Hardeep Singh Kohli

Infobox Celebrity


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name = Hardeep Singh Kohli
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birth_date = 1969
birth_place = Scotland
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occupation = Television Presenter, Writer, Broadcaster, Reporter
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relatives = Sanjeev Kohli

Hardeep Singh Kohli (born 1969) is a Sikh writer, presenter, broadcaster and reporter of Indian descent from Scotland and working in the United Kingdom. He recently came third in elections for Rector of the University of Glasgow [University of Glasgow [http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_68563_en.html] ] .

Biography

Kohli's parents came to the UK from in India in the 1960s. His mother was a social worker, and his father a teacher. [http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article2307878.ece Relative Values: Hardeep Singh Kohli and his brother Sanjeev - Times Online] ] He was born into a tenement-living family and was initially schooled at Hillhead Primary School in the West End of Glasgow. The family then moved to their own house in Bishopbriggs, and Kohli then moved to Meadowburn Primary. Aged eight, his parents could afford to move their children out of state schooling to be educated by the Jesuits at feepaying St. Aloysius College, a Roman Catholic school in central Glasgow. To finance their family through private school, Kohli's parents ran a corner shop and bought up properties in Glasgow for rentFact|date=August 2008. Kohli gained eight As in his O-grades, and four As and a B in his Highers.Sale, Jonathan - [http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/passedfailed-hardeep-singh-kohli-505870.html "The Independent: Passed/Failed - Hardeep Singh Kohli"] 8th September 2005]

While studying, Kohli managed a few restaurants and began working as an Usher at the Citizens Theatre - where his love of playwright Arthur Miller began. [Sale, Jonathan - [http://education.independent.co.uk/careers_advice/article2715124.ece "The Independent: My First Job: Hardeep Singh Kohli, comedy writer, was a theatre usher"] 28 June 2007]

Career

After graduating, he joined the BBC Scotland graduate production trainee scheme, which involved two years of training. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/4229074.stm BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight Home | Newsnight Review | Hardeep Singh Kohli ] ] He moved to BBC Television Centre, London to direct Children's TV, and Janet Street Porter's series "Reportage." He returned to London to direct RTS and BAFTA winning show "It'll Never Work."

Kohli left the corporation in 2000 to begin working independently. [ [http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/guides/walks/story/0,,2090332,00.html Hardeep Singh Kohli on his favourite Soho stroll | Lifeandhealth | Life and Health ] ] He is known for writing, directing and starring in Channel 4's "Meet the Magoons" in 2004, [http://www.channel4.com/more4/microsites/L/lastword/hosts/host4.html] which was axed after one series following disappointing viewing figures. The show was nominated for a Golden Rose at the Montreux Comedy Festival. It had received mixed reviews, being slated as "mediocre", "woefully unfunny" "once was enough", "your sides will be safe from harm" and with "a ready meal approach to comedy insult". At best, TV critic, A. A. Gill hoped it "might well evolve into something classic" and Nancy Banks-Smith of "The Guardian" called it was "modern to the point of surreal" [http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv_and_radio/story/0,3604,1566729,00.html] Kohli wrote, produced and presented the RTS nominated documentary "In Search of the Tartan Turban" for Channel 4, which explored cultural identity as a Briton and a Scot belonging to an ethnic minority. It won a children's BAFTA and spun off into a daytime Channel 4 series, "Hardeep Does..." that covered a variety of different topical issues: sex, religion and pets. He went on to write and presented "A Beginner's Guide to L. Ron Hubbard." [ [http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/C/can_you_believe_it/debates/guide.html Channel 4 - Faith and belief - The Beginner's Guides ] ]

In January 2007, Kohli had a three-part series on Channel 4, "£50 Says You'll Watch This", exploring gambling. The show involved Kohli taking part in a celebrity card game, visiting casinos in Las Vegas and losing a substantial chunk of his fee through his inability to gamble successfully. In October 2006 and February 2007 he appeared on the BBC political panel programme "Question Time." An occasional presenter on "Newsnight Review," "Saturday Live" on BBC Radio 4 and guest presents on "Loose Ends".

Kohli writes a column entitled "Hardeep is your love" for "Scotland on Sunday", and has since March 2007, covering topics as diverse as suspicions that he is a terrorist [ [http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1641&id=1602432007 Don't lose your heads over my turban - Scotland on Sunday ] ] and being ashamed of enjoying Harry Potter [ [http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1641&id=1182412007 'I read Harry Potter secretly on trains, half embarrassed, half ashamed. I loved it' - Scotland on Sunday ] ] . He also occasionally writes for The Guardian and The Independent. Kohli has written a book about food and travel in India, Indian Takeaway. On 23 September 2008 he took part in a radio interview with Les Ross of BBC WM which was criticised for the DJ's interviewing style and lack of preparation. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2008/sep/23/radio?commentpage=1 'Take it away, Les: Hardeep Singh Kohli terminates BBC radio interview'] ] He is also a regular reporter on BBC1's "The One Show." He is the presenter for series two of CBBC game show Get 100.

Kohli is Man Booker Prize judge for 2008.

Personal life

He has stated that while he was born in a Sikh family, he does not practise the Sikh religion.His younger brother is the film and TV actor and writer Sanjeev Kohli. His elder brother, Randeep, is a policeman.

Kohli is an avid cook and in September 2006 took part in BBC One's "Celebrity Masterchef" programme, reaching the final along with Roger Black and Matt Dawson. He was runner-up.

Charitable activity

Kohli participated in a celebrity edition of "The Apprentice" in order to raise money for charity. [ [http://www.cafonline.org/default.aspx?page=15209&WT.mc_id=400 "Hardeep Singh Kohli appeared in Sport Relief Does The Apprentice for charity"] , "Charities Aid Foundation", 2008-02-28. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.] "Sport Relief Does The Apprentice" was part of the BBC's annual charity initiative "Sport Relief" and aired on March 12 and 14 2008. He was the Celebrity Apprentice to be "fired".

References

External links

*imdb|id=1356562|name=Hardeep Singh Kohli
* [http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article2991281.ece Interview with Hardeep Singh Kohli] at "The Independent"
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/4229074.stm Profile of Hardeep Singh Kohli] at the BBC "Newsnight Review" site
* [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/M/meet_the_magoons/ "Meet the Magoons" microsite] at the "Channel 4" website
* [http://www.channel4.com/health/microsites/A/addiction/hardeep.html Interview With Hardeep Singh Kohli] at the "Channel 4" website
* [http://www.tmcentertainment.co.uk/speaker-index.html?speakerid=468 Profile of Hardeep Singh Kohli] on his agent's website.
* [http://www.qvoice.co.uk/qvoiceSearch.asp?namesearch=hardeep Voice Over Reel]
* [http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article2307878.ece Sunday Times Relative Values]
* [http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/ Hardeep Singh Kohli's Weekly Column]
* [http://www.themanbookerprize.com/prize/thisyear/judges Man Booker Prize Website]
* [http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2320099.0.Comedian_Singh_Kohlis_rented_Glasgow_flats_grubby_and_dirty.php]