Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, 54, has built a distinguished career in journalism while maintaining a private family life with his wife Lisa and their two children, Jasmine and Jay. Married for 21 years, the couple met through a mutual friend and wed in February 2005 in a ceremony blending Indian and British traditions.
Family and Personal Life
Krishnan and Lisa share two children: daughter Jasmine, 21, and son Jay. Jasmine has followed her father into television, appearing on Celebrity Gogglebox and Romesh Ranganathan's Parents' Evening. Krishnan's sister, Geeta Guru-Murthy, is a BBC News presenter, and his brother Ravi serves as Group Chief Executive Officer of Nesta.
Health Struggles
Krishnan has been open about his health challenges, including Crohn's disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic heart condition that has claimed the lives of two of his cousins. Before competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, he consulted his cardiologist, asking if he might collapse live on air. According to The Guardian, his doctor replied that he could not give an absolute guarantee but said it was unlikely.
Crohn's disease is a long-term inflammatory bowel condition, while HCM involves thickening of the heart muscle, making it harder to pump blood, as described by the British Heart Foundation.
Career Controversies
Krishnan's interviewing style has sparked incidents. In 2015, Robert Downey Jr. walked out of an interview for Avengers: Age of Ultron after Krishnan questioned him about his father and past struggles. The actor called him 'a bit of a schmuck' before leaving. The clip has amassed over 14 million views on YouTube.
In 2022, Krishnan was suspended by Channel 4 for one week after making an offensive off-air comment about Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker. He apologised unreservedly, stating the word was 'beneath the standards I set myself.'
Career Highlights
Krishnan began his career at the BBC, covering major stories such as the death of Princess Diana in 1997. He joined Channel 4 in 1998 and has since reported on UK and international affairs. In 2023, he surprised audiences by participating in Strictly Come Dancing.
