Best known for role of Philomena Cunk, Diane has teamed up with organisation Animal Equality to demand a licence scheme for farms to give better protection to chickens, cows, pigs and sheep
After Life, Motherland and Mandy have helped turn Diane Morgan into one of our best loved actors.
Now the Bolton-born comic is using her platform to give animals a voice after backing a campaign calling on the Government to introduce a zoo-like licensing scheme for farms to protect chickens, cows, pigs and sheep.
We meet at The Retreat, a sanctuary near Ashford, Kent, which rescues ex-farm animals, where Diane, 49, tells me about the most important animal in her life – her rescue dog.
She said: “When I first got Bob I was doing Afterlife and took him on set. He was incredible. It was like he’d been on set his whole life. He was like Judy Garland. He would be quiet the minute they shouted action and he’d go and sit behind the cameras.
“He’s a toy poodle, so they’re very intelligent. It’s almost like having a small, furry man, like Ronnie Corbett following you around.”
READ MORE: Moby shares the reason why he went back on tour – and it’s incredibly on-brand
Diane, perhaps best known for role as Philomena Cunk, now lives in London with her partner Ben. She told how they are both completely obsessed with Bob, who was rehomed by the Blue Cross after his previous owners kept him in a cage for 10 hours a day.
She said: “We got him just after my dad had died and he really helped with the grief. If I was sad, he’d pick up on it and come over to me. He is our best friend. I think if you have a pet and you have that connection, it means you look at other animals and think «oh they’re not that different.”
In 1998, the UK became the first country to ban experiments on animals for cosmetics products and their ingredients. But some brands still sell products made in regions where animal testing is still legal. While on set filming BBC two comedy series Mandy, Diane ensured the whole production used cruelty-free make-up and said she would like to see all sets follow.
Another issue she would like to see fixed is clearer labelling on products. She explained: “It is annoying that things like a handwash are labelled vegan but that just means it doesn’t contain animal products. It doesn’t mean it hasn’t been squirted in the eyes of a rabbit. The labels are very confusing labels. There needs to be clearer messaging.”
Asked whether drama and comedy shows should tackle more environmental issues, she said: ”Definitely. I mean, I had an episode of Mandy that was about a fatberg. I was surprised at how many people didn’t know what one was. They are an absolute nuisance.”
After being vegetarian for 10 years, she participated in Veganuary – a global campaign that encourages people to try a vegan lifestyle for the month of January – last year with Peter Andre.” I found it hard because I loved cheese so much but this year I said to myself, right I am going to put an end to this. Weirdly I have gone off cheese now.”
Earlier this year she also contributed a voiceover to a TV advert which encourages people to choose compassion and move away from dairy products – the first of its kind to be aired in cinemas and on Sky and Channel 4.
Her passion for animals has seen her team up with Animal Quality who are pressuring the government to bring in licensing for farms and slaughterhouses.
She said: “We are fed this story about all animals running around fields but the reality is most are kept in intensive conditions. Most are not checked and those are done infrequently.
“Anyone can just have a farm. I think if people knew that and knew how animals were treated, more would put pressure on the government to make change.
“I know most people don’t want to look at horrible footage, and I understand that. It’ll really put a crimp in your day. But I’d much rather be aware and try to do something about it.”
A recent report by the The Animal Law Foundation found that fewer than 3% of the UK farms are inspected each year on average, while just half of complaints made against farms in the UK are investigated. When wrongdoing is found, most farmers receive little more than a written caution
Abigail Penny, Executive Director of Animal Equality UK, said: «Pubs, taxis, beauticians, and many other sectors are required to have licences to operate – why not farms too? The animal agriculture industry breeds and slaughters over one billion animals every year – we expect far greater scrutiny, transparency, and meaningful consequences when laws are broken. It’s the least these animals deserve.”
