Rajan Datar is a skilled presenter, writer, and producer with more than 30 years of experience. He has worked across current affairs, arts, business, and documentary production for the BBC and beyond. His travelogues have captivated millions, and his documentaries on major companies have earned critical acclaim.
Alongside broadcasting, Rajan frequently moderates conferences for major organisations, including the United Nations, WTTC, and leading literary festivals. He also co-hosts the podcast PresenterPod, where he shares insights from decades in the media. His current projects include a TV documentary on childhood racism and a World Service radio programme exploring the history of the electric guitar.
Rajan stands out for his remarkable versatility. One moment, he’s wrestling a Mongolian champion in the Gobi Desert before a global audience. The next, he’s leading an in-depth discussion on the Haitian Revolution with leading historians. His wide-ranging work spans Specialist Factual, Current Affairs, Travel, and Arts and Culture. He regularly appears on the BBC Travel Show and the BBC World Service, where his 30-plus travel documentaries reach up to 70 million viewers worldwide.
After graduating from Oxford and the LSE, Rajan began his career in print journalism. He wrote features for national outlets including The Guardian and The Times. He then transitioned to broadcast, presenting and reporting for the BBC on both television and radio. His early work included reporting for Newsnight and serving as an award-winning presenter for BBC2’s The Money Programme, where he explored major brands from Google to Tesco.
His passion lies in current affairs and cultural storytelling. He hosts The Forum, the World Service’s flagship discussion programme, and for over a decade, he has led Over To You, the BBC’s listener feedback show. He has produced numerous documentaries for Radio 4 and contributes regularly to the network’s arts flagship, Saturday Review. Rajan has also reported live for consumer shows like Watchdog.
In recent years, Rajan has earned global recognition for his immersive travel documentaries. He dives deep into local cultures and experiences. Whether abseiling with refuse collectors in Rio’s favelas, living as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, singing with a Georgian polyphonic choir, or exploring life inside a cult, he brings audiences along for the ride. His storytelling is bold, curious, and human at its core.
Most recently, Rajan completed a film for BBC News and Current Affairs on dementia. As he continues to explore new frontiers, his work remains driven by empathy, insight, and a relentless curiosity about the world.
