Nikki Bedi is a television and radio presenter, born Nikki Moolgaoker (Marathi: निक्की मुळगावकर) in Aylesbury to an Indian 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.[1] 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[2].
She is proud of both her Indian and English roots and describes herself as Indo-Anglian.
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Both a stage and television actress, she began her career in Mumbai 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"[3].
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.
She was presenting every Saturday night from 10 pm until 2 am on BBC London 94.9 since Saturday 23 October 2010 until Saturday 2 July 2011, when she moved to Overnights (Mon-Thurs).[4]. Since 26 December 2010 Nikki has been regularly covering on BBC London 94.9 for her colleagues Lesley Joseph[5][6], Vanessa Feltz's mid-morning show[7], Eddie Nestor’s Rum Shop[8], Big George from 4 May until the 7 May 2011[9] and The Late Show with JoAnne Good from the 8 May 2011 until the 15 May 2011[10][11][12].
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[2].
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[13][14]. Also on Friday 17 June 2011[15] and Friday 1 July 2011[16].