Is Nihal Arthanayake Suspended From BBC? Who is Nihal Arthanayake?
by Janani
Updated Jul 10, 2023
Who is Nihal Arthanayake?
Nihal Arthanayake is a presenter at the BBC. He is known for his work on BBC Radio, particularly on BBC Radio 5 Live. Arthanayake is recognized for his contributions to broadcasting and is well-regarded in the industry.
In October 2007, Arthanayake took on the role of presenter for the Weekend Breakfast Show on Radio 1. He became one of the few DJs to host both a mainstream and a specialist show on the channel. He also provided holiday cover for his Radio 1 colleagues.
In September 2008, he moved to weekend afternoons, and in 2009, he started hosting a review program called "BBC Radio 1's Review With Nihal," which focused on the latest music. Additionally, he became the sole presenter of the specialist Radio 1 Asian Beats show.
Arthanayake's presence extended beyond Radio 1. In 2007, he left Kicking Off... to host the daily phone-in talk show on the Asian Network. The show underwent schedule changes and moved to different time slots over the years. Arthanayake received accolades for his radio shows, winning the "Best Radio Show" at the UK Asian Music Awards in 2010 and a Sony Award for Best Speech Programme for his Asian Network show.
Arthanayake co-presented three series of BBC2's Asian music arts and culture show called "Desi DNA" alongside Adil Ray and Anita Rani. He interviewed various notable figures in the music industry and presented special features on artists such as Jay Sean and Freeform Five.
Additionally, he presented a documentary for Channel 4 titled "Where's Your F*****G Manners?" and participated in BBC2's "Art School" program, where he explored modern art.
Is Nihal Arthanayake Suspended From BBC?
No, Nihal Arthanayake is not suspended from BBC. He has clearly mentioned the reason for his absence from work through his social media handle. BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake took to Twitter to provide an explanation for his absence from work.
He clarified that he was off the air due to the tennis, which happens every year. Arthanayake assured his followers that he would be back on air starting on July 17th. In September 2016, Nihal Arthanayake joined BBC Radio 5 Live as the co-host of the "Afternoon Edition" show with Sarah Brett. After Brett's departure, the show was renamed "Nihal Arthanayake" and continued airing from Monday to Thursday between 1 pm and 4 pm.
Nihal Arthanayake Career
Nihal Arthanayake began his radio career by joining BBC Radio 1 in 2002. He co-hosted a night-time show called "Asian Beats" with DJ Bobby Friction, which received critical acclaim and won a Sony Radio Award in 2003. The show was known for its specialist music category and reflected the music they played through a compilation album.
Over time, the show underwent changes, with Bobby Friction leaving and Nihal continuing as the sole presenter under the title "Asian Beats with Nihal."
In June 2014, it was announced that Arthanayake would leave BBC Radio 1 in September 2014. He then hosted his own discussion program on BBC Radio A (Asian Network) called "Nihal" until September 2016.
Nihal Arthanayake's television appearances date back to 1999 when he appeared alongside Emma B on BBC2's Webwise. He hosted his own rap show called "The Drop" on MTV Base and presented three hours of live TV every Saturday on CBBC's "The Saturday Show: Extra."
He also made appearances on shows like BBC2's "Celebrity Masterchef," where he showcased his culinary skills, and provided commentary on music and culture-related topics on programs like the BRIT Awards, The Culture Show, and Channel 5's "The Wright Stuff." Arthanayake has also been a guest panelist on music comedy quiz shows like "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" and has appeared on BBC Four's "We Need Answers."
In 2021, he appeared on Richard Osman's House of Games and was part of the BBC's coverage team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, providing insights on lesser-known sports.
Here is the short biography of Nihal Arthanayake, given in the table.
Name
Nihal Arthanayake
Age
52
DOB
1 June 1971
Birthplace
Harlow, Essex, England
Profession
DJ, Radio And Television Presenter
Nationality
England
Nihal Arthanayake Age
Nihal Arthanayake, born on 1 June 1971, comes from a Sri Lankan background and follows the Theravada Buddhist faith. Nihal Arthanayake is 52 years old. His journey in the music industry began during his time at Burnt Mill School in Harlow, Essex, where he promoted rap shows in his local area of Essex.
Previously residing in London's Westbourne Park neighborhood, Nihal Arthanayake relocated to Manchester in 2016 when he joined BBC Five Live. He currently resides in Manchester with his wife and their two children, a son and a daughter. Arthanayake holds a BA degree (2:1) in History and English Literature, which he earned from the Open University. An ardent supporter, Arthanayake has been a lifelong fan of Tottenham Hotspur.
Other Works of Nihal Arthanayake
Nihal Arthanayake embarked on a career as a rap recording artist under the name 'MC Krayzee A', releasing tracks such as 'Into The Music' in 1988. He also collaborated with various musical groups and artists, including 'The Muddie Funksters' and the alternative hip-hop outfit Collapsed Lung.
Throughout his career, he worked with renowned musicians like Nitin Sawhney, Mos Def, and Elton John in music promotion. Arthanayake's involvement in the music industry extended to writing, as he contributed articles to publications such as Asiana, Mixmag, and The Observer. He also took on the role of a cultural ambassador during the 2012 Summer Olympics London bid.
Nihal is recognized as the voiceover for the Slumdog Millionaire album, and he has made appearances on radio shows and events, including BBC Radio 5 Live's Fighting Talk and the London New Year's Eve fireworks display.
Is Nihal Arthanayake Suspended From BBC - FAQ
No, Nihal Arthanayake is not suspended from BBC.
Nihal Arthanayake is a well-known presenter at the BBC, particularly on BBC Radio 5 Live. He is highly regarded for his contributions to broadcasting.
No, Nihal Arthanayake is not suspended from the BBC. He explained his absence from work through his social media handle, stating that he was off the air due to the tennis, which happens every year. He assured his followers that he would return on July 17th.
Nihal Arthanayake began his radio career at BBC Radio 1 in 2002, co-hosting the night-time show "Asian Beats" with DJ Bobby Friction. He gained recognition and won a Sony Radio Award in 2003. After Bobby Friction's departure, Nihal continued as the sole presenter of the show. He then hosted various programs on BBC Radio 1 and the Asian Network before joining BBC Radio 5 Live in September 2016, initially co-hosting the "Afternoon Edition" show and later hosting his own show.
Nihal Arthanayake was born on June 1, 1971, making him 52 years old. He comes from a Sri Lankan background and follows the Theravada Buddhist faith. He resides in Manchester with his wife and two children.