Inside Cunk on Life star Diane Morgan’s life off-screen: From famous best friend to brutal reason why she doesn’t want kids

Diane Morgan leads a very private life off the small screen, but she has a very famous best friend.

Before finding fame, the 48-year-old Cunk on Life star worked as a telemarketer, dental nurse and potato peeler after leaving drama school after struggling to establish herself as an actor.

Bolton-born star Diane went on to explore the world of comedy, eventually finding success in hit shows, Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, Cunk on Earth and Motherland.

Diane can be seen on Monday December 30 in Cunk On Life – a new special in which she plays the unknowing documentary maker Philomena Cunk.

The actress first debuted her alter ego in 2013 on the new British comedy series Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe.

But away from the cameras, Diane lives a very different life, with few realizing she has a superstar best friend.

Watch MailOnline now to see Diane’s lifestyle, apart from acting.

Famous friendship

Diane is best friends with fellow actress Maxine Peake, who she first became close to as a drama student.

During an interview with The Guardian in 2020, Diane said: ‘We’ve known each other for 25 years now, scary.

‘We first bonded at drama school when she introduced me to Withnail & I, which was the best thing I’d ever seen.’

Diane further recalled that she and Maxine thought they could not work on land because of their Northern accents, so the pair took speaking lessons together.

She said: “Maxine ended up in Rada, then was cast in Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies and had a South Bank Show made about her. I couldn’t get arrested.’

Admitting that she was a little jealous at the time, she clarified, “Yes, but I couldn’t take her completely seriously. I laughed when she played Myra Hindley.”

Don’t want children

Despite one of her iconic roles being blunt single mother Liz in parenting sitcom Motherland, Diane opened up about why she didn’t want children.

The star previously admitted she ‘doesn’t see any benefit’ from having children because they are ‘expensive and a hassle’.

In 2021, Diane told the Mirror: ‘Me and Anna [Maxwell Martin] we always try to think of ways we can avoid scenes with children.”

‘I have never wanted children for a split second. The pain, the cost, the hassle… I don’t see any benefits.

‘Then I work on Motherland and I feel vindicated. People say, ‘Yes, but who will take care of you when you’re old?’ What? Do you only have children to take care of you?’

Famous relatives

In 2020, Diane revealed that she has a trio of famous relatives.

In an interview with The Guardianshe explained, “My father died last year, but there were a few actors on his side of the family: Julie Goodyear, Frank Finlay and Jack Wild. What a dynasty. We look like the Redgraven.’

Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear played Bet Lynch on and off in the ITV soap between 1966 and 2003.

Frank is best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Iago in Laurence Olivier’s 1965 film Othello, with the late actor also starring in the 1973 film adaptation of The Three Musketeers and the 2002 Oscar-winning film The Pianist.

While Jack is perhaps best known for his role as the Artful Dodger in the film Oliver!

Love life

Diane was last known to be dating boyfriend Ben Caudell, who works as a producer for the BBC.

His TV comedy credits include Peep Show, 10 O’Clock Live and Charlie Brooker’s Wipe.

It is not known when the couple started dating, but Ben was notably the executive producer of Diane’s comedy series Mandy, which began in 2019 and will begin filming a fourth series in 2025.

The couple would live together in London’s Bloomsbury.