Actress Erin Doherty, famed for playing Princess Anne in Netflix's The Crown, has shared an unexpected link from her school days to one of Britain's most popular comedians.
A Surprising School Connection
Erin Doherty, 33, has revealed that comedian Romesh Ranganathan, 47, was once her Head of Sixth Form. The star attended Hazelwick School in Three Bridges, where Ranganathan worked as a maths teacher before finding fame in comedy. Doherty made the revelation during a joint interview with her co-star Malachi Kirby on Sky News, while promoting the second season of the Disney+ series A Thousand Blows.
"You know the comedian Romesh Ranganathan? He was my head of year. How cool is that?" Doherty said. "So yeah he was like a maths teacher but I never had him for maths. My sister did. But he was my head of sixth form, my head of year."
The Meeting That Led to a Confession
The connection between the two celebrities was cemented during a specific disciplinary meeting. Doherty explained that she was pulled into an office with "Mr Ranganathan" and her father after being removed from her English Literature class for failing to read the required books.
"Basically I got kicked off of English lit because I didn't read any of the books and they pulled me, and I think it was my dad, in," the actress confessed. "So we had a chat with Romesh Ranganathan when he was just Mr Ranganathan. And yeah I had like a chat with Mr Ranganathan to get kicked off of English lit. So that's my little weird crossing of paths."
Hopes for a Famous Reunion
When asked if she has met the comedian since they both achieved fame, Doherty responded with a clear desire for a reunion. "No and I want to! But yeah it's kind of cool," she stated, expressing interest in connecting with her former head of year now that their career paths have both led to the spotlight.
Hazelwick School has a notable history of producing famous faces. Alongside Doherty and Ranganathan's teaching tenure, other alumni include England football manager Gareth Southgate, broadcaster Dan Walker, and singer Chico.
Promoting New Work
Erin Doherty is currently promoting the second season of A Thousand Blows on Disney+, which debuted on 9 January 2026. The historical drama, set in late 19th-century London, tells the true story of Jamaican immigrant and bare-knuckle boxer Hezekiah Moscow, played by Malachi Kirby. Doherty portrays Mary Carr, the leader of the Forty Elephants gang.
The series has been met with positive reviews, with one viewer labelling it an "adrenaline-fueled, character-driven masterpiece" and praising co-star Stephen Graham's performance as "ridiculously underrated."
