Meera Syal

Named one of the funniest acts in British comedy by The Observer, writer and actress Meera Syal (MBE and CBE) has brought her distinctive voice to the UK’s creative arts on hit shows such as BBC’s Goodness Gracious Me and Kumars at no.42; her sharp humour married with professionalism means she is sought after as an after dinner speaker and awards host for corporate events.

C: £10k-£15k

Comedy & Cabaret, Awards Hosts & Presenter, After Dinner Speakers Entertainment

Writer, actress and comedian Meera Syal has a gift for combining humour and professionalism, making her an ideal after dinner speaker and awards host for corporate events.

Meera is well-known for penning and starring in the popular BBC comedy sketch show Goodness Gracious Me (1996-2001) and gracing our screens as ‘the grandma’ in hit series Kumars at no.42 (2001-2004). She has also appeared in numerous popular television shows, including Doctor Who, Absolutely Fabulous, Holby City, and the second series of Broadchurch. In 2014, she starred in a Christmas BBC adaptation of David Walliams’ The Boy in the Dress.

Hailing from Wolverhampton, Meera was educated at Manchester University where she read English and Drama; it was here that her stage play One of Us attracted the attention of the BBC, who commissioned her to write the feature-length drama My Sister Wife.

Drawing on her childhood experiences growing up in a small mining community, Meera produced her first novel Anita and Me (1996), which was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize and the won Betty Trask Award. Her second book Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee (1999) narrates the adventures of three young Asian women growing up in Britain, and third book, The House of Hidden Mothers is a tragicomic work of fiction that explores the issues surrounding surrogacy.

As well as on our screens and in print, Meera is a brilliant actress on the stage too. Theatre roles include leading roles at The National Theatre, The Old Vic and the Royal Court. She played Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing at the RSC, Stratford, and Shirley in Willy Russell’s iconic Shirley Valentine in the West End - for which she won the What’s On Stage Solo Performance award.

Meera’s contributions to British creative arts have not gone unnoticed. She was awarded an MBE in 1997; named Media Personality of the Year at the Commission for Racial Equality's annual Race in the Media awards in 2000; and awarded a CBE for her services to drama and literature in 2015.

A brilliant speaker, witty, talented and intelligent Meera is perfect for awards hosting and after-dinner speaking.