Dr Ranj Singh, the well-known television doctor and former This Morning presenter, featured in a celebrity edition of Escape to the Country, airing again on BBC One on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 7:30 pm. With a budget of £550,000, he sought a peaceful retreat in the Peak District, assisted by expert Denise Nurse.
House Hunting with a Friend
Accompanied by his friend and artist Tom Wolski, Dr Ranj toured the picturesque region. The pair debated which profession is more challenging—doctor or vet. One property left Dr Ranj utterly stunned, prompting him to exclaim, "Oh, look at that! Oh, my word. Wow! It is a castle! Wow! I was impressed with the other places, but this is something else." He estimated the mystery dwelling would cost £700,000, but it was listed for £550,000, according to Kent Live.
Background and Early Life
Dr Ranj, 46, was born in Chatham, Kent, and raised in a traditional Sikh family in Medway. He attended Gordon Junior School in Strood and achieved his first GCSE at just eight years old. He later moved to London to study medicine, working at hospitals across the capital before becoming a member of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health in 2007. He has been affiliated with St Thomas' Hospital, Evelina Children's Hospital, and Medway Maritime Hospital.
Strictly Come Dancing and Authorship
In 2018, Dr Ranj participated in Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Janette Manrara, and was eliminated in week seven. He commented, "I like to study and study things until I get it right... but what I've learned is that learning movement is totally different to learning information." He is also a published author; his debut non-fiction children's book, How to Grow up and Feel Amazing, entered the Sunday Times bestseller chart.
Coming Out and Therapy
Dr Ranj married Sulvinder Samra in 2006 but came out as gay after six years of marriage, leading to their divorce in 2011. He told The Big Issue, "I was married and obviously that relationship broke down... I had the career I'd always wanted, I always wanted a home of my own. I'd ticked all my boxes. So the big question was, why am I still not 100 per cent happy? Why does it still feel like something's not right? And that's when therapy brought all of that stuff out." He realized through therapy that he wasn't "the person I thought I should be or thought I was going to be," adding, "This perfect life that you've imagined and hoped for and dreamt of and worked towards isn't your perfect life."
LGBTQ Advocacy and New Relationship
Dr Ranj campaigns for LGBTQ rights, particularly within minority communities. In 2019, he received the Attitude TV award and stated that people from "ethnic minorities, people of color, or LGBT people are still at a slight disadvantage." He is now in a relationship with James Colebrook, an actor, model, personal trainer, and co-host of the Bunny and the Beast podcast with drag performer Bunny Galore. Colebrook studied at Laine Theatre Arts and has appeared in stage shows, including Game Night at Wonderville in the West End.
Dr Ranj's episode of Escape to the Country originally aired in December 2023 and is being broadcast again on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 7:30 pm on BBC One.
