Celebrity Traitors star Romesh Ranganathan has previously explained why he would never have surgery to correct his eye condition. The comedian is appearing in the current series of the BBC show as a Faithful, and has been a familiar face on television for many years.
His comedy often draws on his own life experiences, and he has referenced his eye condition on several occasions, including in a joke from fellow Faithful and comedian Joanne McNally on the show. As a child, he had an eye infection that left him with a drooping eyelid on his right side and a lazy eye, a condition medically known as Ptosis.
Why Romesh won't have surgery
Romesh has shared that his eye condition is part of his identity and is not something he would change surgically. Speaking on Katherine Ryan's podcast, What's My Age, in 2025, he said: "It's been put to me on a number of occasions that I could have my eye corrected. And I don't think I would ever do that."
He added: "I think part of the reason I would never do that is I don't think I would have been a comedian if my eye wasn't like this." He also mentioned that he has received messages from people with a similar condition, saying it has been "really nice" to see him on TV, and that correcting it now "would be a bit of a betrayal."
From maths teacher to TV star
Before his comedy career, Romesh worked as a maths teacher at Hazelwick School in West Sussex, where he was also a student. He later taught at The Beacon School in Banstead and began performing comedy while still employed as a teacher.
This year, he has swapped the live stage for the Scottish castle in the second series of Celebrity Traitors. Claudia Winkleman returned to the castle for the celebrity spin-off, and the show has already been described as one of the year's TV highlights.
Celebrity Traitors final details
Romesh is one of several comedians taking part this year, alongside Rob Beckett, James Acaster, Miranda Hart, Joe Lycett and Joanne McNally. The final of Celebrity Traitors will air on Friday, October 30, from 8pm until 9.20pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
The episode teaser reads: "As the game of deception draws to a close, the players face an explosive final mission to complete the prize fund before finding out if they succeeded in banishing all of the Traitors in the endgame." Celebrity Traitors airs Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
