My Life as a Popat follows the lives of an Asian family, through the eyes of their eldest son, Anand. The teenager fights a daily basis full of embarrassment. The second series brings a change to storyline, with brainbox Chetan Popat sometimes taking centre stage. Milli Patel (the Popats' cousin) also comes for the whole series.
- Sonny Gill Dulay - Anand Popat
- Kulvinder Ghir
Kulvinder Ghir, born in Nairobi, Kenya, is a British actor, comedian and writer of South Asian ancestry, best known for his roles in Rita, Sue & Bob Too, Blood & Peaches, and the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me....
- Ramesh Popat
- Shaheen Khan - Shoba Popat
- Chandeep Uppal
Chandeep Uppal is a British actress best known for her critically acclaimed starring role as Mina Kumar in the film Anita and Me....
- Dimple Popat
- James Gandhi
James Gandhi is a British actor. He was born in 1993 and made his acting debut at the age of 10 in the hit children's comedy series My Life as a Popat. The show won numerous awards including a BAFTA.Gandhi stars in the British film Eden Lake alongside Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender...
- Chetan Popat
- Laura Greenwood
Laura Greenwood is an English actress who was born in 1991 and is a member of the YoungBlood Theatre Company in 2006.Greenwood's big breakthrough came in 2006 when at age 14 she starred as Penny Philips opposite Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect The Final Act, the two-part conclusion to ITV's...
- Holly Saviour (Series 1 and one episode of Series 2)
- Felicity Montagu
Felicity Montagu is an English actress, probably best known for her performances in radio and television comedy series and films...
- Ivy Saviour (Series 1 and one episode of Series 2)
- Dave Hill
Dave Hill is a British actor. He was born in Skipton, in North Yorkshire. He has appeared in The Full Monty as well as many other TV series and films...
- Alf Saviour (Series 1)
- Yasmin Paige
Yasmin Paige is an English actress who is best known for her role as Maria in The Sarah Jane Adventures, a spin-off from the BBC science fiction television programme Doctor Who...
- Lucy Miesels (Series 2)
- Manjeeven Grewal
Manjeeven Grewal is a young British actress who has starred in My Life as a Popat, where she played the part of Milli Patel in the second series. She appeared in the teenage comedy Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, a film based on the book Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison...
- Milli Patel (Series 2)
My Life as a Popat was first not recommissioned after the second series due to
CITVCITV is the brand name used for the majority of children's television output on ITV's television stations, including the ITV Network, breakfast broadcaster GMTV and the ITV plc-owned CITV Channel as well as non ITV plc owned regions...
budget restrains.
Discussion
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My Life as a Popat follows the lives of an Asian family, through the eyes of their eldest son, Anand. The teenager fights a daily basis full of embarrassment. The second series brings a change to storyline, with brainbox Chetan Popat sometimes taking centre stage. Milli Patel (the Popats' cousin) also comes for the whole series.
Cast
- Sonny Gill Dulay - Anand Popat
- Kulvinder Ghir
Kulvinder Ghir, born in Nairobi, Kenya, is a British actor, comedian and writer of South Asian ancestry, best known for his roles in Rita, Sue & Bob Too, Blood & Peaches, and the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me....
- Ramesh Popat
- Shaheen Khan - Shoba Popat
- Chandeep Uppal
Chandeep Uppal is a British actress best known for her critically acclaimed starring role as Mina Kumar in the film Anita and Me....
- Dimple Popat
- James Gandhi
James Gandhi is a British actor. He was born in 1993 and made his acting debut at the age of 10 in the hit children's comedy series My Life as a Popat. The show won numerous awards including a BAFTA.Gandhi stars in the British film Eden Lake alongside Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender...
- Chetan Popat
- Laura Greenwood
Laura Greenwood is an English actress who was born in 1991 and is a member of the YoungBlood Theatre Company in 2006.Greenwood's big breakthrough came in 2006 when at age 14 she starred as Penny Philips opposite Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect The Final Act, the two-part conclusion to ITV's...
- Holly Saviour (Series 1 and one episode of Series 2)
- Felicity Montagu
Felicity Montagu is an English actress, probably best known for her performances in radio and television comedy series and films...
- Ivy Saviour (Series 1 and one episode of Series 2)
- Dave Hill
Dave Hill is a British actor. He was born in Skipton, in North Yorkshire. He has appeared in The Full Monty as well as many other TV series and films...
- Alf Saviour (Series 1)
- Yasmin Paige
Yasmin Paige is an English actress who is best known for her role as Maria in The Sarah Jane Adventures, a spin-off from the BBC science fiction television programme Doctor Who...
- Lucy Miesels (Series 2)
- Manjeeven Grewal
Manjeeven Grewal is a young British actress who has starred in My Life as a Popat, where she played the part of Milli Patel in the second series. She appeared in the teenage comedy Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, a film based on the book Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison...
- Milli Patel (Series 2)
Trivia
My Life as a Popat was first not recommissioned after the second series due to
CITVCITV is the brand name used for the majority of children's television output on ITV's television stations, including the ITV Network, breakfast broadcaster GMTV and the ITV plc-owned CITV Channel as well as non ITV plc owned regions...
budget restrains. However, after the show won a BAFTA, a second series was commissioned.
Laura GreenwoodLaura Greenwood is an English actress who was born in 1991 and is a member of the YoungBlood Theatre Company in 2006.Greenwood's big breakthrough came in 2006 when at age 14 she starred as Penny Philips opposite Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect The Final Act, the two-part conclusion to ITV's...
(Holly Saviour) was axed in the second series so (after a farewell appearance in the first episode) the character was written out. The new character of Lucy Miesels (played by
Yasmin PaigeYasmin Paige is an English actress who is best known for her role as Maria in The Sarah Jane Adventures, a spin-off from the BBC science fiction television programme Doctor Who...
) was introduced in the next episode.
Following further budget cuts to CITV
My Life as a Popat was not recomissioned for a third series.
Game
CITV made a
My Life as a Popat game which can be found on the CITV website:
http://www.citv.co.uk/page.asp?partid=212
Series 1 (2004)
| Episode # |
Title |
First broadcast |
Synopsis |
| 1. |
"Men in Turbans" |
7 September 2004 |
Anand Popat arrives with his family in Harrow and is particularly keen to make a good impression with his next door neighbour Holly. Will he ever pluck up the courage to invite her to see ‘Men in Turbans’?. |
| 2. |
"Entertaining Radha" |
14 September 2004 |
Anand’s heart sinks when his parents announce that bratty showbiz cousin Radha is coming all the way from Bombay to visit. |
| 3. |
"Dimplicious" |
21 September 2004 |
Dimple’s endless singing practice for an important end of year Pop Idol style school concert is driving Anand and Chetan to distraction. |
| 4. |
"Health is Wealth" |
28 September 2004 |
When Anand is given a school project to assess his family’s eating habits, he sees that their high fat curry diet gives them all almost zero life expectancy. He must do something to make them change before it’s too late. |
| 5. |
"Happy Diwali" |
5 October 2004 |
It’s the night before Diwali – Indian Christmas – and Dimple, Chetan and Anand are dreading yet another record-breaking speech from their father, Ramesh. They have much more exciting plans and need to escape. |
| 6. |
"Take Your Child to Work Day" (aka "Got to be Ghee") |
12 October 2004 |
Anand is assigned yet another school project that fills him with dread. Ramesh, his father, hates to be disturbed when he’s filming for his Asian satellite channel- how will he take to ‘take your child to work day’ ? |
Series 2 (2007)
| Episode # |
Title |
First broadcast |
Synopsis |
| 1. |
"Tit for Tat" |
11 April 2007 |
Mili and Chetan join forces against Anand and Dimple. Meanwhile, Holly has an announcement for Anand... |
| 2. |
"Ghost" |
12 April 2007 |
The Popats think that they are being haunted by Uncle Sailesh's ghost. Chetan doesn't believe in ghosts but wants to make contact with an alien. Does either exist - or is there a human hand behind the unexplained goings-on? |
| 3. |
"Evil Granny" |
13 April 2007 |
Ramesh's eccentric mother comes to stay - and she's the most evil, twisted gran in history. Anand discovers that he may have been adopted - looking at his gran he might wish he were. But in the end, blood is thicker than water. |
| 4. |
"Juvenile Delinquent" |
16 April 2007 |
When Milli beats him the Matholympics exam, Chetan temporarily abandons his brainbox persona and becomes a hoodie. Milan pretends to be poor to see if Dimple only loves him for his money |
| 5. |
"Like Father, Like Son" |
17 April 2007 |
Ramesh and Anand undergo a body swap. Ramesh has to go to school and Anand has to go to work - with unexpected consequences. |
| 6. |
"Girlfiend" |
18 April 2007 |
Chetan is on a quest to find his perfect partner, Anand is on a quest to prove himself, and Dimple is on a quest to improve Milan's memory. |
| 7. |
"Popat Idol" |
19 April 2007 |
Anand joins a boy band to save the family holiday. Milli plots to stay with the Popats for longer. |
| 8. |
"Royal Popats" |
20 April 2007 |
Dimple is Milan's princess. But when his parents ask to meet her, the Popats come up with a crazy plan to pretend to be an ancient, royal Indian family. Anand is about to lose Lucy to the school bully - only ballroom dancing can prevent it. |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Recipient(s) |
|---|
| 2008 |
Won |
RTS Award |
Best Children's Drama |
Feel Good Fiction |
| 2008 |
Won |
Broadcast Award |
Best Children's Programme |
Feel Good Fiction |
| 2007 |
Won |
BAFTA Children's Awards |
Breakthrough Talent |
Charles Matin |
| 2007 |
Nominated |
BAFTA Children's Awards |
Best Drama |
| Beryl Richards
Manoj Raithatha>-
| 2005 |
Won |
BAFTA Children's Awards |
Best Drama |
Laurence Bowen
Beryl Richards
Manoj Raithatha |
| 2005 |
Won |
Chicago International Children's Film Festival: Adult's Jury Award |
Live Action In film, theatre and video, live-action refers to works that are acted out by human actors, as opposed to by animation. As it is the norm, the term is usually superfluous, but it makes an important distinction in situations in which one might normally expect animation, as in a Pixar film, a video...
Television Program |
Beryl Richards, for episode "Health is Wealth" |
| 2005 |
Nominated |
Director's Guild of Great Britain Award |
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in 30-Minute Television |
Beryl Richards |
| 2005 |
Nominated |
RTS Television Award |
Best Children's Drama |
|