In a bizarre and grim behind-the-scenes revelation, comedian Romesh Ranganathan has disclosed the shocking fate of his unexpected co-star from his new BBC travel show, Hustle – a pig that tragically died on set.
The incident occurred while filming in Colombia for the new series, where the animal was procured for a specific scene. What was meant to be a light-hearted segment took a dark turn, leaving the production crew in a state of panic and the comic himself grappling with the absurdity of the situation.
A Stunt Gone Sour
Ranganathan explained the premise: the show's concept involved him attempting to hustle his way through various scenarios without spending any money. The plan was to acquire a pig and then barter it for something else, executing a classic hustle.
The trouble began almost immediately after the animal was obtained. Instead of being a compliant actor, the pig became violently ill, suffering a severe case of diarrhoea. The situation escalated rapidly from a minor inconvenience to a full-blown crisis.
Panic on Set
"We're all standing around this pig, which is now clearly very, very unwell," Ranganathan recounted. The atmosphere quickly shifted from amusement to genuine concern for the animal's welfare. The local crew, who had provided the pig, were visibly furious, creating a tense and uncomfortable environment.
The comic described the frantic aftermath, revealing that the production team was forced to engage in intense negotiations and eventually pay a significant sum of money to resolve the conflict with the local owners, completely undermining the 'no money' premise of the hustle.
An Absurd and Unforgettable Tragedy
The story reached its macabre conclusion when the pig, sadly, did not survive the ordeal. Ranganathan delivered the news with his signature dark humour, stating, "The hustle was that I killed a pig and then paid for it."
The entire experience, while horrifying at the time, now serves as one of the most memorable and absurd anecdotes from the making of the show, perfectly blending the dark with the comic in a way only Ranganathan can.
