Celebrity Traitors stars Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan have revealed they feared working together on TV could make them drift apart, but say their friendship has only grown stronger. The comedy duo, best mates for nearly two decades, spoke to the Mirror about their bond ahead of the latest series of their Sky show.
Friendship stronger than ever
“We were close before, but now we're like brothers,” Rob, 40, admits. “I love Romesh to pieces, and my biggest fear was: ‘I hope this show didn't make us drift apart like some people on TV do.'”
“If anything, our friendship has increased and we've become stronger. The TV just becomes less important, which is the best way it could be.”
Romesh, 48, a former teacher, added that their success as a BAFTA-award-winning comedy duo while maintaining their 18-year friendship is “an incredible thing.”
“When you think back to all of the different stuff we've done, I feel very lucky to have done it with Rob,” he says. “Rob is one of the most talented comics I've ever seen. So that opportunity to do a show with him and he's a mate - it's an incredible thing. I don't think either of us take it for granted.”
From comedy circuit to Celebrity Traitors
Rob and Rom met on the comedy circuit gigging for 'no money' around 18 years ago. Before fame, they were unknowns trying standup, with Romesh working as a maths teacher and Rob as an office temp. They quickly became good mates.
Their friendship has flourished to the point that last summer they holidayed together with Rob's wife Lou and their two daughters, and Romesh's wife Leesa and their three sons, Alex, 16, Theo, 14, and Charlie, 11.
Their on-screen chemistry led to them both appearing in the BBC's second series of Celebrity Traitors. Now on their ninth series of Rob & Romesh Vs, the pair have travelled the world, from New York rap battles with the Wu-Tang Clan to racing Usain Bolt in Jamaica and performing Shakespeare at The Globe with Martin Freeman. They even landed roles in a Bollywood movie in Mumbai.
Lycra challenges and health kicks
The latest series, on TV from Wednesday, sees the pair trying everything from Kung-Fu to Vampire hunting to the Tour De France.
“Cycling was a challenge, just the Lycra from a morale point of view,” Rob admits. “We hit rock bottom on the Champs Elysées. I'll never look at that roundabout without thinking of my back fat.”
“Even if you're ripped you look like a tw*t. It's Japanese knotweed for the body. Once it's on, everything falls apart. Images of ourselves in Lycra led both of us to go on quite a severe health kick,” Rom admits.
“People were taking photos and tagging us - you click on your socials and set fire to your self-esteem.”
“I didn't read the comments just saw a picture and that ruined my week,” Rob adds. “Luckily, millions of people are about to watch it on Sky…”
Rob & Romesh Vs returns to Sky and streaming service NOW on 14 October.
