The Weakest Link

Romesh Ranganathan (Host)

Born: January 30, 1978 in Crawley

Best Known For: Being a comedian.

Early-life: Born Jonathan Romesh Ranganathan in Crawley on January 30, 1978. He is of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. He started performing stand-up while he was working as a mathematics teacher at schools in Crawley and Banstead. He became a professional comedian in 2012.

Career: Ranganathan's breakthrough came in 2013 when he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Since then, he has appeared on a number of comedy panel shows, including Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Have I Got News for You. He has also performed stand-up on Live at the Apollo and presented the BBC Three series Asian Provocateur and co-presented the ITV series It's Not Rocket Science.

Quote: "I think I'm a mango. Just very sweet and lovely."

Trivia: Ranganathan is a vegan and supports Arsenal FC.

Dermot O'Leary (Contestant)

Born: May 24, 1973 in Colchester

Best Known For: Presenting The X Factor and his show on Radio 2.

Early-life: Sean Dermot Fintan O'Leary Jr was born in Colchester, Essex, on May 24, 1973. While at school, he became a keen supporter of the Catholic aid agency Cafod. He wanted to work in TV from an early age, but his builder dad warned him there was no money in it. Despite this, Dermot went on to study media and politics at Middlesex University. After graduation, he distributed approximately 200 CVs to production companies and received mostly rejection letters, which he has kept.

Career: O'Leary got his big break as a DJ on BBC Radio Essex. He gave that up to be a TV runner working on the series Century Road, about a street in Walthamstow. He later landed a presenting slot on Sunday show Fully Booked. Following a move to Channel 4, he hosted T4 before fronting Big Brother's Little Brother in 2001. He has his own production company called Murphia and has helped to launch Cafod's youth-fundraising scheme, Fast Track. His other TV credits include SAS: Are You Tough Enough?, UK Music Hall of Fame, Shattered and the National Lottery quiz 1 vs 100. He also presents his own show on Radio 2 and, of course, ITV's The X Factor.

Quote: On being a Catholic: "I'm not interested in preaching from the rooftops. I was brought up with it and I still practise, but I don't think that my God is any more worthy than that of a friend of mine who happens to follow Allah."

Trivia: O'Leary has hosted a number of spin-off editions of Question Time aimed at first-time voters. He co-owns a restaurant in Brighton.

Charlene White (Contestant)

Lauren Layfield (Contestant)

Anthony Ogogo (Contestant)

Born: November 24, 1988 in Lowestoft

Best Known For: Being a middleweight boxer.

Early-life: Anthony Osezua Ojo Ogogo was born in Lowestoft on November 24, 1988 to an English mother and a Nigerian father. Anthony played for Norwich City FC as a junior but he has been boxing since the age of 12. In 2004, he won a boxing gold medal in the 2004 Junior Olympics held in Texas. A year later, he won gold at the IABA Cadet World Championships in the 70kg division.

Career: Ogogo won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi in the middleweight division. At the 2012 London Olympics, he won a bronze medal and later that year he turned professional. He won his first pro fight against Kieron Gray at Sheffield Arena in April 2013. He recorded his eighth straight professional win against Ruslan Schelev in July 2015. In August 2015, it was announced that he would be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.

Quote: "I've faced a lot of tough opposition in the past, but I've never faced anyone as tough as the Strictly judges before!"

Trivia: After winning a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, a post box in his home town was painted bronze in his honour.

Joe Baggs (Contestant)

Mark Heyes (Contestant)

Mhairi Black (Contestant)

Zeze Millz (Contestant)

Olivia Clark (Producer)

Janine O'Connor (Director)

12:30 am - 01:15 am, Thursday, January 15 on BBC One London (1)

About this Broadcast

Season 5, Episode 7

Cast & Crew

More Information

Did You Know..

Before / After