She heard Syal's memories of the small mining village, with few distractions, where she grew up.

BBC: Children should be allowed to get bored, expert says

Syal said boredom made her write, while Perry said it was a "creative state".

BBC: Children should be allowed to get bored, expert says

Meera Syal was spurred on to become a dementia friend after a relative developed the condition.

BBC: Comedians Meera Syal and Jo Brand are 'dementia friends'

There is an interesting thing with the eunuch, who's the third sex character that Meera Syal develops.

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She quizzed author Meera Syal and artist Grayson Perry about how boredom had aided their creativity as children.

BBC: Children should be allowed to get bored, expert says

Comedians Jo Brand and Meera Syal have become two of England's first 'dementia friends', in an initiative launched by the Alzheimer's Society.

BBC: Comedians Meera Syal and Jo Brand are 'dementia friends'

Much Ado has been much seen in London in recent years, with Meera Syal and Paul Bhattacharjee playing Beatrice and Benedick in this year's Indian-themed RSC production.

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Meera Syal and Jo Brand joined one of the first groups, playing "dementia fact bingo" and testing their memory of everyday objects, such as the features on a one-penny piece.

BBC: Comedians Meera Syal and Jo Brand are 'dementia friends'