Meera Syal is a national treasure. Not overly sure this is worth a thread but it will be nice to hear some thoughts on the quality of her acting. I hope she becomes a tardis regular one day because the lady is a legend...

Any thoughts are appreciated ...

Agreed. The chemistry between her and the doctor was great and I reckon she'd make a fantastic companion. Can't see it happening though.

I don't know who else she's been, but her character let down an otherwise great episode. She was awful in it

could she be the next catherine tate?

She was quite predictable, rarely she has done some good stuff but normally she's too lightweight and comic reliefish. Compared to CT, I guess she was OK, but nowhere near as good as Lee Evans (and I loathe Lee Evans as a comedian).

Agree. She was rubbish. Barely even acting and embarrasing at times. Worst performance of s5 by anyone and that includes rorys ponytail.

I like Meera Syal (and her husband Sanjeev Bhaskar) and agree she would make an excellent companion. In the BBC Eighth Doctor novels, one of the Doctor's companions was a certain Anji Kapoor, so if the Doctor has had (depending on your views on spinoff canonicity) a British Asian woman as a companion before, I don't see why he cannot have another.

No, I really didn't like her. Wrongly casted I think.

Absolutely no reason, but it shouldn't be another older woman or people will start asking questions!

Also they've done the comedy/actress bit already, and there are far better actresses around. The girl in planet of the ood was good.

I like Meera usually, but I'm afraid I thought her acting was woeful in last night's epsiode.

The phrase 'national treasure' is a massively over-used one, I can't think of any celebrity for whom that description applies, certainly not Meera Syal.

I've only seen her in some comedy thing before this and it was cringeable. I realise she's famous but I really didn't take to her character at all.

A case exists for David Attenborough, if he counts.

I’m just pleased to see Asians in this series.

Previously, Doctor Who has been 2/3 white, 1/3 black, and practically zero Asian. Totally unrepresentative of the UK population.


As is “legend”. I’ve heard some of the most obscure celebrities referred to as “legends” and it’s very annoying.

I wouldn't say National Treasure, but I got the companion vibe as soon as she stepped in the Tardis. Something that's been missing for me all series so far.

Series 1:
Navin Chowdhry
Naoko Mori
Nisha Nayar
The lady that tell off Jackie in her flat for giving Mickey a hard time in Aliens of London

Series 2:
The zombie female in New earth
an often used newsreader Jason Mohammed
Ronny Jhutti
Raji James
Hajaz Akram and Takako Akashi more newsreaders

series 3
Vineeta Rishi
The two asian girls in one of the cars that the Doctor jumps into in Gridlock
Chipo Chung

Series 4:
you had an asian lady in the background in Voyage
Ayesha Dharker and another couple of asians looking at the Oods
You had the young asian girl who stood up to Luke in the Poison Sky
You had Mr Choudry in Turn Left
And in Journey's End you had that asian women who Jackie talks to
and Also in TUATW you have Ms Chandrakala
Also Chipo again....

In the specails you had Dr Tarak Ital.....and Mia


so this zero....not really seeing it.

Series 5....
Nadia
and now Meera
Oh there may have been an old age pensioner in Amy's Choice, but will have to watch to make sure


yep series 5 really is representative......but there is still time

Bernard Cribbins = National Treasure. This woman never seen her before last night and she was awfull.

Not to mention Martha's family and that female American newsreader who has appeared in Doctor Who, Torchwood AND The Sarah Jane Adventures

Grand only meant Asian people...but yes there have been a number of Asian people in the spin offs as well.
Personally I think the show does a good enough job to represent the audience....series 5 is no exception.

I thought she was awesome nad hope she's the companion for the majority of next weeks episode.

There was an Asian actress in "Marco Polo", an Indian actor in "Robots of Death", Bert Kwouk in "Four to Doomsday", and Indian actors in "Resurrection of the Daleks".

Andrew Cartmel wanted to feature more ethnic minority actors in DW, so there were also Asian actresses in "Paradise Towers", "Battlefield" and "Survival". And
don't forget Chang Lee and others in the McGann TVM.

There were also white actors in makeup playing Asian characters in Marco Polo and Talons,(oh dear)

Although to be fair, there were hardly any actors from the Far East in the UK at that time.

Sorry but I must protest. She has done a huge amount of television and some of her comedy (including the writing of it) is a joy to watch. People who have great comic timing tend to make good actors.

Just because you haven't seen her before last night doesn't make her anonymous. She has merely slipped under your own radar. I imagine she has achieved more in her life than many members of this forum are ever likely to.

Isn't Cheryl Cole deemed a "national treasure?" I wonder how long it will be before she appears in Doctor Who? (hopefully in the next Dalek episode. Ripe for extermination, that one!)

Meera Syal is great, although I wouldn't say a national treasure. Even though I like Amy and Rory I couldn't help myself but say 'go on, just leave them, here's your chance, they won't find out untill it's too late, leave them!'.

I'm quite glad she slipped under my radar as she was horrendous. Oddly enough I saw her in Fools and Horses tonight and she was poor in that.
She may have achieved more than some forum members but it's more by luck than talent.