Meera Syal TV Schedule

Wrote her first novel, Anita and Me, in 1996. Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1997. Won the Betty Trask Award for her first novel Anita and Me and the Media Personality of the Year Award at the Commission for Racial Equality's annual Race in the Media awards in 2000.

Featured on the British number one record, "Spirit in the Sky," performing with Gareth Gates and her co-stars from The Kumars at No.42, in aid of Comic Relief, in 2003. Appeared as a guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2003, having chosen an eclectic range of music and opted for a piano as her luxury item to take with her to the island. Voted one of the 50 funniest people in Britain by The Guardian in 2003.

While on the BBC show Who Do You Think You Are?, discovered that both of her grandfathers were involved in the struggle for independence in India. Was a guest at Prince Charles' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. Was appointed visiting professor of contemporary theatre at St Catherine's College, Oxford in 2011-12, and has honorary degrees from SOAS, University of London and from the University of Roehampton.

Played Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2012. Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2015, for her services to Drama and Literature. Was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2017.

Writes occasionally for The Guardian.