Who is Krishnan Guru-Murthy? Meet the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 contestant and newsreader
This just in: A popular newsreader is putting on his dancing shoes.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy is swapping the newsroom for the dance floor this Strictly Come Dancing season.
The journalist is best known for his work on Channel 4 News, having joined the current affairs programme back in 1998, currently standing as its second longest-serving presenter behind only Jon Snow.
The reporter joins actor Amanda Abbington, broadcaster Angela Rippon and theatre star Layton Williams on the popular dance competition, which returned to our screens on Saturday 16th September.
Here's everything you need to know about Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
Who is Krishnan Guru-Murthy?
Age: 53
Job: Journalist, newsreader
Instagram: @krishgm
Twitter: @krishgm
Strictly partner: Lauren Oakley
Krishnan Guru-Murthy is one of the UK's most recognisable journalists, ranking as the second longest-serving presenter of Channel 4 News – a programme he joined back in 1998.
He began his career on youth programmes Open to Question and Newsround before a three-year run on Newsnight and a brief stint on BBC News 24, where he was one of the launch presenters.
His career has seen him interview numerous senior politicians and Hollywood stars, while he has also ventured to Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Iraq, South Africa and Yemen in reports for Unreported World.
He showed a lighter side as a guest on Taskmaster's New Year Treat 2021, while he has also played himself in two satirical zombie stories: Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead and Charlie Brooker's Dead Set.
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Krishnan Guru-Murthy's Strictly journey so far
Scoreboard
Week One: Cha-cha-cha (5+6+6+5) = 22
What has Krishnan Guru-Murthy said about joining Strictly 2023?
Guru-Murthy said: "I'm surprised, delighted and slightly confused to find myself taking part in Strictly on the basis of 'you only live once!' and I can't wait to start learning to dance - but I am slightly worried about my general decrepitude.
"I know I'm going to love it and have a brilliant time, and just hope I'm not the only one enjoying my participation."
The newsreader was a guest on Claudia Winkleman's BBC Radio 2 show on Saturday 5th August, where he announced the news – and shared a photo of the two of them in the studio. See below:
Ahead of his appearance on the dancing competition, the journalist revealed he had previously been approached to star on the show but always turned it down, admitting he was "stupid to do so".
Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press, the newsreader said: "I mean, for me, I think we've been through a very difficult time. You know, the pandemic, working from home, the Ukraine war, political chaos; things that felt very, very intense.
"I've said no lots of times because I thought, you know, I'm a serious person and I can't deviate from that.
"We only have one life, and you've got to grasp everything when it's there. I've got a couple of health issues and all the rest of it, and I kind of think, 'Well, if I if I don't do it now, I might not be able to do it in three or four years' time, so do it now.'"
When does Strictly Come Dancing 2023 air?
Strictly Come Dancing 2023 will air every Saturday evening, with the results show airing the follow day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 30th September at 6:20pm. The results show will air on Sunday 1st October on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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