Diane Morgan's no-nonsense charm has lit up our screens with unforgettable characters, but behind the laughs lies a candid truth: she believes her working-class roots may have held her back in the industry. In a frank interview, Morgan mused that if she'd had a middle-class background and attended a posh uni like Cambridge, she might have gained the confidence to crack the big time sooner.
Morgan's comedy is all about authenticity – she crafts characters that speak directly to our experiences, whether you're a bloke in your 40s or a mum navigating the chaos of parenting. Her Philomena Cunk interview persona tickled men's funny bones, while her sassy single parent Liz in 'Motherland' won over mums everywhere. And then there's Mandy – Morgan's titular character has become a gay icon, thanks to her signature wit and sass.
Now she's back with 'Ann Droid', the new BBC One sitcom that's set to send shivers down our spines. Co-written with Aussie comedy star Sarah Kendall, this show is all about a second-hand robot carer left behind by an elderly widow – a concept inspired by Morgan's observations on Japan's increasing use of robots for care. The project was a no-brainer for the Beeb, and Morgan has teamed up with movement director Dan O'Neill to bring the unsettlingly stiff movements of an android to life.
But tackling this role wasn't a cakewalk for Morgan – she admits to struggling at first, trying out awkward physicalities like avoiding blinks and donning those dreaded blue contact lenses. Yet with O'Neill's guidance, she found her footing and poured her heart into the demanding part. We've seen glimpses of her robot skills on 'Last One Laughing UK', where her delivery of Dylan Thomas's poem – complete with a fart machine – left audiences in stitches.
Morgan's comments spark an ongoing debate about accessibility and representation within the creative industries. And it's clear that she's carved out a unique path, one that ignores traditional barriers to success. With 'Ann Droid', Morgan promises another thought-provoking yet laugh-out-loud look at our future with AI – we can't wait to see what she has in store for us.