We first learned about Dr. Ranj Singh, the British doctor/TV presenter/author, earlier this year when he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, the U.K.’s version of Dancing With The Stars.
Since he popped onto our radar, we’ve been checking his Instagram page regularly to fawn over the photos.
Now, the 39-year-old pediatrician-turned-TV-star sits down with Gay Star News to talk about his newfound celebrity.
“I knew going into Strictly, you do open yourself up to the press, the public, and online,” Dr. Ranj says. “Some people look and hunt for stories. No stone will be left unturned. And I had no secrets. I’d been very vocal about my background, my sexuality. I’d already been very open and honest.”
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Dr. Ranj came out publicly in a 2015 interview with Attitude magazine, shortly after divorcing his wife, who he had met in his early 20s in med school.
Before becoming a media personality, he worked in several hospitals around London, specializing in Pediatric Emergency Medicine.
Asked how being on Strictly Come Dancing changed his appearance, Dr. Ranj replies: “It’s so physical, you do get fitter. Some people lose weight. I gained it, which was odd.”
I’d lost a bit just before going on, as I’m not the most body confident person and I knew there would be a lot of tight-fitting outfits. You do put on muscle because you’re working out so much. But because you’re working out so much, you’re constantly eating! But it definitely gave me body confidence I never had. It made me feel a lot sexier.
Dr. Ranj says prior to Strictly, he struggled with his weight.
“I wasn’t especially overweight, but because I’m not particularly tall, my BMI very easily falls into the overweight category, if I’m not careful,” he explains.
“As you and I both know, the LGBT+ community is a sometimes a very visually-focused community. How you look gets a lot of undue attention, [resulting] in what I call ‘unrealistic bodies’.”
Going forward, he hopes to combat the idea that a guy needs to have a perfect physique in order to be considered sexy.
“I’m all about promoting varieties of what normal is, and giving people a realistic image,” Dr. Ranj says. “Six packs, pecs, huge calves are not realistic for the vast majority of us. … People need to realize that’s just an ideal. That’s not reality or normality.”
Asked whether more guys approach him to dance when he goes out to the gay bars these days, Dr. Ranj says it happens all the time.
“Funnily enough, there’s a pub close to me that’s popular with rugby players. I bumped into Thom Evans,” he recalls. “Obviously he was a contestant before. We had a mini dance off!”
“I was like ‘This is really weird.’ We looked really odd. We were trying to out cha cha each other… But he was loving it.”
Related: Meet the hunky gay TV doctor who’s been dancing his way into primetime and into our hearts
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iamru2
He’s trying just a little too hard in his selfies, such a turn off.
bishonen91
my exact thoughts. that smile is so annoying
Chrisk
How else is he going to show off those expensive veneers.
Lacuevaman
not at all attractive…..ugh
Jack Meoff
He doesn’t look hunky he just looks weird and over manicured.
LetsGetLit
His eyes makes him look like he’s possessed.
Dinodogstar
I agree,, Handsome dude, and a doctor to boot,,, Way outta my league, SO, since i aint’ go no chance no how,,, being the hyper-crtical bsh i am, WHY does he clearly shave his chest? Lookin; at the guy, you’d expect to get that fur if you took the ride home, but all shaved like that, is too prettied-up too KenDoll for most..
If like this guy, you own an eybrow brush and have a weiner, you need to dial that down, boys…
Chrisk
Probably like rubbing up against a brillo pad.
startenout
“As you and I both know, the LGBT+ community is a sometimes a very visually-focused community. How you look gets a lot of undue attention, [resulting] in what I call ‘unrealistic bodies’.”
From the above comments alone, he is supremely correct in his analysis of the shallow, superficial nature of the gay community. Largely sparked by jealousy, it seems. “Why is HE getting attention? Why are they interested in HIM? He needs to be taken down a peg since I can’t get someone as handsome/gifted/intelligent.”
God, this community is soul-ugly.
Lacuevaman
for god’s sake….. bitchery is universal….you prove that
Rob Moore
I agree. I see the same collection of bitchy queens who always feign boredom with a Queerty article, how stupid Queerty is, or focus on how “unattractive” the person in the article is. On the first two points, I wonder why they continue reading the articles if their sensibilities are so offended? On the third point, I have to wonder why they consider themselves the final arbiters on attractiveness even as they show the green of jealousy since different people find different traits attractive.
xflare
Dancing with the Stars is the US version of the original UK show witch is called Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC licenced the format to be shown all over the world.