Romesh Ranganathan Investigates: Unmasking the Mysteries of Music Icons

Comedian and presenter Romesh Ranganathan steps out of his comfort zone and into the world of true crime in his new BBC Two series, *The Misinvestigations of Romesh Ranganathan*. This three-part documentary sees Romesh delve into the lives and deaths of three cultural icons: Tupac Shakur, Nancy Spungen, and Jimi Hendrix.

Known for his travelogue series, *The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan*, Romesh takes a dramatic shift in this new series, trading globe-trotting for armchair detective work. Each episode focuses on a figure whose untimely death has sparked endless speculation and debate, exploring the enduring mysteries surrounding their tragic ends.

Romesh, who readily admits to having no prior experience in criminal investigations, embarks on this quest with the help of criminal psychologist, writer, and podcaster Dr Julia Shaw. Together, they interview experts, eyewitnesses, friends, and journalists, delving into the remarkable lives of these stars and attempting to unravel the truth behind their deaths.

*The Misinvestigations of Romesh Ranganathan

is a unique blend of investigation and biography. It pokes fun at the tropes and conventions of the true crime genre while offering viewers a fresh, empathetic look at three often misunderstood figures who were thrust into the unforgiving spotlight of media scrutiny.

The series was commissioned by Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events, and is produced by Rumpus Media (part of the STV Studios family), with Emily Hudd and Morgan Roberts serving as Executive Producers. Ricky Cooper is the Commissioning Editor.

Watch *The Misinvestigations of Romesh Ranganathan

on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two on 25 August at 9pm.

Romesh Ranganathan on his new series:

We're used to seeing you travelling the world and exploring interesting places as part of your *Misadventures

series, but *Misinvestigations* sees you focusing instead on infamous celebrity deaths. Why the gear change?

We wanted to find a fun way of doing a celebrity biopic while also doing a true crime style show. This ticked all (both) of the boxes.

In the series, you gently poke fun at true crime documentaries. Are you a fan of the genre?

I'm a huge fan, but we wanted to do a, sort of, take off of the tropes of those types of shows. It's an homage.

Could this series mark the start of a new career for you? Detective Ranganathan has a nice ring to it…

I think that's unlikely. People already say I do too much. This might be taking the piss.

Did you seek inspiration from any famous detectives – real-life or fictional – for the series?

I would love to say Luther but I think comparing myself to Idris [Elba] would lead to a backlash that my wife would spearhead.

Why were you specifically interested in exploring the lives and deaths of Tupac, Nancy and Jimi?

They are all people who moved the cultural needle and also passed away in circumstances that are still being speculated about today – perhaps as a result of the manner in which they were idolised.

Did your investigations teach you anything new about celebrity culture and about how society and the media treated these cultural figures in life and death?

I think that the media has had a huge part to play in the perception of these people, as well as their deaths. Nancy Spungen's portrayal in the media was particularly distasteful.

What did you learn from Dr Julia Shaw, the criminal psychologist who assisted you with your investigations?

The brilliant Dr Shaw not only displayed an analytical mind that far surpassed anything I could have mustered, but she also taught me to remove any bias in both my analysis of clues and answers, and to recognise the bias in my own questioning.

After talking with experts, eyewitnesses, friends and journalists to try to unravel each mystery, were any preconceived notions you had before filming altered by the end of the series?

I may have carried the notion that [former music executive] Suge Knight had something to do with the death of Tupac Shakur. I both no longer believe that and regret saying it out loud.

For some viewers, this might be their first introduction to Tupac, Sid and Nancy, and Jimi. What do you hope their lasting impression of each of them will be after watching the series?

I believe that, regardless of whether you like the music of these individuals, you will definitely leave the shows with an understanding of how culturally important each of them were.

Thanks Romesh. Anything else you’d like to add before you go?

If I ever die in mysterious circumstances, I’d love someone to investigate it on BBC Two.