Meet Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Krishnan is swapping the newsroom for the ballroom
Krishnan has made his career in news broadcasting, and with a love of studying drama at school, it’s no surprise ended up onscreen. Growing up he became a member of both the Manchester Youth Theatre and National Youth Theatre but wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a doctor, so he earned his place to study Medicine at Oxford University.
However, after undertaking some work experience for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland just a week before receiving his A-Level results, everything changed for Krishnan. From his work experience placement, he was offered a job as a presenter on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two youth debate show Open to Question, in 1988 when he was just 18 years old. Alongside his part-time presenting work for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, he attended Oxford University but opted to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics instead of Medicine.
Post-graduation, he continued his broadcasting career with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and from 1991 to 1994 he was a host and reporter on children’s news programme Newsround. He then went on to work as a producer and reporter on the current affairs programme, Newsnight.β€―Whilst at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, he covered major news stories including the death of Diana Princess of Wales, the 1997 General election and even spent some of his Saturday nights hosting The National Lottery Live! Before deciding to leave the broadcaster in 1998.
Moving over to Channel 4, he began to host weekend broadcasts and carry out investigative journalism pieces. Since joining the team, he has covered global events from the Omagh bombing, 9/11, and the Mumbai attacks, to special war reports from Syria, Yemen, Gaza and Ukraine.
With a focus on foreign affairs, he has taken on being one of the main reporters for Unreported World, which has seen him with an Iraqi bomb squad, travel to South Africa to examine lingering and on-going social problems post-apartheid and explored the lives of women who were being hunted by abusive partners in Afghanistan.
As of 2022, he’s become the lead anchor of Channel 4 News after 25 years with the programme. However, he’s also regularly anchored special political shows on the channel including The Real Brexit Debate and Live: The Labour Leadership Debate, as well as, making contributions to the 2012 and 2014 Paralympic Games.
And now he’s set to make his own headlines on Strictly.
