Rajan
Datar
Broadcaster
Journalist
Speaker
Moderator
Musician
How many people can say they present the world’s most watched travel programme and the world’s most listened to audience feedback programme? And travelled the world delivering speeches, moderating conferences and playing bass with his ska and reggae band? (but usually not at the same time).
With a career that spans over three decades, Rajan Datar has an ability to seamlessly transition between vastly different subjects. One minute he might be engaging with experts on complex historical topics for the BBC Radio 4 and the next, he could be immersing himself in the local culture while filming travel documentaries in far-flung locations like the Gobi Desert or the favelas of Rio.
Datar’s work on travel documentaries, of which he has presented more than 60 for the BBC, is distinctive for his natural authenticity and lightness of touch. With heroes such as Anthony Bourdain and Michael Palin (who he has interviewed at length for the BBC) he aims to be not just a presenter but an active participant in the stories he tells, whether it’s taking on a Mongolian wrestler or living as a Buddhist monk. This hands-on approach has resonated with global audiences, making him a household name in travel journalism. And for Rajan, it’s crucial that local people are front and centre of any programme he makes – not the ego of the presenter!
His expertise isn’t limited to travel; Datar has also made significant contributions to current affairs and cultural programming. For instance, his work on Radio 4’s arts programs and his television work for Newsnight and other documentaries ranging from dementia to global brands make him a go-to presenter. In recent years he has branched out into conference moderation and public speaking with clients ranging from the UN to the Hay Festival. He has won plaudits as a guest on talk shows and had recently appeared on the What Now? with Trevor Noah podcast, one of the world’s most well known hosts and satirists.
Rajan follows the likes of Bill Gates and Roger Federer as a guest on world famous Trevor Noah’s podcast. Just dropped!
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Rajan follows the likes of Bill Gates and Roger Federer as a guest on world famous Trevor Noah’s podcast. Just dropped! •
Television
Rajan’s television career highlights include his role as a lead presenter on BBC’s “The Travel Show.” He has fronted and written 60 half-hour travel specials covering locations such as Mongolia, Cuba, and Uzbekistan, reaching an audience of 73 million viewers globally. Notable recent broadcasts include shows on Azerbaijan (December 2023) and a two-part special on Sri Lanka (February 2024). His first presenting job was on BBC2’s “Rough Guide to the World,” attracting up to 6 million UK viewers.
In current affairs, Rajan worked on BBC2's “Newsnight” for two years and “The Money Programme” for five years, covering significant topics like brand wars, the rise of eBay, and Enron's collapse. He started his TV career on the prestigious BBC Trainee scheme for Producer/Directors and was one of the first British Asian TV presenters in the UK.
Radio
Rajan has hosted numerous documentaries and shows for BBC Radio 4, including “The Media Show” and “Front Row.” In May 2024, his three-part series “The Tourist Trap” aired on BBC Radio 4 to huge acclaim. It was admired by experts and the general public alike for anticipating the topic of Over tourism which dominated news headlines all summer.
He also hosts “Over to You” on the BBC World Service, the world’s most listened-to feedback program, which he has presented for 16 years. Additionally, he has presented 40 episodes of “The Forum,” discussing broad and complex topics. His radio career began with the BBC’s Local Radio Reporters scheme.
“The P Word” was aired on BBC Radio 4 and the show takes a deep dive into the impact of the racial slur known as the “P word” on South Asians in the UK. This exploration was sparked by the racism scandal at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, which brought renewed attention to the persistent issue of racial discrimination in the country.
In this program, Rajan embarks on a personal journey, examining how this derogatory term has affected individuals and communities over the years. The show addresses both historical and contemporary contexts, highlighting the experiences of those who have been directly impacted by such racism.
Moderator & Speaker
Rajan is a seasoned moderator, having hosted over 60 global conferences on current affairs, arts, travel, and tourism, including events for the Hay Festival and the UNWTO. He is in demand as a rigorously prepared host who uses all his journalistic skills to make sure every event advances the agenda, leaving highly energised delegates and happy clients. He has already in 2024 chaired conferences in Bosnia and Delhi and is set to take the reins soon in Malta, Seville and Johannesburg.
He is increasingly called on to deliver inspiring talks for corporate and public gatherings and is currently researching a book on the fast changing travel landscape.
His moderation work extends his influence beyond broadcasting, contributing to global discussions on significant cultural and tourism-related issues
Music
Rajan is also a musician, co-founding and playing bass for Maroon Town, a reggae/ska band that has toured internationally in countries such as Germany, Spain, Jamaica, India, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina. The band has performed at major festivals like Glastonbury and recently performed at Boomtown 2024. Maroon Town has released five albums and enjoyed extensive worldwide radio play. Rajan is also involved in “Swaggamuffin,” a project blending blues, dub, and techno styles.
Awards & Recognition
Rajan’s contributions to journalism and broadcasting have earned him several awards, including Broadcast Travel Journalist of the Year. His approach is rooted in his lifelong curiosity and desire to make the most complex subjects accessible to everyone. He is noted for his sense of humour and ability to elevate any discussion away from the predictable and humdrum. This maybe connected to the fact that in his late teens his first job was cleaning toilets as a porter in Littlewoods before winning a place to study Politics Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University!
Recent Blog Posts
Links
The Travel Show Sri Lanka: Return to Teardrop Island Watch
The Travel Show Azerbaijan: Land of Fire Watch
The Travel Show Uzbekistan: The Heart of Central Asia Watch
The Travel Show India, 70 years after independence Watch
Radio Times Face behind the voice. Profile Read
Mid-Day Mumbai Guide Interview Read
keytahawkins.com Interview Read
The Forum On Einstein Listen
The Forum On High Life Music from Ghana Listen
The Forum On Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer Listen
Rough Guide to the World clip (1990!) from Jamaica Watch
BBC ‘What my dad's dementia taught me’ Read
Victoria Derbyshire ‘What my dad's dementia taught me’ Watch
The TravMedia Summit Travel conference promotion Watch
Contact & Booking Enquiries
Rajan is represented by Counterculture Creative. For all bookings and media enquiries, please complete the form below and one of the team will come back to you.
It was brilliant to be MC and moderator at a really far thinking conference last week in Seville.