BRITISH television presenter and journalist Anita Rani, is best known for her work on the BBC. She has presented a variety of programmes on the network, including the popular series Countryfile, The One Show, and Escape to the Country.
Rani, who is a British-Asian woman, first gained popularity as a presenter for the BBC's Asian Network, back in 2014 and 2015 when she appeared on the Escape to the Country show.
Her parents emigrated to Bradford from India in the 1970s and Rani was born in the UK. In an interview that featured in The Guardian in 2021, Rani revealed that her grandfather was in the British Indian army, and stationed in Mumbai, when the partition of India happened in 1947. His first family – father, wife and two children were in Pakistan, at that time which unfortunately was the wrong side of the border. None of his family members made it out alive, she said.
In 1953, Rani’s grandad came to the UK. He was supposedly one of the first Indians in Bradford. Recalling her childhood days, Rani said: “My dad is a proper Yorkshireman; I’ve got his adventurous spirit and curiosity. My mum is Indian-Indian, she came in the 70s to marry Dad.
“As a kid, I had a conflicting identity, but now I own all of it – a healthy dose of Yorkshire and Punjabi.”
Speaking fondly about the place she grew up in Rani told The Guardian, “Bradford made me… Obviously, I’m a Yorkshire lass so I’m going to bang on about Yorkshire. But it’s stunning, and growing up in that landscape… My parents worked really hard; they had a clothing manufacturing business. Me and my brother would help at the factory after school.”
She has talked candidly about the difficulties of growing up as a person of colour in a predominantly white society and the challenges she faced in terms of racism and discrimination. However, she has also spoken about the positive impact that her parents had on her upbringing and the strong sense of family and community they instilled in her.
But despite having faced many challenges, Rani was determined to succeed in her chosen field, and after studying journalism at the University of Leeds, she began her career as a reporter and presenter. Her background and childhood experiences have shaped her into the person she is today, a determined, resilient, and passionate individual, who is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the media industry.
Rani's big break came when she was chosen to present the BBC's Countryfile programme in 2009. The show, which focuses on rural life in the UK, was already a popular and well-established series, and Rani quickly won over audiences with her easy-going and relatable style.
Rani is also known for her work on The One Show, a daily magazine-style programme that covers a wide range of topics, from celebrity interviews to current affairs. Rani has been a regular presenter on the show since 2014, and her ability to connect with guests and audiences alike has helped to make it a huge success.
In addition to her work on television, Rani is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. She has spoken out about the lack of representation of people of colour in the media, and has called for greater efforts to be made to create a more inclusive and diverse industry.
While Rani is widely recognised for her professional accomplishments, she also has a rich personal life that is filled with many hobbies and interests. Rani is an avid traveller and enjoys exploring new places and cultures. She has visited many countries around the world, and her love of travel has been a major inspiration for many of her television programmes. She has a particular interest in India, which is her parents' home country, and she has travelled to the country many times to explore its rich culture, history, and cuisine.
In addition to her many hobbies and interests, Anita Rani is also actively involved in several charitable causes. She has been an ambassador for several charities and has used her platform to raise awareness about issues such as poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
In 2021, Rani released her memoir The Right Sort of Girl. Speaking about the same, she told YOU Magazine, “The day before it came out, I wanted to crawl into a hole and destroy every copy because it’s so exposing and I’m really quite private.”
But now, “I feel vindicated and relieved because the reaction across the board – but particularly from Asian women – has been immense. [They tell me] “Finally someone has said it!’’’
More recently, Rani joined the line-up of BBC Radio Four's Woman's Hour, where she presents the Friday and Saturday editions of the long-running programme. Announcing this news on Instagram, she said: "Well this is my major news. What an honour to be joining @bbcwomanshour @bbcradio4. Cannot wait to get behind the mic to talk about everything you want me to. Join me on the mothership every Friday at 10am. I'M A WOMAN'S HOUR PRESENTER."
Rani is currently busy writing another book (fiction) along with hosting a new ITV game show Fastest Finger First, which is a spinoff of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire’s first round.
Rani is also the new Chancellor of the University of Bradford, and has said that the role will allow her to inspire future generations from her home city.
“Taking on the role felt "really positive, really exciting."
As a former University of Leeds student, Rani said she "didn't go far" from her home city of Bradford as a student. However, she adds: "The people who went to Bradford Uni, they fell in love with the city and the experience of being at Bradford University.
"The city is so special: the city centre, the experience of Bradford and all it has to offer and also the surrounding countryside and the history and the access to nature. All of it."