Are you healthy?

Fairly. I had a very active childhood, and a cold one. We lived in a little two-up, two-down terraced house in a Staffordshire mining village. We didn't have central heating until I was quite old. I spent an awful lot of time outdoors, so my immune system probably grew strong.

Ever spent a night in hospital?

I was in for six weeks when I was four - I broke my leg running on the ice to the outside toilet.

Do you worry about your weight?

I've been on loads of diets, but now I've stopped, ironically I'm probably thinner than I have been for years. You have to accept your basic body shape, so someone with a bust my size is never actually going to look thin. But I'm Punjabi - that's the way I'm built.

What exercise do you take?

I'm in a netball team, and I really enjoy yoga.

How much do you drink?

We're not big drinkers - I think that's to do with having a young child and being a little sleep deprived. I've kind of got out of the habit - one glass of wine now and I'm anybody's.

Attitude to smoking?

My dad smokes a pipe. I quite like that smell, but I'm not sure it would be as appealing on a woman.

Are you happy?

Yeah - I've been brought up to be an optimist. I've had difficult times, but even in the middle of them you think: they won't last for ever, and if nothing else you can learn from them.

Is sex important to you?

As much as it is to anyone, I guess. How embarrassing. I've never been asked that before.

NHS or private?

A mixture. My mum had breast cancer when she was 42, and a delay in treatment made her much sicker than she should've been. That frightened me and persuaded me to have some kind of fast track if we ever need it.

• Meera Syal supports the Freeview Viewtrition campaign, which helps parents make the right choices around their children's TV consumption (freeview.co.uk)