
Dr Ranj: TV Doctor, Divorce, and NHS Career Facts
You might know Dr Ranj as the smiling face on CBeebies or as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. But behind the TV persona is a real NHS doctor whose personal life has recently drawn public attention. Ranjit “Ranj” Singh Sangha, born 26 June 1979, is a fully qualified paediatrician working at St George’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London (BBC profile). This article separates verified facts from tabloid speculation, using NHS and BBC records to ground the story.
Full name: Ranjit ‘Ranj’ Singh Sangha ·
Born: 26 June 1979 ·
Profession: Doctor, TV presenter, author, columnist ·
Known for: Strictly Come Dancing, This Morning, CBeebies ·
Marital status: Divorced
Quick snapshot
- NHS doctor specialising in young people’s health (BBC profile)
- Contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 (Wikipedia entry)
- Divorced from Sulvinder Samra in 2011 (Wikipedia entry)
- Presented CBeebies’ Get Well Soon from 2012–2015 (BBC profile)
- Exact timeline of divorce proceedings
- Identity and occupation of ex-wife before marriage
- Whether James Colebrook is a current partner
- Details of the “Dr Raj” plagiarism controversy (likely a different person)
- 2005: Marries Sulvinder Samra (Wikipedia entry)
- 2009: Reportedly came out to his wife (Wikipedia entry)
- 2011: Divorce finalized (Wikipedia entry)
- 2025: Confirmed relationship with actor James Colebrook on Instagram (GB News report)
- Public back-and-forth between Dr Ranj and ex-wife on social media may continue
- No confirmation of further TV or medical career changes
Five key facts from verified records draw a clear profile of a doctor who has balanced two careers.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 June 1979 |
| Profession | Doctor and TV presenter |
| Employer (medical) | NHS, St George’s and St Thomas’ hospitals |
| Notable TV shows | Strictly Come Dancing, This Morning, CBeebies |
| Marital status | Divorced |
The pattern: Dr Ranj has maintained a full-time NHS role while building a parallel media career – a rare combination that carries both opportunity and scrutiny.
Who is Dr. Ranj Singh?
What is Dr Ranj’s medical background?
Dr Ranj Singh holds an MBBS from the University of London and became a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2007 (BBC — official NHS biography). He now works as an NHS hospital doctor at St George’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London, focusing on the health of young people. He grew up in Kent in a traditional Sikh household (BBC profile).
Is Dr Ranj Singh a real doctor?
Yes. He is a fully registered medical practitioner with the General Medical Council. His TV work has never been a substitute for clinical practice – he continues to work shifts in the NHS alongside his media appearances. The BBC explicitly describes him as “an NHS doctor and TV presenter” (BBC).
Viewers often question whether TV doctors are genuine clinicians. Dr Ranj’s NHS registration and hospital workload confirm his medical credibility – a distinction that separates him from many health-presenters.
The implication: his dual role lends unusual authority to his media health advice, but also means his private life attracts more scrutiny than an ordinary GP’s would.
Has Dr Ranj got children?
No publicly available records indicate that Dr Ranj Singh has children. Neither he nor his ex-wife have made any official statement about children. The Wikipedia biography on Ranj Singh does not list any children (Wikipedia entry). The confirmed timeline shows his marriage lasted from 2005 to 2011, but no mention of offspring exists in credible sources.
The catch: the absence of information does not confirm a fact. However, in the absence of any claim from either party, it is safe to assume no children are publicly known.
What happened with Dr Ranj and his ex-wife?
Who is Dr Singh’s ex-wife?
Dr Ranj married Sulvinder Samra in 2005 in a traditional Sikh wedding ceremony in Nottingham (Wikipedia entry). The couple divorced in 2011. Multiple reports indicate that Singh came out to his then-wife in 2009 (Wikipedia entry).
What is the Dr Ranj controversy?
In 2026, Samra publicly described the divorce as “messy and painful” in a series of Instagram posts (GB News — national tabloid coverage). She stated there was “no conversation” about his sexuality before their separation (Wales Online — regional news outlet). Dr Ranj responded on Instagram, acknowledging the divorce was “complicated, emotional and deeply personal” (LADbible — digital publisher).
Dr Ranj’s public coming-out narrative, originally handled privately, is now being contested by his ex-wife’s account. The result is a he-said-she-said dynamic where neither side can be fully verified without court documents.
The pattern: the controversy stems from a mismatch between the original media-friendly coming-out story and a later, more painful version from the person most directly affected.
Who is Dr Ranj Singh’s partner now?
Who is James Colebrook in relation to Dr Ranj?
In 2025, Dr Ranj confirmed a relationship with actor James Colebrook on Instagram (GB News report). However, Samra has stated she has no knowledge of who James Colebrook is and is “unaware of anything in Ranj’s life” (Wales Online report). No further confirmation of a current partnership exists beyond Singh’s own social media post.
The catch: the lack of independent verification means Colebrook’s role remains the subject of media inference rather than confirmed fact.
What controversy surrounds Dr Raj?
Some readers may encounter a “Dr Raj” controversy involving a psychiatrist accused of plagiarism. That case, documented by the National Institutes of Health (NIH — US National Library of Medicine), concerns a different individual entirely. The surname similarity has caused confusion in search results, but no connection exists between Dr Ranj Singh and that case.
What this means: keep search intent in mind – a query for “Dr Raj controversy” will not deliver information about the children’s TV doctor.
Timeline of Dr Ranj Singh’s career and personal life
- 1979: Born Ranjit Singh Sangha
- 2000s: Qualified as doctor, MBBS degree
- 2005: Married Sulvinder Samra (Wikipedia entry)
- 2007: Became member of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (BBC profile)
- 2009: Reportedly came out to his wife
- 2011: Divorce finalized
- 2012–2015: Presented CBeebies’ Get Well Soon (BBC profile)
- 2018: Contestant on Strictly Come Dancing (partner Janette Manrara) (YouTube — Strictly performance)
- 2022–2023: Divorce details publicly reported
- 2025: Confirmed relationship with James Colebrook (GB News report)
- 2026: Ex-wife speaks publicly about divorce (GB News report; Wales Online report)
What we know for sure – and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Dr Ranj is a real NHS doctor with MRCPCH accreditation
- He was married to Sulvinder Samra (2005–2011)
- He was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018
- He confirmed a relationship with James Colebrook in 2025
- He works at St George’s and St Thomas’ hospitals
- He has no publicly known children
What’s unclear
- Exact timeline of divorce and coming-out conversations
- Whether James Colebrook is a current long-term partner
- Full identity and occupation of ex-wife before marriage
- Details of the unrelated “Dr Raj” plagiarism case
- Whether more legal proceedings are pending
What those involved have said
“It’s been nearly 20 years since my divorce. Recent conversations brought me back to a time that was complicated, emotional and deeply personal.”
Dr Ranj Singh, via Instagram, as reported by LADbible
“There was no conversation. [His sexuality] was never discussed before our separation.”
Sulvinder Samra, via Instagram, as reported by Wales Online
“He is an NHS doctor and TV presenter.”
BBC profile description (BBC)
The public record shows a man who built a career on trust – both as a clinician and as a television personality. The personal fallout from his divorce now challenges that narrative, forcing a reckoning with how much of his private story belongs to him alone. For fans of his TV work, the choice is between accepting his version of events or waiting for a more complete account from all parties. For Dr Ranj himself, his ongoing NHS role means his professional reputation – not just his celebrity image – is on the line.
femalefirst.co.uk, x.com, nationalreport.uk, facebook.com, prehledcentrum.cz
Frequently asked questions
Is Dr Ranj Singh a real medical doctor?
Yes. He holds an MBBS and MRCPCH, works as an NHS hospital doctor at St George’s and St Thomas’, and is registered with the General Medical Council.
What is Dr Ranj’s real name?
Ranjit “Ranj” Singh Sangha.
How old is Dr Ranj?
Born 26 June 1979.
What hospital does Dr Ranj work at?
St George’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London (NHS).
Was Dr Ranj on Strictly Come Dancing?
Yes, in 2018, partnered with Janette Manrara. He was eliminated in week 7.
Does Dr Ranj have a partner now?
He confirmed a relationship with actor James Colebrook on Instagram in 2025, but no further independent confirmation exists.
What is the Dr Ranj divorce about?
The divorce from Sulvinder Samra was finalized in 2011. In 2026, Samra publicly described it as “messy and painful” and disputed the timeline of Singh’s coming-out.