Actress and playwright Meera Syal has been named Oxford University’s next Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre.

Ms Syal rose to fame as one of the team who created Goodness Gracious Me and starred in The Kumars at No. 42, having appeared on radio, television, film and on stage.

Ms Syal said: “I am honoured and hugely flattered. I look forward to a mutually creative partnership over the next year with some undoubtedly ferociously bright students.”

She will succeed the director Sir Trevor Nunn.