INTERVIEW
IN MY EXPERIENCE ...
Meera Syal
The actor, writer and comedian shares the secret of her happy marriage to fellow TV star Sanjeev Bhaskar and why she couldn't live without netball
by PAMFRANCIS
You've been married to actor Sanjeev Bhaskar for 18 years. How did you get together?
Sanjeev and I had known each other for years because we worked together. But the turning point was when we were both invited to Australia to promote The Kumars at No. 42. We got this amazing free trip to Sydney and Melbourne, and well, it's a long flight - and there was vodka! So as we crossed the equator we also crossed the border from friendship to something else. One of those weird things where you look at each other and go, 'Oh, there you are!'
What makes a good marriage?
Having a laugh, being able to talk about anything, and choosing your battles. It's ideal to marry your best friend. If everything else fades, that friendship will always be there. Yes, it is quite hilarious. We joke that it's a job share. The difference is that unlike Singh, a police inspector who works from Malaysia, Mrs Sidhu isn't trained. She is a caterer who doesn't set out to be a detective but gets sucked in. She becomes the Miss Marple of Slough.