British actress, comedian, and writer Meera Syal has been appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the King's New Year Honours list for 2025. The honour recognises her outstanding contributions to literature, drama, and charity over a distinguished career.
From Wolverhampton to National Treasure
Dame Meera Syal, 64, was born in Wolverhampton and attended Queen Mary's High School in Walsall. She is the daughter of Indian Punjabi parents who emigrated from New Delhi to the UK. Her rise to fame began after she studied English and Drama at Manchester University, where she co-wrote a prize-winning play, One of Us, which was performed at the Edinburgh International Festival.
She joined the BBC in the 1990s and became a household name as a key writer and performer on the groundbreaking British Asian sketch show, Goodness Gracious Me!. She further cemented her status by starring in and co-creating the hit sitcom The Kumars at No 42.
A Career of Cultural Impact
Dame Meera's work has consistently explored her Indian heritage, bringing British Asian stories to mainstream audiences. Her influence extends to theatre, where she helped bring Bollywood to the West End by co-writing Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Bombay Dreams in 2002.
Her film credits include popular titles such as Paddington 2 (2017), Yesterday (2019), and the recent Tinsel Town (2025). This damehood follows previous royal recognition: she was made an MBE in 1997 and a CBE in 2015.
West Midlands Celebrated in Honours List
Dame Meera Syal leads a significant contingent of individuals from the West Midlands honoured by the King. The list celebrates achievements across business, education, faith, policing, and community service.
Two individuals were appointed Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):
- Dr Harjinder Singh Lallie, founder of the Gurmat Sangeet Academy, for services to musical heritage, faith communities, and integration.
- Ann-Marie Riley, Chief Nurse at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, for services to nursing.
Several local figures received MBEs, including:
- Safaraz Ali, CEO of Pathway Group, for services to diversity and inclusion in business.
- Rebecca Jane Bollands, Head Teacher of Earlson Primary School in Coventry, for services to cultural education.
- Matthew Ian Daniels, for services to the LGBTQ+ community in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
- Professor Jacquelyn Bridget Dunne, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham Newman University, for services to higher education.
The honours also extended to recipients of the British Empire Medal (BEM) and the King's Police Medal (KPM), highlighting the broad spectrum of public service and voluntary work in the region.
This year's list underscores the profound impact that individuals from the West Midlands continue to have on national culture, public service, and community cohesion across the United Kingdom.
