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Diane F. Botcher (born 2 June 1959) is a Welsh actress. She has starred in several British television sitcoms and dramas, including the Sky comedy drama Stella, BBC comedies Little Britain and Tittybangbang and the ITV period drama Downton Abbey. In 2018, she joined Casualty as Jan Jenning.

Early life

Botcher was born on 2 June 1959 in Taibach, Port Talbot, Glamorgan, in Wales, one of the two children of parents Bernard and Glenys Botcher. She read English and drama at Warwick University, and after graduating, trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art drama school in London, then obtained an Equity card in the 1980s.

Career

Throughout her long career on stage and screen, Botcher has been receiving warm reviews. In a performance of the musical Blood Brothers with the Sherman Theatre Company in 1986, Botcher's performance as the "warm-hearted mum" was singled out by a reviewer as one of the good points in a production which needed "beefing up". Of Black Milk (2003), a reviewer wrote, "In a strong cast, Di Botcher is a beacon." Her performance in the 2017/18 revival of Follies was universally appreciated - “wonderful”, with a "stunner of a set piece";

In 2018, she began appearing in the BBC medical drama Casualty as Jan Jennings. Later that year, she also began portraying the role of Nana Margie in the BBC Three series In My Skin. 2022 BBC Radio 4 The Archers as Caitlin Thomas.

Filmography

Film

Television

Selected stage performances

References

1. ^ Wightwick, Abbie (24 April 2016). "Stella actress Di Botcher remembers her first job at Port Talbot steelworks". Wales Online. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
2. "Di Botcher". National Theatre. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
3. ^ "Michael Sheen Leads THE PASSION for National Theatre Wales & WildWorks in April". Broadway World. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
4. ^ Adams, David (14 February 1986). "Cardiff: Blood Brothers". The Guardian: 18 (lower middle). Retrieved 28 October 2018.
5. ^ Clapp, Susannah (9 February 2003). "Toasters and shysters - Theatre". The Observer Review: 11. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
6. Wolf, Matt (8 September 2017). "Sondheim's 'Follies' Is Back, at Once Bleak and Beautiful". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
7. Taylor, Paul (7 September 2017). "Follies, National Theatre, London, review: It's jaw-droppingly great". Independent. London. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
8. Bano, Tim (7 September 2017). "Follies review at the National Theatre, London – 'not just triumphant, but transcendent'". The Stage. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
9. Kellaway, Kate (10 September 2017). "Follies review – a stupendous Sondheim revival". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
10. "BBC orders a dark comedy about a teen and her mentally ill mum". Chortle. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
11. Sher, Anthony (16 August 1986). "Dirty Dick Down Under". The Age Saturday Extra. Melbourne, Australia: 1, 10. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
12. A Midsummer Night's Dream RSC Staging History 1960-2007. Retrieved 28 October 2018. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
13. ^ "Di Botcher". Theatricalia. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
14. ^ "Di Botcher Broadway and Theatre Credits". Broadway World. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
15. ^ "Full Cast Announced For Old Vic's A FLEA IN HER EAR". Broadway World. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
16. ^ "Di Botcher Announced As Special Guest Performer At The West End Gala Of The 12th Annual Stephen Sondheim Society". Broadway World. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
17. "Cardiff East". Peter Gill, playwright and theatre director. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
18. "Review: Card Boys". Variety. 2 April 1999. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
19. Tocher, Willie. "Review: Flesh , Blood/ Mike Peters Birthday Review". The Alarm. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
20. Billington, Michael (15 March 2003). "Reviews: The funny side of terror - Theatre: Terrorism". The Guardian: 18. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
21. Wolf, Matt (13 February 2003). "Review: Black Milk". Variety. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
22. "Les Misérables". Whose is that face in the shadows?. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
23. Koenig, Rhoda (21 July 2009). "Review: Chicago, Cambridge Theatre, London". Independent. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
24. Thaxter, John (10 September 2010). "If So, Then Yes review at Jermyn Street London". The Stage. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
25. Sierz, Aleks (9 September 2010). "If So, Then Yes, Jermyn Street Theatre First play in 30 years from the legendary absurdist N F Simpson". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 28 October 2018.

External links

• Di Botcher at IMDb

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• v
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• 21st-century Welsh actresses
• Living people
• Alumni of the University of Warwick
• Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
• People from Port Talbot
• Welsh television actresses
• Welsh film actresses
• 1959 births
• Welsh people stubs