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Jack Dee to host BBC Two’s ‘You’re Fired’ & ‘You’re Hired’
MUMBAI: Comedian Jack Dee has been roped in as the new host of BBC Two’s You’re Fired and You’re Hired – the companion show to The Apprentice – with fellow comic Romesh Ranganathan taking a regular place on the panel alongside the business experts and celebrities who appear each week to discuss the outgoing candidates’ performance.
Dee enjoys a special empathy with the candidates as he has been through the process himself, taking part in 2009’sComic Relief Does The Apprentice. Dee made it into the final boardroom only to be beaten by Michelle Mone of the women’s team.
Dee said, “I’m very much looking forward to hosting You’re Fired and hope that the luckless candidates will see me as the friendly face at the end of a difficult time in their lives.”
Ranganathan added, “As a massive fan of The Apprentice, this is very exciting for me. I love You’re Fired and am looking forward to putting all the questions to the candidates that people at home want to see asked. I also have a number of business proposals of my own that I think Lord Sugar will be pretty interested in…”
Entertainment Commissioning controller Mark Linsey said, “It’s great news that we have someone of Jack’s comedy calibre as host of You’re Fired, and I’m really excited that he will be aided and abetted by the hugely talented Romesh. Jack will be brilliant at guiding us through the highlights of The Apprentice and as a super fan of the series, Romesh will provide us with his own uniquely funny perspective.”
BBC Two and BBC Four controller Kim Shillinglaw added, “BBC Two should always be fantastic company and who better than Jack Dee and Romesh Ranganathan to share the candidates’ highs and lows with us and bring their wonderfully funny take on the week’s events – I’m delighted to welcome them both to You’re Fired.”
You’re Fired and You’re Hired was commissioned for BBC Two by Sohail Shah and will be made by Boundless. The 11 x 30’ (You’re Fired) and 1 x 60’ (You’re Hired) shows will be series produced by Kate Staples and executive produced by Cal Turner.
The Apprentice and You’re Fired return to BBC later this year.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
