Next week, actor and comedian Diane Morgan will trace her family history in the last episode of this year's series of Who Do You Think You Are? Here's five things you might not know about the star...
1. Jack of all trades
Before she found success in comedy, Diane worked a string of odd jobs, including telemarketing, dental assisting, and even peeling potatoes in a chip shop. She later trained at East 15 Acting School, but it took years before she found steady acting work.
2. Cunk origins
Diane debuted her iconic character of Philomena Cunk on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe in 2016. Cunk is an ill-informed, overly confident reporter who’s never afraid to ask the hard-hitting questions – like: “During Mrs Thatcher’s reign, there was the Miners’ Strike, wasn’t there? Why was it considered minor?”
3. Mandy
In 2020, Diane debuted the surreal BBC Two comedy series Mandy, which she wrote, directed and starred in. The character was loosely based on a version of Mandy she played in the sitcom Rovers.
4. Honoured
In 2023, Diane was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bolton, recognising her contributions to comedy and the arts.
5. Comedy star
Outside of Cunk and Mandy, Diane has made memorable appearances in some of Britain’s biggest comedies – including Motherland, where she plays the deadpan Liz, and After Life, as Kath, Ricky Gervais’s no-filter colleague.