Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | First Impressions | 20220516 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor, Joe Sangster. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held secrets, lies and betrayals. Today: Yasmin prepares herself for the long-feared meeting between her traditional Muslim parents and her fianc退's firebrand feminist mother, Harriet. Author: Monica Ali is the author of several novels including Brick Lane, shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Reader: Meera Syal is an acclaimed comedian, writer, playwright, and actress, who rose to prominence as one of the team that created Goodness Gracious Me. She has a CBE for services to drama and literature. Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |
| 02 | Revelations | 20220517 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor, Joe Sangster. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held secrets, lies and betrayals. Today: Yasmin is struggling to keep up with family revelations, first from her brother, then her mother, and worst of all from Joe... Author: Monica Ali Reader: Meera Syal Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first for 10 years Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |
| 03 | Reckless Decisions | 20220518 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor, Joe Sangster. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held secrets, lies and betrayals. Today: with her brother's baby on the way, and her relationship with Joe strained, Yasmin makes a reckless decision... Author: Monica Ali Reader: Meera Syal Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's hilarious and bighearted new novel - her first for a decade. Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |
| 04 | Passion | 20220519 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor, Joe Sangster. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held and dark secrets. Today: Yasmin finds passion, while tempers rise to boiling point in the Ghorami household.... Author: Monica Ali is the author of several novels including Brick Lane, shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Reader: Meera Syal Meera Syal reads Ali's new novel following two families brought together by marriage. Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |
| 05 | New Horizons | 20220520 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held and dark secrets. Today: Yasmin barely recognises her mother after her move to Harriet's house - not only new ideas, a new business but also a new 'special friend'... Author: Monica Ali Reader: Meera Syal Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |
| 06 | Confusion | 20220523 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held and dark secrets. Today: Yasmin is confused over her feelings for Joe, and by his unorthodox relationship with his mother.... Author: Monica Ali Reader: Meera Syal Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's novel following two families brought together by marriage. Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |
| 07 | Broken Rules | 20220524 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held and dark secrets. Today: with her relationship and her career both in turmoil, Yasmin finds herself struggling to understand her parents' own difficult past... Author: Monica Ali Reader: Meera Syal Meera Syal continues reading Monica Ali's bighearted and hilarious new novel. Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |
| 08 | Adventure | 20220525 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held and dark secrets. Today: Yasmin breaks more rules, this time to help a beloved patient... Author: Monica Ali Reader: Meera Syal Meera Syal continues Monica Ali's hilarious and heartbbreaking new novel. Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |
| 09 | Things Fall Apart | 20220526 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held and dark secrets. Today: pulling together but falling apart... Author: Monica Ali Reader: Meera Syal Meera Syal continues Monica Ali's bighearted and hilarious new novel. Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |
| 10 | The Past | 20220527 | Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's first new novel for a decade, a bighearted and hilarious story of two very different families brought together by marriage. Yasmin Ghorami has a brilliant career in medicine, and is engaged to a charming junior doctor. But as their wedding approaches, and the two families are thrown together, they all find themselves confronting long-held and dark secrets. Today: Ma finally tells the shocking true story of how she came to meet her husband... Author: Monica Ali Reader: Meera Syal Meera Syal concludes Monica Ali's heartrending and hilarious new novel. Meera Syal reads Monica Ali's big-hearted and hilarious new novel - her first in a decade. |