‘I wanted my son to be a DOCTOR!'

Shobna Gulati reveals why she never wanted her only child to follow her into acting, but is proud he has

- HAYLEY MINN

Like many of us, Shobna Gulati struggled throughout lockdown, as not only was she separated from her family – including her 25-year-old son Akshay – but she also suffered ‘very badly’ with COVID-19.

But the 54-year-old former Coronation Street actress has confessed she actually enjoyed living on her own – admitting caring for her mother, Asha, who had dementia until she died in November last year, helped her feel ‘used to the isolation’.

‘I’m quite used to being on my own,’ Shobna confesses. ‘I’m quite happy that nobody could come into my house because it’s my private space.

‘I was in the public eye from when my son was three years old, so home was always our sanctuary -– a place of solace and calmness away from the glare of what I was doing for a living.’

Shobna adds, with a laugh, ‘And being on my own in lockdown has been quite good because you can make a big old mess and then clear it up in your own time!’

Shobna spent a lot of time in lockdown writing her new book Remember Me? – a memoir about her upbringing and looking after her mum.

And she explains how, despite the fact it was often hard being her carer, she feels ‘very grateful’ for the time they got to spend together.