can accept the hamper in lieu of him appearing on the podcast.

• 16:46Speaker 02

  No, well, why'd you say that?

• 16:47Speaker 01

  Why do you say that?

• 16:48Speaker 02

  That's a crazy thing to say.

• 16:50Speaker 01

  To say?

• 16:50Speaker 00

  Well, because, first of all, it's not, I wouldn't say it's a crazy thing to say.

• 16:55Speaker 02

  I'd, but I'd say that's literally the polar opposite of what we're all hoping for.

• 16:58Speaker 00

  I'm not hoping for it. I'm not hoping he doesn't turn up. What I'm saying is, he's probably, this is what Idris Elba's thinking, I can't be fucking bothered to go on the podcast.

• 17:07Speaker 01

  No, I don't think he's saying that.

• 17:08Speaker 00

  So let me just send her a.

• 17:09Speaker 02

  He's a gentleman.

• 17:10Speaker 01

  He's a gentleman. Who would do a thing like that? I'm your mother. He took it into consideration.

• 17:17Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 17:18Speaker 01

  And send me this.

• 17:19Speaker 00

  Listen.

• 17:20Speaker 01

  You are, you are, you are not positive minded person, are you?

• 17:23Speaker 00

  Mum, you basically fucking character assassinated him on the, on, how am I not positive? I was defending the guy. And I've got fucking jack shit, by the way, Idris. I was sticking up for you, bro.

• 17:36Speaker 01

  That's not the way.

• 17:36Speaker 00

  And she's got sparkling wine and some fucking Bojangles chocolates.

• 17:43Speaker 00

  Fuck you, Idris.

• 17:50Speaker 00

  No, I'm joking. Idris Elba, what a legend.

• 17:53Speaker 02

  And from the team, we can't wait to see you.

• 17:55Speaker 00

  He's not coming on, he is not, he is not coming.

• 17:58Speaker 01

  No, Idris is coming.

• 18:00Speaker 00

  It's not with the attitude, I'm just. I'm not saying he won't come on. By the way, you are being particularly cheeky today, Ben, can I just say? Okay.

• 18:11Speaker 02

  We just want him on the show, I think.

• 18:12Speaker 00

  We do, obviously, I'm not saying I don't want him on the show, I'm just saying, if you were to take, it's unlikely he's gonna come on the show.

• 18:18Speaker 02

  He is gonna come on the show.

• 18:18Speaker 01

  He is going to come on the show, Mum, son.

• 18:21Speaker 00

  Tony Robbins shit.

• 18:22Speaker 02

  He's coming on, oh, he's not, he's not here now, I'm not gonna introduce him.

• 18:24Speaker 00

  No.

• 18:25Speaker 02

  Sorry.

• 18:26Speaker 01

  I, I go, I don't.

• 18:27Speaker 00

  I think the hamper is, I'm not coming on. That's what I think.

• 18:31Speaker 02

  Shanthi, would you have a direct message, anyone? Where you could DM him on Instagram?

• 18:36Speaker 01

  I'd love to.

• 18:37Speaker 02

  Yeah?

• 18:37Speaker 01

  Yeah, I will personally send a message to Idris.

• 18:40Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 18:40Speaker 01

  Such a good looking man, how can I?

• 18:42Speaker 00

  Oh my god, what, by the way, what a one eighty.

• 18:46Speaker 01

  What a one eighty.

• 18:47Speaker 00

  By the way, I've DM'd him already. Thumbleweeds.

• 18:51Speaker 02

  Oh.

• 18:52Speaker 00

  Thanked him for the hamper. Nothing.

• 18:56Speaker 00

  So.

• 18:58Speaker 01

  What did you say to him?

• 18:59Speaker 00

  Idris, I've got, I, I would like to say I've got a bit of a problem with you now.

• 19:05Speaker 00

  Why do you ignore people DMing you?

• 19:06Speaker 01

  Why don't you ask him? Why don't you ask him? What's the reason?

• 19:09Speaker 00

  The fact is all over again for you, isn't it?

• 19:12Speaker 03

  It's the biggest way to see you in person when he comes on.

• 19:15Speaker 00

  He's not coming on the podcast.

• 19:16Speaker 01

  Why not?

• 19:17Speaker 00

  I'm not saying I don't want him on the podcast.

• 19:18Speaker 02

  I've seen it before, people like at the person to get them on. Maybe you could like start a campaign.

• 19:25Speaker 00

  I'm not publicly putting, come on, it's already been embarrassing enough, this.

• 19:28Speaker 01

  This is all embarrassing.

• 19:29Speaker 00

  I find it quite embarrassing.

• 19:31Speaker 01

  Well, I got a hamper from him.

• 19:33Speaker 00

  That bit's not embarrassing, but he sent a hamper that he didn't need to because we absolutely, with no justification whatsoever, publicly annihilated him. I didn't authorize it being an Instagram clip, by the way, so that took me by surprise. Then to see Idris has commented, then obviously your arsehole completely closes up. Think, what's he gonna, is fucking Luther's angry with us?

• 19:58Speaker 00

  Right? Anyway, it turns out, for no reason whatsoever, he's taken it quite well. Just, I want you to imagine being Idris Elba. He's done nothing wrong.

• 20:09Speaker 00

  And then he's just going through Instagram, Shanthe's beef with Idris. Out of nowhere. Like, if I saw that about me, if you saw Idris's beef with Shanthe, you would fucking, you'd be so furious.

• 20:23Speaker 02

  Wouldn't coming on the show be a good chance to clear his name?

• 20:26Speaker 01

  Yeah, that's right.

• 20:27Speaker 00

  He's not needed to clear his name, he's done nothing wrong.

• 20:28Speaker 01

  Romesh, you are not helping, Romesh.

• 20:30Speaker 00

  Huh?

• 20:30Speaker 01

  You are not helping.

• 20:31Speaker 02

  We're giving him a right to reply, aren't we?

• 20:33Speaker 01

  Negative vibes to all of us.

• 20:35Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 20:36Speaker 01

  Please.

• 20:36Speaker 00

  It is, it is remarkable that I'm the one being accused of negative vibes. And listen, I know that you slightly side with mum. This is a fucking outrage. What is happening now?

• 20:46Speaker 01

  He's definitely coming.

• 20:48Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 20:48Speaker 01

  I can feel, because I did the psychic, isn't it?

• 20:51Speaker 00

  Mum.

• 20:52Speaker 01

  She's definitely coming.

• 20:53Speaker 00

  You did the psychic. First of all, you almost did, you almost went on strike about doing it.

• 21:00Speaker 01

  Because suddenly, I never did that, suddenly you ask, hold the ball and do this. I've only a bit, you know, challenging, yeah.

• 21:08Speaker 00

  So how do you feel about Idris Elba now?

• 21:13Speaker 01

  I love him.

• 21:15Speaker 01

  Okay?

• 21:15Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 21:16Speaker 01

  Such a good-looking man. No, he's going to be my famous son.

• 21:24Speaker 00

  Yeah, because you haven't got one of those.

• 21:26Speaker 01

  Because.

• 21:33Speaker 02

  Does it feel like there's?

• 21:33Speaker 00

  What the hell? Yeah, go on, go on, Ben.

• 21:35Speaker 02

  Now, does it feel like there's something left still unfulfilled, though?

• 21:38Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah.

• 21:39Speaker 02

  Like, this is a great first step.

• 21:41Speaker 01

  Yes, I want to see him in person, and I don't mind apologising to him and give him all my blessing.

• 21:49Speaker 00

  Can I, can I say something quite controversial? And you and the menagerie won't agree with me or like this. Okay? If I was him, I wouldn't come on the podcast.

• 22:00Speaker 01

  There you are, you.

• 22:01Speaker 02

  Why would you say that? Why would?

• 22:04Speaker 01

  What do you think you are?

• 22:06Speaker 02

  What do you, what do I think I am?

• 22:09Speaker 01

  If it happened like that, I wouldn't have come to the podcast. What the fuck is, sorry.

• 22:13Speaker 00

  No, it's all right. It's okay, don't start showing self-awareness now, at this late stage.

• 22:18Speaker 01

  Idris Elba is not like that. That day, you are saying, nothing happened like that, mum, the way you imagined.

• 22:25Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 22:26Speaker 01

  It did happen. I all psyched up and I wanted to see him, and he said, some other chap, gentleman or whatever, I don't want to say the bad word, and said something, and he walked off.

• 22:40Speaker 00

  Yeah, so the other person, you don't want to say a bad thing about, Tom Hiddleston.

• 22:42Speaker 01

  You are so special to me.

• 22:46Speaker 01

  Both of you, Romesh and Linesh, okay?

• 22:49Speaker 00

  Okay, I thought I'd say Idris.

• 22:49Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 22:54Speaker 01

  So, somebody ignored you, it hurt me, that's why all this.

• 23:00Speaker 00

  Okay, I can't get into this again, but he did not ignore me.

• 23:03Speaker 03

  Romesh.

• 23:03Speaker 00

  I'm not a liar.

• 23:04Speaker 03

  But there was a misunderstanding, and Shanthe was very protective, mum.

• 23:07Speaker 00

  Mama's distorted the information, I don't know if she had an accident or something, but she's remembered the story differently. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is, Idris sent us a hamper, he didn't need to do that, and if I was a betting man, I wouldn't bet on him coming on the podcast in any time.

• 23:22Speaker 02

  But you would invite him now, would you?

• 23:24Speaker 00

  Idris, I'd love you to come on the podcast, I don't see why you would. And I, I could understand completely if you refused, from your point of view, but we would love to have you on the podcast, but equally.

• 23:34Speaker 03

  Would you go to a party if someone invited you to it like that?

• 23:37Speaker 00

  Would I go to a party if the host's mother had [__] me off on, publicly on a podcast?

• 23:44Speaker 00

  Probably not.

• 23:45Speaker 01

  What's the point, you?

• 23:46Speaker 02

  I'll be honest.

• 23:49Speaker 03

  Point and counterpoint.

• 23:50Speaker 00

  Yeah. Um, anyway, I shouldn't have said that.

• 23:53Speaker 02

  But we would, we would do, we would do like a special, like, record for him, we'd put a third chair in.

• 23:59Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 24:02Speaker 02

  So like, he could do a wish.

• 24:04Speaker 00

  Oh god. I imagine if he's listening to this now, he's fucking hell, put me in the car.

• 24:10Speaker 00

  His head, he's winging his way over, I get a chair.

• 24:16Speaker 00

  No, sorry, guys, I know I said I wouldn't do the podcast, but apparently they'll get me a chair, I thought I was gonna have to squat.

• 24:24Speaker 02

  Maybe it'd be the first guest.

• 24:25Speaker 01

  You're putting him down now.

• 24:26Speaker 00

  I'm not putting him down.

• 24:27Speaker 01

  You are.

• 24:28Speaker 00

  You're totally misunderstanding.

• 24:29Speaker 01

  You are not Idris, how do you know what he's going to say?

• 24:32Speaker 00

  I don't know what he's gonna say. I'm just, I'm speculating.

• 24:36Speaker 02

  But it'd be the first.

• 24:37Speaker 01

  Why he won't come? What's the, just an answer.

• 24:40Speaker 00

  I've been, I've been very crystal clear about it.

• 24:42Speaker 01

  What is it?

• 24:43Speaker 00

  You went in on him, two-footed, he didn't do anything wrong. You really annihilated him on this podcast, you said you hate him. I hate him. A direct quote, and we can VAR this, if needs be. If, when he appears on the TV in his advert, I changed the channel.

• 25:00Speaker 01

  Idris Elba. I hate him.

• 25:02Speaker 00

  Oh.

• 25:02Speaker 01

  When the advertisement come on the telly, I switch it off.

• 25:06Speaker 00

  So you've said all of that, completely apropos of nothing, he's done nothing wrong. And then, now he's sent a hamper, suddenly I love him, he's not gonna come on the podcast.

• 25:17Speaker 01

  Not because of the hamper.

• 25:18Speaker 00

  Not because, so if the hamper hadn't have come, you would have done the apology, would you?

• 25:22Speaker 01

  If, if he.

• 25:28Speaker 01

  If he agreed to come for, in our podcast.

• 25:34Speaker 00

  Why does he have to do something for you to apologise?

• 25:36Speaker 01

  I want to see him, Ramesh, I want to see him in person.

• 25:38Speaker 00

  Now we get to the bottom of it, you want to see him.

• 25:40Speaker 01

  I want to see.

• 25:41Speaker 00

  I want to see him.

• 25:42Speaker 01

  Yes, why not? What's wrong with that?

• 25:45Speaker 00

  There's nothing wrong with that, but that's not a reason for him to come on.

• 25:48Speaker 01

  You behave like that, you are Idris Elba, I won't go, why not?

• 25:53Speaker 00

  I've said it, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go, anyway, the point is, he's not gonna come on. Idris, you're a legend, I love everything you do, so does mum, we'd love to have you on the podcast, please come on.

• 26:07Speaker 00

  But you won't, okay, now for a special part of today's show.

• 26:11Speaker 01

  Gentlemen, don't do that. It's a beautiful invitation, he will accept it.

• 26:17Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 26:17Speaker 01

  Take my word for it, Mithana.

• 26:18Speaker 00

  All right, I will do it, he won't. Uh, now for a special part of today's show, stories that make you feel, and it's brought to you by Hulu on Disney Plus. Uh, so we've all been there, getting all emotional in front of the screen, laughter, tears, joy. Mum, have I, have you and I ever, have I ever cried watching something in front of you?

• 26:37Speaker 01

  No, never, never. You don't cry in front of me, must have cried on your own.

• 26:43Speaker 00

  You've definitely made me cry, after I've been around, I go home and cry for a bit.

• 26:47Speaker 01

  Why? What did, what do I say? What did I say to you to become emotional?

• 26:52Speaker 00

  Just, you know, we have some.

• 26:53Speaker 01

  Like what?

• 26:54Speaker 00

  Just, I don't know, look, I don't know, I'll have to, I can't remember now, but I'll talk to my therapist and get him to give me the files. Today, mum and I are gonna dig into what Hulu stories have really made us feel something. Mum, Only Murders in the Building, have you watched it?

• 27:11Speaker 01

  No.

• 27:12Speaker 00

  Um, okay, uh, so it's, it's set in one building, in New York. Uh, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, the three of them are like, how it starts off at the very beginning of the first series, they're all staying in this building, different apartments. And there's a murder in the building, hence the name. And they basically end up, through a series of kind of, uh, different things happening, they end up starting to investigate it themselves. Um, and it is, uh, I think it's as close to a perfect show as you can get. It is, okay, there is a bit, so basically, they, they, what's so good about it is, one, um,

• 27:56Speaker 00

  you know, like, when you read like a really good cosy crime book, that is like, it's cosy crime. Like, really kind of, you're invested in, um, in like them solving the murder, but also, it's just, it's so funny. It's, it's so incredibly funny. There was a moment in the first series, first season, where Steve Martin, he's kind of been like anaesthetised or something, and so they're wheeling him around, right? And he's just got his legs up like this, and he's just flopping about. His face and his physical position in that one scene was funnier than my career. It, it, I could not believe how funny it was. It, it is so, that show is incredible, it is incredible.

• 28:41Speaker 00

  And then it's got so many like twists, like it's really good, uh, the, the misdirect in that show is unbelievable. It's great, it's a Romesh recommend. I mean that, I think you should watch it. In fact, I think.

• 28:53Speaker 01

  What's the title? I forgot.

• 28:56Speaker 00

  Only Murders in the Building.

• 28:57Speaker 01

  Only Murders in the.

• 28:58Speaker 00

  Only Murders in the?

• 28:59Speaker 01

  Building.

• 29:00Speaker 00

  I think we should watch Only Murders in the Building together, and then I can explain it to you.

• 29:05Speaker 01

  Okay, I, I'm ready. I, I'm retired, I'm waiting for my son to invite me.

• 29:12Speaker 01

  Free for you, my time is for you, but you never invite me.

• 29:16Speaker 00

  Okay, cool. Uh, make sure you check out a lifetime of great stories with Hulu on Disney Plus. Copyright 2026 Disney and its related entities, 18+, subscription is required.

• 29:30Speaker 06

  How about a latte? Maybe dark roast? Vanilla? Caramel? Blueberry?

• 29:34Speaker 04

  You could get them to agree on one flavour, or give everyone what they want.

• 29:40Speaker 04

  With Keurig, there's over 500 K-Cup pie varieties of fresh, flavourful coffee. No effort, no grind, no settling.

• 29:51Speaker 04

  Great coffee without the grind, Keurig.

• 29:56Speaker 00

  Happy?

• 29:57Speaker 01

  I'm happy.

• 29:58Speaker 00

  It's time for, we need to, do we, we need a jingle for this, shall I make one up now?

• 30:03Speaker 02

  You could.

• 30:04Speaker 00

  Listener questions, listener questions, looking for some queries and suggestions.

• 30:10Speaker 01

  I think some.

• 30:11Speaker 03

  That's good.

• 30:12Speaker 01

  It's good.

• 30:13Speaker 03

  What do you think, Shanthe?

• 30:14Speaker 01

  Uh, no.

• 30:15Speaker 00

  Okay. You knew that was gonna happen, didn't you?

• 30:19Speaker 03

  I had no idea.

• 30:19Speaker 00

  Do you wanna come up with a jingle, mum?

• 30:21Speaker 01

  I, oh yeah, yeah.

• 30:22Speaker 00

  Yeah, okay, go on.

• 30:23Speaker 01

  No, both of us.

• 30:25Speaker 00

  Okay, well, why don't you start?

• 30:30Speaker 01

  What do I say?

• 30:32Speaker 00

  We'll just try and make up a song that's called Listener Questions.

• 30:37Speaker 01

  No.

• 30:37Speaker 00

  Okay, cool. Thank you so much. That's improv.

• 30:45Speaker 02

  It's like being at second city.

• 30:45Speaker 00

  A lot of people do yes and, Mum does nor because.

• 30:54Speaker 00

  All right, so we move on to listener questions. Keep sending us your WhatsApp messages and voice notes to 07731623355, or email [email protected]. And don't forget, if you haven't already, please like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. It really means a lot to us. Now, the team have asked me to pass on an important message, and sorry to get serious for a moment, but it's in relation to a listener question we had from a few weeks ago. They're quite upset about it. Please, could you not send any more photographs of your toenails? Okay, we had a discussion a while back. A while back? We had a discussion a while back. It's like the Australia special all over again. We had a discussion a while back about toenail fluff, and we queried whether it's real.

• 31:38Speaker 00

  We do understand it's real. The team are actually getting quite upset. Every time they go to check the emails, then there's a picture of a toenail. One of them has got like a real sort of phobia. So please, don't upset the chimps. Okay, we have got a voice note from Matt with one T. Okay, let's hear it.

• 31:58Speaker 07

  What's going on? Just see, watch the latest episode and that picture of Shanthi. Sheesh, she was a killer back in the day.

• 32:12Speaker 07

  How did Romesh come out of that? She was breaking hearts. So my question on the back of that is, my wife, we're kind of entering into our 40s, early 30s, moving into 40s, and she like, she tends to go on about plastic surgery a lot, kind of not afraid to age, you could say. And I think my, I'm wondering,

• 32:46Speaker 07

  how, how have you, Shanthi, dealt with aging gracefully as you have?

• 32:56Speaker 07

  Not so gracefully for you, Romesh. Something you've dealt with your whole life, but Shanthi, you've aged very well, but aging happens to resolve. Has that something you struggled with? Is that something you had to process yourself, or was it just natural and you were fine with it? Thanks, Matt.

• 33:17Speaker 00

  Matt, fuck you for getting in touch.

• 33:22Speaker 00

  Can I tell you?

• 33:28Speaker 00

  I, can I tell you the thing I enjoyed the least about that voice note? But in all seriousness, thank you for your voice note, Matt. I'm sorry that I'm so appalling to look at. What I don't, I don't mind you complimenting my mum about how attractive she was. I would love it if you sounded less breathy when you were doing it.

• 33:48Speaker 00

  Okay?

• 33:50Speaker 00

  That's the honest truth.

• 33:55Speaker 00

  Because this is how it sounded. Ram, oh god, your mum was a, fucking hell, she was a cracker back in the day, wasn't she? Oh, she's fucking not like you, not like you. She's so fit.

• 34:17Speaker 00

  Anyway, thanks for your message. Mum, how do you, how have you dealt with aging? We know that you don't really like to talk about your age. But I think it's fair to say, a lot of comments on the podcast about how great you look.

• 34:31Speaker 01

  Yeah?

• 34:34Speaker 00

  So is that something you're conscious of? I mean, obviously you take a lot of effort with your appearance.

• 34:39Speaker 01

  I do. From my school days. I loved to wear nice clothes, but in my head it came that if you want to wear nice clothes, you had to be slim and fit. So I started following, then I came here, I came to England.

• 35:00Speaker 01

  I used to read a lot of magazines. They say you take these vitamins, you take that vitamins, and look after your hair. I'll, I'll give you one advice. If you want to have your hair, have zinc. I haven't taken zinc for a long time.

• 35:19Speaker 01

  Even with the difficult period, I looked after myself. And other thing I thought, I have to be alive for my boys. So I really, really looked after myself and ate the right food. I didn't eat any, all this rubbish food like cakes and things. And I did look after myself.

• 35:40Speaker 00

  But now, obviously you're, what, 75, 76? So how are you?

• 35:44Speaker 01

  I'm not 70, fucking 76. Why do you raise my age? Do you, what pleasure do you get?

• 35:52Speaker 00

  Oh, that's, that's fun.

• 35:57Speaker 00

  But do you ever like, have you ever, as you've got older, start to become paranoid about how aging is, no, but how aging is affecting your looks? Does that bother you at all?

• 36:08Speaker 01

  It does bother me. It does bother me.

• 36:10Speaker 00

  So have you done anything to try and to slow that down or counteract that?

• 36:14Speaker 01

  I have. I have been doing it, yeah. I have been doing it, but I can't tell you what it is.

• 36:18Speaker 00

  Okay. You had a facelift the year before last, didn't you?

• 36:22Speaker 01

  I never had facelift.

• 36:24Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 36:25Speaker 01

  Do I look like an alien? No.

• 36:28Speaker 00

  But was it 2009, full BBL, wasn't it?

• 36:34Speaker 01

  Please,

• 36:38Speaker 01

  don't believe what Romesh says. I never done anything like that.

• 36:41Speaker 00

  Mum, I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of. Do you not remember? When you came around, you go, do you think I've got more junk in the trunk?

• 36:51Speaker 01

  I do exercise for my bum. I do. I do, yeah.

• 36:56Speaker 00

  So are you against plastic surgery?

• 36:57Speaker 01

  I am against plastic surgery. There's natural things that you can keep your skin young, yeah?

• 37:03Speaker 00

  But if somebody can afford it, and they feel self-conscious about something, and they're worried about something, they get it changed. There's nothing wrong with that, isn't there?

• 37:12Speaker 01

  If I'm saying the wrong thing, I want all of you to forgive me. So many celebrities, they have so much money.

• 37:21Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 37:22Speaker 01

  They don't look young.

• 37:25Speaker 01

  When the age comes, it started to show.

• 37:27Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 37:28Speaker 01

  So it's a God's gift to look after your skin and things from young age. But you can't mean aging. Just accept, keep your heart happy, man. You try that, everything will work out.

• 37:41Speaker 00

  Good advice. I'm not against plastic surgery. I'd probably go.

• 37:44Speaker 01

  I don't want you to have plastic surgery.

• 37:46Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 37:47Speaker 01

  If you want to correct your eye, that's fine, but for the face,

• 37:53Speaker 01

  it'll be like this, isn't it?

• 37:54Speaker 00

  Yeah, that's what I want.

• 37:58Speaker 02

  That does look nice.

• 38:01Speaker 00

  What's up, little bitches? Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Romesh Ranganathan Show.

• 38:08Speaker 00

  I'm here with my mum, Shanthi.

• 38:12Speaker 00

  How's that look? Does it look better?

• 38:13Speaker 01

  Horrible.

• 38:13Speaker 02

  You should do a bit more at the top as well.

• 38:15Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 38:15Speaker 00

  All right.

• 38:16Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 38:19Speaker 00

  How's that? Do I look younger?

• 38:21Speaker 01

  Yeah, you do.

• 38:23Speaker 00

  I could, you know what I want to get? The little tear trough. Get all that sorted out. I look like a fucking panda.

• 38:28Speaker 01

  Naturally, you can do that. Naturally, you can do.

• 38:31Speaker 00

  You can't. Not in as quick a way as you can do with, what I'm saying is, look, I'm not going to get plastic surgery, but I wouldn't be against it. If I suddenly got to a point where I thought, do you know what I mean? I'm just gonna, I would get it.

• 38:44Speaker 01

  Romesh, if you have your stomach flat and keep skin, every day you clean your skin and do the facial exercise, you, you, you will, you'll be winning.

• 38:56Speaker 00

  Okay. Thank you so much for your voice note, Matt. I thought, I mean, I mean, you were sort of joking about how, I'm hoping you were joking about how hideous you think I am, but just have a think about the fact that people that host podcasts are people as well, all right? I have self-esteem and personal issues. And when you sort of voice note in, you know, about how fit someone's mum is while you're clearly masturbating.

• 39:24Speaker 01

  Oh.

• 39:25Speaker 00

  It's insulting, okay?

• 39:28Speaker 07

  And people who work on podcasts as well.

• 39:31Speaker 00

  Who do you mean?

• 39:33Speaker 02

  We're all people.

• 39:34Speaker 07

  We're all people.

• 39:34Speaker 02

  We're all people. We all have.

• 39:35Speaker 00

  I think you're playing fast and loose with the word people there. Fucking monkeys. Okay.

• 39:42Speaker 00

  We've got a WhatsApp message from Carolyn and an accompanying photo. What the fuck?

• 39:49Speaker 03

  It's still going in and out by itself now.

• 39:50Speaker 00

  So it's a dating.

• 39:53Speaker 00

  This is bum, this is a Bumble dating profile. And now it looks like I'm on Bumble. It's a man in his, is this his main photo?

• 40:02Speaker 02

  Well, yeah.

• 40:03Speaker 03

  Yeah, would, would be.

• 40:04Speaker 00

  Okay, let's hear it.

• 40:05Speaker 03

  Hang on.

• 40:06Speaker 00

  So it's a picture of me next to a man. Hi, Romesh and Shanthi, huge fan of pretty much everything you do. Want to take this opportunity to thank you for being a constant source of fun and inspiration in my life. You're very welcome. What a beautiful opening to that message, Mum.

• 40:19Speaker 01

  Yeah, beautiful, I love it.

• 40:20Speaker 00

  You know, think about that, Matt.

• 40:21Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 40:22Speaker 00

  Uh, question, as you can see whilst browsing on my dating platform yesterday, I was stopped in my swiping tracks when I saw your face as a possible match. And definitely paused for a moment while my brain functioned that it wasn't your profile, but the gentleman next to you. Disappointing to be honest. I've been divorced for six years now, I'm forty seven. Although happy and settled on my own, it'd be nice to start dating, but I find myself in the habit of swiping in the evenings, almost as a pastime or game on my phone. It's so irritating when men put multiple people in their profile. Then you have to work out who you're attempting to be attracted to. I know you haven't done online dating, many tips on how I can try and stay invested either online or in real life? I don't hate men at all, quite the opposite. Shanthi, how do you decide whether to bother or not, or just leave it to the universe?

• 41:06Speaker 00

  Romesh, how do you feel about being on someone's profile pic? Thanks for any advice. Uh, Carolyn, so Mum, that is the, that is the photo that the guy, so the guy on the right.

• 41:17Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 41:18Speaker 00

  That's his dating profile. And he's used that picture, what do you think?

• 41:23Speaker 01

  That's bad, I don't like it at all. Why did you put your picture next to him?

• 41:29Speaker 00

  Um, well, look, there's two ways of looking at it. One's incredibly positive, one's incredibly negative. The positive one is that he thinks that I have some sort of cachet. And that posting up a photo of him next to me suggests that he's a mover and shaker. And that might make him more attractive. The other more negative interpretation of that is people often say you're more attractive when you're next to someone ugly. And he's thought.

• 41:54Speaker 01

  Oh, no.

• 41:55Speaker 00

  If I, if I pick, if I put myself next to Romesh, and I think Matt, one of our previous messenger would probably agree on this. Then I look a little bit better, that might be, that's the other interpretation of why he's done that. I'll leave it up to you to decide which.

• 42:11Speaker 02

  Do you know him?

• 42:12Speaker 00

  Do I know him?

• 42:13Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 42:14Speaker 00

  No.

• 42:14Speaker 02

  Oh.

• 42:15Speaker 00

  No.

• 42:16Speaker 02

  You're not friends.

• 42:17Speaker 00

  No, I'm not friends, no. No, um, he's obviously, I, I, I think it's, can I, I'll be, I'll be honest with you, I think it's a weird thing to do. I think it's strange. I don't see how, uh, uh, but to be, to give it context, I don't understa, I actually don't understand. For adults, I don't understand why any adult asks to get a picture with anybody is, is on genuine truth. In terms of like a celebrity, I'm happy to do it. I don't understand the psychology behind it. Like if you're in a shop and you see somebody you recognise and you like, I don't get asking them for a photo. Look, I, I don't, I don't understand that. So, and I certainly wouldn't put it on a dating profile.

• 42:57Speaker 01

  Why did he put you, he grabbed a picture, lady?

• 43:02Speaker 00

  What is, um, would that make more sense?

• 43:06Speaker 00

  It's his dating profile, he's putting himself out to tender.

• 43:09Speaker 01

  All right, yeah, okay.

• 43:11Speaker 00

  And so he's like, he's going, by the way, Ben, I've seen what you're doing, why did you just close up on my face so intensely there?

• 43:19Speaker 02

  Yeah, I slipped when I did it.

• 43:21Speaker 00

  You didn't slip, you, look, why, you've just.

• 43:25Speaker 00

  I think you didn't think I could see the screen, but you really, really, and you're doing it again, you closed in right on my face, why?

• 43:32Speaker 02

  You look very different, that's all.

• 43:34Speaker 00

  Well, yeah, that was my play hair and facial.

• 43:37Speaker 01

  Today you look exceptionally good.

• 43:39Speaker 00

  You do look great, yeah.

• 43:40Speaker 01

  Yeah. I must admit that, and you took some time to do your face and the hair. Who done your hair?

• 43:48Speaker 00

  Well, I've got my hair, actually, nobody's really commented, I've cut my hair really short to make it lower maintenance.

• 43:54Speaker 01

  It looks so good.

• 43:55Speaker 00

  Thanks.

• 43:56Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 43:56Speaker 00

  It's because I just thought I'm getting older now, who gives a fuck about my hair?

• 43:59Speaker 01

  I know, Rameen, you don't look after yourself sometimes.

• 44:03Speaker 01

  So I had, use this opportunity to tell you, oil your body.

• 44:07Speaker 00

  Oil my body?

• 44:11Speaker 01

  Then.

• 44:13Speaker 00

  I'm not a pharaoh.

• 44:14Speaker 01

  No, you try that, have a bath. After that.

• 44:18Speaker 00

  Sorry.

• 44:22Speaker 00

  It doesn't really read if you can't hear that, anyway, carry on, oil my body.

• 44:25Speaker 01

  Oil your body.

• 44:26Speaker 00

  Oil your body.

• 44:27Speaker 01

  Oil your body.

• 44:28Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 44:28Speaker 01

  And do the facial exercise.

• 44:31Speaker 00

  Yeah. Why do you not think I look after us?

• 44:32Speaker 01

  Eat lots of nuts, my son, nuts.

• 44:36Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 44:37Speaker 01

  Um, what's it, oh my God, the nut's name is not coming.

• 44:43Speaker 00

  Hazel?

• 44:44Speaker 01

  Um, walnut.

• 44:45Speaker 00

  Walnuts.

• 44:45Speaker 01

  Walnut, it look like a brain.

• 44:48Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 44:49Speaker 01

  For your brain function, have plenty of nut.

• 44:51Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 44:52Speaker 01

  Sunflower seeds.

• 44:53Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 44:53Speaker 01

  And so many other nuts, they have grinded and make, I, I got it at home.

• 44:58Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 44:58Speaker 01

  Little bowl.

• 44:58Speaker 00

  Brown nuts.

• 44:59Speaker 01

  Uh, nuts and dates.

• 45:01Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 45:01Speaker 01

  I have one bowl every single day.

• 45:03Speaker 00

  One bowl of nuts and dates.

• 45:04Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 45:05Speaker 00

  Who told you to do that?

• 45:07Speaker 01

  I learned back home.

• 45:08Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 45:09Speaker 01

  Yeah, from my mum.

• 45:10Speaker 00

  Okay, well, the other thing you learnt back home from your mum was to feed your dog's curry, which has been pointed out to us as incredibly dangerous.

• 45:17Speaker 01

  They're lovely.

• 45:19Speaker 01

  They're, honestly, they're all bad. Fish curry, everything, they're lovely.

• 45:24Speaker 00

  But apparently onions are toxic to dogs.

• 45:27Speaker 01

  They didn't die?

• 45:28Speaker 00

  No, well, they did eventually, didn't they? They're not still alive, are they?

• 45:31Speaker 01

  No.

• 45:32Speaker 00

  No, so they did die.

• 45:32Speaker 01

  How many years ago, forty years ago?

• 45:34Speaker 00

  Well, how long are they supposed to live and how long did they live?

• 45:37Speaker 01

  When my mum left Sri Lanka and came to stay with me, she wasn't happy, she had a stroke and everything. Got the dog, the following day he died.

• 45:47Speaker 00

  What'd you mean?

• 45:47Speaker 01

  Looking for my mum.

• 45:49Speaker 00

  Oh, okay.

• 45:50Speaker 01

  But it very sad he was and he died.

• 45:53Speaker 00

  Um, Mum, uh, you, you've made it quite clear on a number of occasions, you're out of the dating game, aren't you?

• 46:01Speaker 01

  I have got in my head what kind of man I need.

• 46:04Speaker 00

  Hmm.

• 46:05Speaker 01

  I still haven't found one.

• 46:07Speaker 00

  Hmm.

• 46:08Speaker 01

  The shape, the size.

• 46:09Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 46:10Speaker 01

  The height, everything.

• 46:11Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 46:11Speaker 03

  Sort of man who might maybe send you a hamper.

• 46:16Speaker 00

  How have you not made the connection what John's getting at? The hamper, the sort of man that might send you a hamper.

• 46:23Speaker 01

  No, Idris Elba is too, ex, exceptionally good looking.

• 46:28Speaker 00

  Too good looking for you?

• 46:29Speaker 01

  Yeah, too good looking for me and.

• 46:32Speaker 00

  She's such a turnaround, Idris, who'd have thought? Just a hamper that was clearly on clearance on the website.

• 46:38Speaker 01

  I am not talking because he sent me hamper, the way you are creating the story.

• 46:43Speaker 00

  I'm not, I'm creating the story.

• 46:45Speaker 01

  You are.

• 46:46Speaker 00

  This is wild behaviour from you.

• 46:48Speaker 01

  So nice of him.

• 46:50Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 46:51Speaker 01

  And to say sorry that it's happened.

• 46:54Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 46:54Speaker 01

  And I misunderstood, I don't fall for the hamper, I genuinely.

• 47:00Speaker 00

  Tough shit, Idris, you didn't fall for it, dumbass. You tried it, but Mum, don't play that shit. You failed. What do you mean fall for it?

• 47:11Speaker 01

  I used the wrong word.

• 47:13Speaker 00

  Oh, right, out of the kindness of his heart, he sent a hamper. Anyway, John was saying, do you fancy Idris, you clearly do, but you think he's too.

• 47:19Speaker 01

  I don't fancy, because I always think about my age.

• 47:22Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 47:23Speaker 01

  Why would I fancy a younger man?

• 47:25Speaker 00

  Hmm.

• 47:27Speaker 01

  Then it's not right, it's not right, okay?

• 47:29Speaker 00

  Okay, but Tom Selleck or someone like that.

• 47:32Speaker 01

  Tom Selleck, uh, yeah.

• 47:35Speaker 00

  Anyway, forget hypotheticals, you're out of the.

• 47:38Speaker 01

  Dating game.

• 47:39Speaker 00

  Dating, dating game, aren't you?

• 47:40Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 47:41Speaker 00

  But that's not to say that you should be, Carolyn, you, you know, uh, dating, okay, can I just say very quickly before, because we're almost out of time here? But one of the big negatives of dating profile or whatever, so the, the apps, is that you start treating people as disposable. I, I think that's the big thing of it, so that's what's happened to you, you're scrolling through like it's TikTok. Do you know what I mean? So I would, if I had any advice to you, they're not, I've ever been on one of those. Could be in my future, the way things go. Um, not that I've ever been on one of those, but what I would say is, you know, invest a bit more time in looking at those people as individuals rather than just, you know,

• 48:20Speaker 00

  things. And, and if you do, what I would also love you to do is, could you get in touch with that guy, maybe match with him? And then when he invites you to message, say, Romesh Ranganathan does not approve you using his photo in your profile picture. Thank you.

• 48:37Speaker 01

  Thank you as well.

• 48:38Speaker 00

  That, we should get, stop that, shouldn't we?

• 48:40Speaker 01

  Yeah, that's not nice at all.

• 48:42Speaker 00

  No, horrible.

• 48:43Speaker 01

  You could sue him.

• 48:45Speaker 00

  I don't think you can.

• 48:46Speaker 01

  Why? Why, man, I don't understand this system.

• 48:49Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 48:51Speaker 01

  He used your photograph.

• 48:52Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 48:53Speaker 01

  In his profile picture.

• 48:54Speaker 00

  Yeah.

• 48:55Speaker 01

  I don't think that's right, you can sue him.

• 48:57Speaker 00

  You can't.

• 48:59Speaker 01

  Who told you that?

• 48:59Speaker 00

  Well, there's not the, because they haven't passed anything in the legal system that's called the Shanthi doesn't think it's right law. It, it actually has to be based on an actual law, and I've got a feeling in my waters about this. Oh, well, that case will rule in your favour, it's not illegal what he's done.

• 49:16Speaker 01

  Okay. I didn't know that.

• 49:18Speaker 00

  Okay, well, listen, this episode is Petering out at the end of a pop record. Uh, that is all we have time for. Thank you so much for joining us, see you next week, guys.

• 49:29Speaker 01

  See you next week, love you all.

• 49:31Speaker 00

  Love you all.

• 49:36Speaker 02

  Come on the show, Idris.

• 49:37Speaker 00

  See you later.

• 49:38Speaker 02

  We love you, Idris.

• 49:39Speaker 00

  Come on, Idris.

• 49:40Speaker 02

  Idris, we love you. Idris is the best.

• 49:43Speaker 00

  We'll put you in the chat. That's for you.

• 49:46Speaker 01

  I'm begging you.

• 49:47Speaker 02

  Idris, Idris, Idris, come on, Idris, come on, Rob, Idris, Idris, you can do it, Rob, Idris, Idris.

• 49:56Speaker 01

  He will come, I'm going to bed, thinking about it, he will definitely come.

• 50:00Speaker 00

  Okay.

• 50:01Speaker 01

  If he does come, I'll go and get him.

• 50:03Speaker 00

  Okay, cool, oh, that's cool, so that's a, that's, I, you know what I love to do is, I love to finish the app with a kidnap threat. Thanks for listening.

• 50:13Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 50:17Speaker 00

  Thank you so much for watching and listening to this episode, before you go, if you've enjoyed this episode and you've not subscribed, that's a bold decision, crazy behaviour. Follow and subscribe to the Romesh Ranganathan Show wherever you listen, it helps me, really, like, really helps me, it helps the team. And it costs you absolutely nothing, we drop episodes every Monday and Thursday. Mondays I'm joined by great guests, Thursdays when Mum Shanthi joins me to answer your questions and family dilemmas. We'll see you Monday with another great guest and back here with Mum on Thursday. If you've got a problem you want to solve or a story you want to share, send it to [email protected], voice now or text us on oh seven seven three one six two three three five five. We can't promise good advice, but you might end up on the show.

• 51:02Speaker 00

  See you soon.

• 51:04Speaker 01

  Oh, shut up, Romesh.

• 51:07Speaker 05

  Espolone Tequila, balanced, delicious, one hundred percent agave, zero percent ego, just add ice, lime and your mouth. For real margarita, ride the rooster.

• 51:17Speaker 04

  Espolone Tequila, forty percent alcohol by volume, eighty proof, copyright twenty twenty six, Campali America, New York, New York, drink responsibly.