'‘I understand the thing about overexposure...'

Romesh Ranganathan is to make his West End debut, starring in an Alan Ayckbourn play.

The comic will star opposite Sheridan Smith in the darkly comic psychological drama Woman in Mind from December.

Originally staged in 1985, the show revolves around Susan, a housewife who  is neglected by her husband, patronised by her sister-in-law, and estranged from her son.

But she also Retreat into an imaginary universe in which she is happy, successful, and loved by her perfect family.

Ranganathan will play her doctor, Bill Windsor, the link between the two worlds depicted on stage.

The news comes as the comedian's game show Parents Evening returns to ITV on Saturday and his travelogue series Can’t Knock The Hustle continues on Sky Max.

In an interview with the BBC to promote the new play, Ranganathan – who also hosts The Weakest Link and a Radio 4 show as well as his stand-up woe – admitted that he could be seen as overexposed. 

He said: ‘I understand the thing about overexposure, but if that happens, it happens. I try not to overthink things that much, to be honest.

‘I'm not just walking around taking whatever's offered. The truth is, people say to me "you're on everything" - that accusation has been levelled at me. But I feel like whenever I'm thinking about doing something, I'm just asking, do I think this will be good, is it something I'd watch, is it something I think I'd be able to do a decent job at? And then, if the answer to those questions is yes, that's what makes you do it.

‘I mean, obviously I need a fee as well. There’s no point in doing it totally for the love of the game.

‘You normally just have a gut feeling whether something's good or not or whether you'll be good for it or not. But who knows, maybe after this play goes out, the general public might say 'OK we've had enough', and I'll go and work in a café or something.’ 

Woman In Mind will run at London's Duke of York's Theatre from  December 9 until February 28, before playing additional dates in Sunderland and Glasgow in March.

The ensemble cast also includes Louise Brealey, Tim McMullan, Sule Rimi, Chris Jenks, Safia Oakley-Green, Taylor Uttley, Katie Buchholz and Michael Woolfitt.

Published: 8 Oct 2025