Dame Meera Syal: 12 Years Caring For My Parents & Surviving Divorce

About this episode

What happens when both of your parents receive life-changing diagnoses within weeks of each other? In this episode of Begin Again, Davina McCall sits down with Dame Meera Syal. Meera shares the gruelling reality of caring for her mother after her cancer diagnosis while her father was living with Alzheimer’s, describing dementia as a “slow, long goodbye” and reflecting on how her family found strength, support and moments of connection through an incredibly difficult 12 years. She also opens up about growing up British Asian, feeling like a misfit, and nearly giving up on acting when she couldn’t see anyone like herself on screen.  From ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and ‘The Kumars at No. 42’ to becoming a writer, actor and comedian, Meera explains why telling your truth can help others feel less alone. The conversation also explores divorce, co-parenting, the unexpected possibilities of an empty nest, surviving assault, and staying resilient throughout life’s ups and downs. 🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again. Follow us here: 📸www.instagram.com/beginagain  🎥https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod  ✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for behind-the-scenes access, recommendations and much more: https://linkly.link/2g2xm  Follow Dame Meera Syal here: https://www.instagram.com/meera.syal  We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/ (00:00) Intro (01:17) Getting Her Damehood (08:16) Meera As A Misfit Child (10:31) Studying At Manchester University (12:22) The Importance Of Gratitude (19:20) Monzo GBL Ad (20:51) British Heart Foundation Ad (22:02) The Play That Changed Her Life (26:32) Her New Book 'Vigilauntie' (34:04) Making 'Goodness Gracious Me' (38:22) Monzo 90 Days Ad (39:35) Garnier Ad (43:17) Married At 25 (45:57) Staying Friends After Divorce (50:41) Having Her Second Child In Her 40s (53:07) Her Marriage To Sanjeev (58:57) The Reality Of Caring For Two Sick Parents (01:06:29) Speaking Out About Sexual Assault Sponsored by: Results from the 2024 Lost Pensions Survey by the Pensions Policy Institute. The value of your pension could go up or down and you could get back less than you put in. You need a free Monzo current account to open a Monzo pension. Download Monzo. Monzo Current Accounts are for 18-70 years old only and UK residents. Ts&Cs Apply. Join the 'Say Yes Club' and hear more about our events here - https://events.beginagainshow.com/  British Heart Foundation: To help fund lifesaving research, visit https://bhf.org.uk/keepusbeating  to donate now and keep us beating. Garnier Nutrisse: UK's NO1 hair dye, chosen by 2 million women. Davina is shade 5 Mocha Brown. Find yours: www.garnier.co.uk/our-brands/hair-colour/nutrisse-creme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices