Before joining the world of radio, Nihal Arthanayake was involved in music, releasing ‘Into The Music’ as rap artist MC Krayzee A, before joining Collapsed Lung in 1992 and The Muddie Funksters in 1995 to release other music.

Not just the voice behind a microphone, Nihal’s passion for music has led him to write related articles for publications, including The Face, Hip Hop Connection, Eastern Eye, The Sunday Times, and The Observer.

Between being a musician and a radio DJ, Nihal was a music promoter, working for artists including Judge Jules, Nitin Sawhney, and Sir Elton John.

Nihal Arthanayake and Radio One

He joined BBC Radio 1 in 2002 as the host of Asian Beats. This was to be the start of a very successful radio career which is still going on today. He went on to win a Sony Radio Award in 2003 and achieved a Gold Standard in specialist music. Sticking with BBC Radio, he became the presenter of their Weekend Breakfast Show in 2007 – which was then moved to weekend afternoons – before gaining his own show, Review with Nihal, in 2009, which went on to win Best Radio Show at the UK Asian Music Awards. Until 2016, he had his own programme, Nihal – discussion and Debate on the Big Issues for BBC Radio A (Asian Network).

He has also presented radio documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service, as well as DJing worldwide, from Bangladesh to Germany, the Isle of Wight to Sri Lanka.

Nihal Arthanayake on Radio 5 Live

He can now frequently be heard on Radio 5 Live, hosting the eponymous afternoon show, Nihal Arthanayake. He is also the host of the hugely successful Penguin Podcast, interviewing authors about what drives their work, inspirations, challenges, and any book recommendations. Guests have included Jane Fallon, Malorie Blackman, Ian McEwan, Gabrielle Zevin, Lisa Jewell, Jarvis Cocker, Benjamin Zephaniah, Michael Rosen, Stanley Tucci, Gyles Brandreth, and Alexander McCall Smith, as well as dozens more.

He also presents the Headliners podcast for the BBC, interviewing stage star Daveed Diggs, rapper Macklemore, actor Hugh Jackman, US Senator Bernie Sanders, presenter Stephen Fry, author Michael Rosen, judge and presenter Rob Rinder, journalist Gary Younge, singer Roger Daltrey, and money expert Martin Lewis.

Nihal Arthanayake on Television

As well as being a familiar voice on our radio, Nihal has been showing his face on television ever since he first appeared on BBC2’s Webwise in 1999. Since then, he has appeared on Celebrity MasterChef (2010), Never Mind the Buzzcocks (2005), The Jeremy Vine Show (2018-2019), We Need Answers (2010), Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel (2023), Sunday Brunch (2022), Winter Walks (2021), The Hit List (2021), Richard Osman’s House of Games (2021), Pointless Celebrities (2018), and The One Show (2016).

He was the co-host for BBC2’s Asian music, arts, and culture show Desi DNA (2004) alongside fellow Great British Speaker Anita Rani. He presented the 2004 Channel 4 documentary Where’s Your F*****g Manners? (2004), and BBC2’s Art School (2005). He was even part of the BBC coverage team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. His musical knowledge has seen him contribute to the BRIT Awards, The Culture Show, and The Wright Stuff (2005-2018).

Nihal Arthanayake Diversity

In 2014, the then-Director General of the BBC asked Nihal to join the Independent Diversity Advisory Board alongside Dame Floella Benjamin, Sir Lenny Henry, and George the Poet. Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention in 2015, he publicly spoke about his own experiences and observations on diversity at the BBC, which lead to articles in The Guardian, and The Mirror, and even the BBC’s own news website.

Nihal Arthanayake Charity Work

Outside of his media commitments, Nihal is passionate about charity work. He is currently a Trustee of the Manchester-based charity Home, which work with national and international artists to produce thought-provoking art in a variety of mediums, and an Ambassador for The British Asian Trust, a charity founded in 2007 by the former Prince of Wales to tackle poverty and inequality in South Asia. He is also a Trustee of the Southbank Centre and the British Council, and was a Cultural Ambassador for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Nihal Arthanayake Writing

In 2022, Nihal published his debut book, Let’s Talk: How to Have Better Conversations. The book aims to promote conversation, which has been lost thanks to the increase in smartphones and other distractions. Nihal seamlessly blends his own experiences with interviews with experts behind successful communications. The book found itself on several Amazon bestseller lists, including ‘Interviewing and Recruitment’ and ‘Job Interviews’.

In 2020, he was asked to write an article for GQ Magazine on “Is the term BAME problematic?”. With over 25 years of experience, Nihal is a passionate commentator and writer on how organisations can and should do better in recognising the importance of diverse thinking, as well as finding the focus needed to implement change.

Nihal Arthanayake Speaking Topics

– Art, Culture and Music

– Broadcasting

– Journalism

– Communication

– Asian Music and Culture

Clients Nihal has worked with include Adobe, Boots, Google, GQ, Hugo Boss, Mercedes-Benz, Tottenham Hotspur, and X (formerly Twitter).

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book presenter and broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake for your corporate event.

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