Krishnan Guru-Murthy
{{Short description|English journalist (born 1970)}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Krishnan Guru-Murthy
| image = Krishnan Guru-Murthy 2018 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Guru-Murthy in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1970|4|5}}
| birth_place = Liverpool, England
| occupation = Journalist
| years_active = 1988–present
| children = 2
| relatives = Geeta Guru-Murthy (sister)
| television = {{unbulleted list|Channel 4 News|Unreported World}}
| alma_mater = Hertford College, Oxford
}}
Krishnan Guru-Murthy (born 5 April 1970) is a British journalist. He is the lead presenter of Channel 4 News. He also presents Unreported World, a foreign-affairs documentary series.{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/authors/krishnan+gurumurthy/106080 |title=Channel 4 profile |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070326052841/http://www.channel4.com/news/authors/krishnan%2Bgurumurthy/106080 |archive-date=26 March 2007 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/observer/ethicalawards/story/0,,1989171,00.html |title=Krishnan Guru-Murthy |date=14 January 2007 |publisher=The Observer |access-date=25 April 2015 |archive-date=24 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424215714/http://observer.theguardian.com/ethicalawards/story/0,,1989171,00.html |url-status=live }}
Early life
Guru-Murthy's father, an Indian consultant radiologist, worked in Blackburn and Burnley. The family lived in Liverpool, then moved to a "gothic folly" in a village outside Burnley.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/fame-and-fortune-tv-newsman-reports-to-his-mother-zjpfx5626g7 |title=Fame & Fortune: TV newsman reports to his mother |date=5 January 2003 |access-date=26 April 2019 |newspaper=The Times |publisher=Times Newspapers Limited |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091018/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fame-and-fortune-tv-newsman-reports-to-his-mother-zjpfx5626g7 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/3290606/My-childhood-home-Krishnan-Guru-Murthy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327180447/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/3290606/My-childhood-home-Krishnan-Guru-Murthy.html |archive-date=27 March 2019 |title=My childhood home: Krishnan Guru-Murthy |first=Rosanna |last=Greenstreet |date=7 July 2001 |access-date=26 April 2019 |newspaper=Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited}} Guru-Murthy attended the then-private Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Blackburn, before studying philosophy, politics and economics at Hertford College, Oxford.{{Cite web|date=18 March 2010|title=Passed/Failed: An education in the life of Krishnan Guru-Murthy|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/passedfailed-an-education-in-the-life-of-krishnan-guru-murthy-channel-4-news-presenter-and-1922727.html|access-date=10 November 2020|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118051146/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/passedfailed-an-education-in-the-life-of-krishnan-guru-murthy-channel-4-news-presenter-and-1922727.html|url-status=live}}
Career
{{BLP sources section|date=May 2023}}
Guru-Murthy's career began in 1988 with the BBC's DEF II discussion programme Open to Question and the youth current-affairs programme Reportage. While at Oxford University he presented BBC2's Asian current-affairs programmes East and Network East. He presented and reported for children's news programme Newsround from 1991 to 1994. He worked as a producer and reporter for Newsnight for three years, and was one of the launch presenters for BBC News 24 in 1997.
= Channel 4 =
Guru-Murthy joined Channel 4 News in 1998 and is the programme's second-longest-serving presenter, behind Jon Snow. He was also the main presenter of Channel 4 News at Noon between 2003 and 2009. The Royal Television Society Journalism Awards nominated him for its News Presenter of the Year award in 2010 and 2014.
He has hosted Channel 4's coverage of ceremonies at the 2012 Paralympics,{{cite news|author=Tom Sutcliffe|date=30 August 2012|title=First Night: Paralympic Opening Ceremony, Olympic Stadium - Paralympics - Olympics|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/first-night-paralympic-opening-ceremony-olympic-stadium-8092894.html|accessdate=18 September 2015|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013908/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/first-night-paralympic-opening-ceremony-olympic-stadium-8092894.html|url-status=live}} 2014 Winter Paralympics and the reburial of Richard III.{{cite news|date=2 March 2015|title=Week of exclusive live programming for burial of King Richard III - Channel 4 - Info - Press|publisher=Channel 4|url=http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/week-of-exclusive-live-programming-for-burial-of-king-richard-iii|accessdate=18 September 2015|archive-date=17 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917032040/http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/week-of-exclusive-live-programming-for-burial-of-king-richard-iii|url-status=live}} He presented The TV Show and The Operation: Surgery Live. He has hosted The Event – How Racist are You?, The Autopsy, The Exorcism, the quiz show Number One and two series of Going Cold Turkey.
Guru-Murthy moderated Ask the Chancellors, the first debate between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his counterparts in the 2010 General Election. He also hosted How to save £100 Billion – Live the night before the new government's Emergency Budget.{{Clarify|reason=before the budget's what? Publication? Implementation? Conception?|date=April 2014}}
Guru-Murthy became Channel 4's ambassador for its foreign affairs programme Unreported World in 2011 and has made documentaries in Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Iraq, South Africa, and Yemen.{{cite news|title=Unreported World - Episode Guide|publisher=Channel 4|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/episode-guide|accessdate=18 September 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923235024/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/episode-guide|url-status=live}}
On 19 October 2022, Guru-Murthy was suspended for a week by Channel 4 after calling Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker a "cunt" in an off-air remark.{{Cite news |date=20 October 2022 |title=Krishnan Guru-Murthy taken off air for swearing about Steve Baker |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/oct/20/krishnan-guru-murthy-taken-off-air-for-swearing-about-steve-baker |access-date=20 October 2022 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=20 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020130800/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/oct/20/krishnan-guru-murthy-taken-off-air-for-swearing-about-steve-baker |url-status=live }} Guru-Murthy later apologised "unreservedly" to Baker. Channel 4 said it has a strict code of conduct for employees and "takes any breaches seriously."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63331322|title=Channel 4's Krishnan Guru-Murthy suspended for insulting minister|date=20 October 2022|work=BBC News|access-date=21 October 2022|archive-date=21 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021032821/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63331322|url-status=live}}
== Notable interviews ==
Guru-Murthy's February 2010 interview with Jim Devine became key evidence when the former Labour MP was prosecuted for expenses fraud. The politician was sentenced to sixteen months in jail.{{cite web|date=10 February 2011|title=When Jim Devine admitted 'moving money around'|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/when-jim-devine-admitted-moving-money-around|publisher=Channel 4|accessdate=25 April 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220151/http://www.channel4.com/news/when-jim-devine-admitted-moving-money-around|url-status=live}}
In January 2013, Quentin Tarantino refused to answer Guru-Murthy's question if there was a link between film violence and real-life violence. The film director's responses included: "I'm not doing this, I'm not taking the bait"; "I refuse your question. I'm not your slave and you're not my master. You can't make me dance to your tune. I'm not a monkey"; "It's none of your damn business what I think about that!" and "I'm shutting your butt down."{{cite web|author=Nancy Tartaglione|date=11 January 2013|title=Quentin Tarantino Has Heated Exchange With UK Journalist On Film Violence, Says "I'm Not Your Slave": Video|url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/quentin-tarantino-has-heated-exchange-with-uk-journalist-on-movie-violence-says-im-not-your-slave-video-401861/|work=Deadline|accessdate=25 April 2015|archive-date=25 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425033124/http://deadline.com/2013/01/quentin-tarantino-has-heated-exchange-with-uk-journalist-on-movie-violence-says-im-not-your-slave-video-401861/|url-status=live}}
Guru-Murthy described his October 2014 interview with Richard Ayoade as "the perfect joke interview."[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/krishnan-guru-murthy-on-richard-ayoade-interviewing-famous-people-about-their-latest-project-is-like-9816684.html Ayoade: 'Interviewing famous people on their latest project is like commuting for me too'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202025314/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/krishnan-guru-murthy-on-richard-ayoade-interviewing-famous-people-about-their-latest-project-is-like-9816684.html |date=2 December 2017 }} The Independent, 24 October 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2016. Ayoade's increasingly blunt responses had reduced Guru-Murthy's colleague Jon Snow to fits of laughter off-screen.{{Cite web |date=2014-10-26 |title=Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Richard Ayoade: 'Interviewing famous people on |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/krishnan-gurumurthy-on-richard-ayoade-interviewing-famous-people-about-their-latest-project-is-like-commuting-for-me-too-9816684.html |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
In April 2015, whilst promoting the film Avengers: Age of Ultron, Robert Downey Jr. walked out of an interview with Guru-Murthy after the journalist asked about the actor's relationship with his father, drug use, and alcoholism. The interview has been watched several million times on YouTube.{{Cite web|date=22 April 2015|title=Robert Downey Jr full interview: star walks out when asked about past|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALBwaO-rAsE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ALBwaO-rAsE |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=29 May 2015|website=YouTube|publisher=Channel 4 News}}{{cbignore}} Guru-Murthy said the question areas had been discussed in advance with Downey's public relations agent and Downey was in the wrong since Channel 4 does not do "promotional interviews."{{cite news|last=Guru-Murthy|first=Krishnan|date=26 April 2015|title=Krishnan Guru-Murthy: do stars and news need to go their separate ways?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/apr/26/krishnan-guru-murthy-channel-4-news-robert-downey-jr|access-date=29 May 2018|work=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=30 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530035146/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/apr/26/krishnan-guru-murthy-channel-4-news-robert-downey-jr|url-status=live}}
= Other news media =
Guru-Murthy presented a weekly radio programme on LBC 97.3 between 2003 and 2005; hosted UK Leaders Live, interviewing the three main political party leaders in the UK's 2005 election; and presented the series Hindu Lives on BBC Radio 4 in 2005. He used to write a column in the Metro newspaper and the Asian newspaper Eastern Eye.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
= Other film and television =
He has appeared on Gordon Ramsay's The F Word TV show with his brother and mother as contestants.
In 2001, Guru-Murthy presented the short-lived Channel 4 game show Number One.{{cite web | url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Number_One | title=Number One - UKGameshows }}
Guru-Murthy has appeared in a comic documentary about the band Gorillaz,{{cite web|title=Gorillaz: Charts of Darkness (2001)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401447/|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=25 April 2015|archive-date=15 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315131922/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401447/|url-status=live}} as a guest on The News Quiz and Taskmaster, and in cameo appearances for Bremner, Bird and Fortune, Shaun of the Dead and Dead Set.{{cite news |author=Simon Pegg |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/04/television-simon-pegg-dead-set |title=Simon Pegg on why the undead should never be allowed to run |work=The Guardian |accessdate=18 September 2015 |archive-date=11 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011162118/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/04/television-simon-pegg-dead-set |url-status=live }}
In August 2023, Guru-Murthy was announced as a contestant on the twenty-first series of Strictly Come Dancing.{{cite web |title=Krishnan Guru-Murthy is the fourth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/strictly-come-dancing-krishnan-guru-murthy-fourth-celebrity-contestant |website=BBC Media Centre |access-date=5 August 2023 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805102627/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/strictly-come-dancing-krishnan-guru-murthy-fourth-celebrity-contestant |url-status=live }} He was paired with professional dancer Lauren Oakley; they were the seventh couple to be eliminated.{{cite web |title=Strictly announces seventh celebrity to be eliminated from 2023 series |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a45814465/strictly-2023-week-8-krishnan-lauren-eliminated/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=28 May 2024 |date=12 November 2023}}
Volunteer work
Guru-Murthy is a trustee of Duchenne UK. He founded the Duchenne Dash, a 24-hour cycle ride from London to Paris, in 2013.{{cite web|title=Duchenne Dash • Trustees|url=https://www.duchenneuk.org/our-team-and-trustees/|access-date=18 August 2021|website=Duchenne UK|publisher=|archive-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818011201/https://www.duchenneuk.org/our-team-and-trustees/|url-status=live}} He was also appointed to the board of trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2018, and was reappointed for the role in 2021.{{Cite web |date=5 July 2018 |title=New appointments to the Board of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-appointments-to-the-board-of-the-royal-botanic-gardens-kew |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220729124318/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-appointments-to-the-board-of-the-royal-botanic-gardens-kew |archive-date=29 July 2022 |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=GOV.UK}}{{Cite web |date=29 September 2021 |title=Krishnan Guru-Murthy reappointed to the board of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/krishnan-guru-murthy-reappointed-to-the-board-of-royal-botanic-gardens-kew |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220729124438/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/krishnan-guru-murthy-reappointed-to-the-board-of-royal-botanic-gardens-kew |archive-date=29 July 2022 |access-date=29 July 2022 |website=GOV.UK}}
Personal life
Guru-Murthy is married and has two children.{{cite news|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/krishnan-guru-murthy|title=Krishnan Guru-Murthy: Presenter|publisher=Channel 4 News|accessdate=1 July 2016|archive-date=11 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711172843/http://www.channel4.com/news/krishnan-guru-murthy|url-status=live}} His sister is BBC News journalist Geeta Guru-Murthy.{{cite news |last1=Mendick |first1=Robert |title='Go on, teach the f***er a lesson' |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/go-on-teach-the-f-er-a-lesson-7261017.html |access-date=25 May 2023 |work=Evening Standard |date=11 April 2012 |language=en |quote=Mr Collins's wife is Geeta Guru-Murthy, who presents news bulletins on BBC World, BBC News 24 and on Radio 4, and is the sister of Krishnan Guru-Murthy, the Channel 4 newsreader. |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525020318/https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/go-on-teach-the-f-er-a-lesson-7261017.html |url-status=live }} His brother Ravi Guru-Murthy was formerly Chief Innovation Officer of the International Rescue Committee and is currently Chief Executive of Nesta.{{Cite web |title=Ravi Gurumurthy |url=https://www.nesta.org.uk/team/ravi-gurumurthy/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=nesta |language=en |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224204248/https://www.nesta.org.uk/team/ravi-gurumurthy/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=IRC Staff Leadership | International Rescue Committee (IRC)|url=http://www.rescue.org/leadership|publisher=Rescue.org|accessdate=18 September 2015|archive-date=2 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102203336/http://www.rescue.org/leadership|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=https://www.nesta.org.uk/team/ravi-gurumurthy/ | title=Ravi Gurumurthy | access-date=26 March 2021 | archive-date=24 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224204248/https://www.nesta.org.uk/team/ravi-gurumurthy/ | url-status=live }}
Guru-Murthy suffers from Crohn's disease and a genetic heart condition.{{Cite podcast |url=https://play.acast.com/s/offmenu/ep11-krishnanguru-murthy |title=Ep 11: Krishnan Guru-Murthy |website=Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster |publisher=Acast |last=Gamble |first=Ed |date=13 February 2019 |access-date=24 May 2023 |last2=Acaster |first2=James |minutes=29 |quote=I can't really deal with very hot stuff anymore, because I have Crohn's disease, for which chili is really bad |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103161357/https://play.acast.com/s/offmenu/ep11-krishnanguru-murthy |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Aimee |title=Krishnan Guru-Murthy: Journalist's genetic heart condition |url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1646190/Krishnan-Guru-Murthy-health-genetic-heart-condition-covid-evg |access-date=25 May 2023 |work=Express.co.uk |date=26 July 2022 |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525020329/https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1646190/Krishnan-Guru-Murthy-health-genetic-heart-condition-covid-evg |url-status=live }} He has played in a rock band with Peter Barron and the chief creative officer of Endemol UK.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2006/apr/29/weekend7.weekend2 |title=Last weekend: Krishnan Guru-Murthy in London |date=29 April 2006 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=25 April 2015 |archive-date=5 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005094706/http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2006/apr/29/weekend7.weekend2 |url-status=live }} He is a supporter of Liverpool F.C.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.channel4.com/news/by/krishnan-guru-murthy Channel 4 News profile]
- {{IMDb name|id=0348775|name=Krishnan Guru-Murthy}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guru-Murthy, Krishnan}}
Category:Alumni of Hertford College, Oxford
Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists
Category:English male journalists
Category:English people of Indian descent
Category:ITN newsreaders and journalists
Category:National Youth Theatre members
Category:English children's television presenters
Category:People educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn