
Nihal Arthanayake
Transform workplace conversations with Nihal Arthanayake, speaker and communication expert. Nihal works with organisations to enhance interview skills, improve diversity representation, and develop authentic dialogue techniques, delivering award-winning insights recognised by BBC and major media institutions.

London, United Kingdom
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Nihal’s career began in the music industry as a recording artist and publicist before transitioning to broadcasting, where he made his mark at BBC Radio 1, co-hosting Asian Beats and later presenting BBC Radio 1’s Review and Radio 5 Live’s Afternoon Show. His diverse broadcasting portfolio also includes hosting his own Penguin Podcast and award-winning documentaries for BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service, and BBC Radio 2.
In 2019, Nihal’s excellence in interviewing was recognised with the Interview of the Year award at the BBC Radio & Music Awards. He is known for his unique ability to conduct thoughtful, engaging interviews with individuals from a wide range of fields, from musicians and politicians to celebrities and ordinary people.
He has also become an advocate for diversity, frequently challenging institutions on the need for greater ethnic representation in media, as evidenced by his leadership roles on advisory boards for the BBC and his candid writings in The Guardian and GQ.
In 2022, Nihal published Let’s Talk: How to Have Better Conversations, which combines his experiences as an interviewer with insights into the psychology of communication. The book has been lauded as both a practical guide and an invigorating manifesto for fostering better dialogues in a fragmented world.
Beyond his media career, Nihal is a trustee for several charitable organisations, including Home in Manchester, and an ambassador for the British Asian Trust. His contribution to communication and culture was recognised with an Honorary Doctorate in Communications in 2023.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Looking for a custom keynote or workshop designed around your company’s goals and culture? The expert will create a tailored, interactive session that aligns with your objectives, values, and strategic priorities. From leadership and innovation to wellbeing and collaboration, each experience is built from the ground up to deliver measurable impact and lasting change.
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Everything you need to know about booking an expert speaker, facilitator, host or entertainment for your event.
- If you'd like to book one of our expert speakers, email us at hello@peptalk.com, send us a chat message or give us a call, and we’ll help you out.
- We’ll take your event details — topic, audience, budget, date, and location — and create a custom speaker proposal for you within 48 hours.
- If you already have someone in mind, that’s okay too; just let us know their name! Even if they aren't listed publicly on our website, we have a huge network and work with almost everyone.
- Once you've reviewed our speaker propsal and have selected and expert shortlist, we'll double check availability and fees with your chosen expert.
- You're welcome to have a chemistry call with the speaker before making the final decision, too.
- Next, we'll send out contracts to confirm the booking. One of our experienced event producers will liase with both you and the talent on the finer details, and arrange travel if necessary, taking the stress off your plate.
Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
Our goal is to help you find the speaker who best matches your event’s goals and budget. We take the time to understand your event, objectives, and audience to recommend the right fit. The most expensive option isn’t always the best one, and our priority is finding the ideal speaker or expert for your needs; not the highest-priced one.
Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
There’s no additional cost for our services beyond the speaker fee — simply contact us to find the right speaker for your next business or team event. We can also work with your corporate procurement team to negotiate favourable long-term rates, simply email hello@getapeptalk.com for more information.
Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
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