Nikki Bedi
Encyclopedia
Nikki Bedi is a television and radio presenter
, born Nikki Moolgaoker (Marathi
: निक्की मुळगावकर) in Aylesbury
to an India
n father of Maharashtrian
origin and an English mother. Famously married to Kabir Bedi
from 1992 to 2005, retaining her married name after an amicable divorce, her first marriage was to food stylist Sunil Vijayakar. She hosts a Saturday late night show on BBC London 94.9. She was the stand-in presenter for the Overnight Show on BBC London 94.9 from Mid May 2011 until the end of June 2011 when it was announced that she was the new presenter of the Overnight Slot and been presenting it officially since Monday 4 July 2011 under the new name of Nikki Bedi.
She is proud of both her Indian and English roots and describes herself as Indo-Anglian.
working with some of India’s finest directors; spotted by the UK’s Channel 4
, Nikki hosted Bombay Chat, an on-location celebrity talk show. Star TV
gave her a primetime slot for Nikki Tonight which quickly proved to be Asia’s most widely viewed and controversial talk show, although it was subsequently cancelled by Star TV after a guest, gay rights activist Ashok Row Kavi
, made a derogatory remark about Mahatma Gandhi
.
Bedi then moved to live and work for a time in Los Angeles, before returning to the UK in 2000 to be the face of Universal’s
film channel The Studio for over two years. She also presented two live film shows for NOW
, "Worldwide Screen" and "Bollywood Today".
In 2003, while continuing her television work, Nikki pursued a career in radio, appearing on LBC and BBC Radio 4
. In 2004 she became the presenter of a new weekend morning programme called Hot Breakfast on the BBC Asian Network before taking over as presenter of the weekday afternoon show, Drive in 2005. In May 2006 as part of wide-ranging schedule changes, she was given her own show called Nikki Bedi on the BBC Asian Network. The daily show, featured music, films, books, art and all things cultural, and included interviews with prominent figures from those British and International worlds.
In 2007, she narrated the BBC documentary series Indian School
. She has regularly covered for a number of key presenters on BBC Radio 2 and in October 2008 fulfilled a long held ambition by appearing in an episode of the BBC Radio 4
drama, The Archers
.
Bedi was a presenter on BBC2's Desi DNA
for three years and continues her television work presenting the popular BBC 1 series "To Buy Or Not To Buy".
Nikki was a Costa Book Awards judge in the New Novel category announced in Jan 2010 and presented a 3 part documentary series on BBC Radio 2
called "Bollywood Britian" in February 2010. The series explores the history of Hindi film music and its lasting ties with generations of British Asians.
since Saturday 23 October 2010 until Saturday 2 July 2011, when she moved to Overnights (Mon-Thurs).. Since 26 December 2010 Nikki has been regularly covering on BBC London 94.9 for her colleagues Lesley Joseph, Vanessa Feltz
's mid-morning show, Eddie Nestor’s Rum Shop, Big George from 4 May until the 7 May 2011 and The Late Show with JoAnne Good
from the 8 May 2011 until the 15 May 2011.
She was a stand-in presenter for The Overnight Show (2am-6am) on BBC London 94.9
, Monday to Saturday from Late May 2011 with Ray Khan occasionally doing Friday and Saturday early morning's until the end of June 2011. She was announced as the official presenter of the Overnight Slot hosting the Monday to Thursday slot, and started on Monday 4 July 2011.
She has sat in for Gaby Roslin
on occasions on The Breakfast show on BBC London 94.9
on Monday 30 May till Friday 3 June 2011. Also on Friday 17 June 2011 and Friday 1 July 2011.
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, born Nikki Moolgaoker (Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
: निक्की मुळगावकर) in Aylesbury
Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in South East England. However the town also falls into a geographical region known as the South Midlands an area that ecompasses the north of the South East, and the southern extremities of the East Midlands...
to an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n father of Maharashtrian
Marathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
origin and an English mother. Famously married to Kabir Bedi
Kabir Bedi
Kabir Bedi is an Indian television and film actor. His career has spanned three continents including India, the United States and many European countries in three mediums: film, television and theatre. He is noted for his role as Emperor Shah Jahan in Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story...
from 1992 to 2005, retaining her married name after an amicable divorce, her first marriage was to food stylist Sunil Vijayakar. She hosts a Saturday late night show on BBC London 94.9. She was the stand-in presenter for the Overnight Show on BBC London 94.9 from Mid May 2011 until the end of June 2011 when it was announced that she was the new presenter of the Overnight Slot and been presenting it officially since Monday 4 July 2011 under the new name of Nikki Bedi.
She is proud of both her Indian and English roots and describes herself as Indo-Anglian.
Career
Both a stage and television actress, she began her career in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
working with some of India’s finest directors; spotted by the UK’s Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, Nikki hosted Bombay Chat, an on-location celebrity talk show. Star TV
STAR TV (Asia)
Satellite Television Asian Region is an Asian TV service owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.In 2009, News Corporation restructured STAR Asia into four units – STAR India, STAR Greater China, STAR Select and Fox International Channels....
gave her a primetime slot for Nikki Tonight which quickly proved to be Asia’s most widely viewed and controversial talk show, although it was subsequently cancelled by Star TV after a guest, gay rights activist Ashok Row Kavi
Ashok Row Kavi
Ashok Row Kavi is an Indian journalist and one of India's most prominent LGBT rights activists.He was born in Bombay, British India, now Mumbai, India, on June 1, 1947. He graduated with honors in Chemistry from the University of Bombay. Later, he dropped out of engineering college...
, made a derogatory remark about Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
.
Bedi then moved to live and work for a time in Los Angeles, before returning to the UK in 2000 to be the face of Universal’s
NBC Universal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC is a media and entertainment company engaged in the production and marketing of entertainment, news, and information products and services to a global customer base...
film channel The Studio for over two years. She also presented two live film shows for NOW
NOW.com
NOW.com was an online TV/broadband network operated by PCCW Limited.-Service:The network broadcasted news and other programmes in primarily in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, as well as select channels in other languages:* German...
, "Worldwide Screen" and "Bollywood Today".
In 2003, while continuing her television work, Nikki pursued a career in radio, appearing on LBC and BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. In 2004 she became the presenter of a new weekend morning programme called Hot Breakfast on the BBC Asian Network before taking over as presenter of the weekday afternoon show, Drive in 2005. In May 2006 as part of wide-ranging schedule changes, she was given her own show called Nikki Bedi on the BBC Asian Network. The daily show, featured music, films, books, art and all things cultural, and included interviews with prominent figures from those British and International worlds.
In 2007, she narrated the BBC documentary series Indian School
Indian School (TV Series)
Indian School is a BBC documentary series narrated by Nikki Bedi and produced by Colin Cameron. It was first transmitted in the UK from 16 May 2007.The series was co-produced with Open University.-External links:* at the Open University...
. She has regularly covered for a number of key presenters on BBC Radio 2 and in October 2008 fulfilled a long held ambition by appearing in an episode of the BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
drama, The Archers
The Archers
The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
.
Bedi was a presenter on BBC2's Desi DNA
Desi DNA
Desi DNA is a British television show on the BBC covering Desi art, culture and entertainment, currently broadcasting its fifth series in 2008....
for three years and continues her television work presenting the popular BBC 1 series "To Buy Or Not To Buy".
Nikki was a Costa Book Awards judge in the New Novel category announced in Jan 2010 and presented a 3 part documentary series on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
called "Bollywood Britian" in February 2010. The series explores the history of Hindi film music and its lasting ties with generations of British Asians.
BBC London 94.9 (2010 – present)
She was presenting every Saturday night from 10 pm until 2 am on BBC London 94.9BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
since Saturday 23 October 2010 until Saturday 2 July 2011, when she moved to Overnights (Mon-Thurs).. Since 26 December 2010 Nikki has been regularly covering on BBC London 94.9 for her colleagues Lesley Joseph, Vanessa Feltz
Vanessa Feltz
Vanessa Jane Feltz is an English television personality, broadcaster and journalist. She currently presents an early morning radio show on BBC Radio 2, a mid morning phone-in show on BBC London 94.9. In 2011, she started hosting The Vanessa Show on Channel 5. The first series ended on June 24th...
's mid-morning show, Eddie Nestor’s Rum Shop, Big George from 4 May until the 7 May 2011 and The Late Show with JoAnne Good
The Late Show with Joanne Good
The Late Show with Joanne Good is a live late-night program on BBC London 94.9 that has been broadcast since January 11, 2010, and is hosted by actress and radio presenter Joanne Good. The show currently airs Sunday through Thursday from 10pm - 2am...
from the 8 May 2011 until the 15 May 2011.
She was a stand-in presenter for The Overnight Show (2am-6am) on BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
, Monday to Saturday from Late May 2011 with Ray Khan occasionally doing Friday and Saturday early morning's until the end of June 2011. She was announced as the official presenter of the Overnight Slot hosting the Monday to Thursday slot, and started on Monday 4 July 2011.
She has sat in for Gaby Roslin
Gaby Roslin
Gaby Roslin is an English television presenter and actress. She rose to fame while co-presenting The Big Breakfast on Channel 4 between 1992 and 1996, and also presented the BBC's Children in Need charity appeal from 1994 to 2004....
on occasions on The Breakfast show on BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
on Monday 30 May till Friday 3 June 2011. Also on Friday 17 June 2011 and Friday 1 July 2011.