# Di Botcher

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 - "magical"; a "stunner of a set piece"; "wonderful".
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

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Twin Town | Jean Lewis | |
| 2002 | All or Nothing | Supervisor | Cameo role |
| 2002 | Ant Muzak | Diana Fluck the Checkout Assistant | Short film |
| 2008 | Albert's Speech | Gloria | Short film |
| 2011 | Hunky Dory | Viv's mum | |
| 2012 | The Gospel of Us | The Mother | Set in Botcher's birthplace |
| 2013 | Svengali | Mrs Cooper | |
| 2013 | One Chance | Nurse | Cameo role |
| 2015 | Under Milk Wood | Mrs Dai Bread Two | |
| 2020 | Dream Horse | Nerys | |
| 2021 | La Cha Cha | Mrs. Fruitcake | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986 | Screen Two | Officer Kyle | Series 2, Episode 2 |
| 1987 | The District Nurse | Eirlys Prosser | Series 3, Episode 6 |
| 1993, 1997 | The Bill | Mrs. Oakes/Mrs. Edwards | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Harpur and Iles | Jane Mellick | Television film |
| 1999 | Sunburn | Wendy's mum | Series 1, Episode 3 |
| 1999 | Kavanagh QC | Tilly Burgess | Series 5, Episode 2 |
| 1999 | Rhinoceros | Megan Jones | Television film |
| 2001 | Fun at the Funeral Parlour | Edith | Series 1, Episode 4 |
| 2001 | People Like Us | Frances Churchfield | Series 2, Episode 6 |
| 2001 | The Armando Iannucci Shows | Tinaturnerogram | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | 'Orrible | Di Clark | Recurring character |
| 2002 | Casualty | Louise Templeton | Series 16, Episode 26 |
| 2002 | Tipping the Velvet | Woman with Cigar | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Cruise of the Gods | Mrs. Hatcher | Television film |
| 2002–2008 | High Hopes | Mrs. Coles | Recurring character; 20 episodes |
| 2003–2005 | Little Britain | Marion/Meals on Wheels Lady | 6 episodes |
| 2003–2009 | Belonging | Vanessa | Recurring character |
| 2004 | Green Wing | Catering Manager | Series 1, Episode 3 |
| 2005 | All About George | Dorothy Mickens | Episode 1 |
| 2005 | The Thick of It | Pauline McKendrick, Piss Woman | Series 2, Episode 1 |
| 2005 | Bleak House | Mrs. Woodcourt | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Tittybangbang | Various characters | 5 episodes |
| 2006–2008 | Pulling | Margaret | Recurring character |
| 2007 | Ideal | Nicki's mum | Voice only |
| 2007 | Hotel Babylon | Myra Walmesley | Series 2, Episode 8 |
| 2007 | Murphy's Law | Brothel Madam | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | After You've Gone | Sheila | Series 2, Episode 5 |
| 2008 | Coming of Age | Ollie's mum | Series 1, Episode 5 |
| 2008 | Dustbin Baby | Pat | Television film |
| 2008–2009 | Katy Brand's Big Ass Show | Various characters | 5 episodes |
| 2008, 2010, 2012 | Doctors | Sharon Bretherton/Linda Bolton/Dorit Simpson | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | No Signal! | Various characters | Series 1, Episode 9 |
| 2009 | Collision | Mrs. Whitfield | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Lennon Naked | Dot | Television film |
| 2010 | Sherlock | Connie Prince | Episode: "The Great Game" |
| 2010 | Coming Up | Bernadette | Series 8, Episode 4 |
| 2011 | Come Fly with Me | Mrs. Talbot | Episode 2 |
| 2011 | Shirley | Mrs. Morrison | Television film about Dame Shirley Bassey |
| 2011 | DCI Banks | Grace | Series 2, Episode 3 |
| 2012 | Mr Stink | A woman with a question | Television film |
| 2013 | Downton Abbey | Nanny West | Series 4, Episode 1 |
| 2013–2017 | Stella | Aunty Brenda | Main role |
| 2014 | Inside No. 9 | Jean | Episode: "The Understudy" |
| 2014 | Under Milk Wood | Mrs. Dai Bread One | Television film |
| 2015 | Coronation Street | Debbie Allinson | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Top Coppers | Sandra | |
| 2015 | High Hopes | Mrs Coles | |
| 2018–present | Casualty | Jan Jenning | Main role |
| 2018–2021 | In My Skin | Nana Margie | Main role |

## Selected stage performances

| Year | Title | Theatre | Role |
| 1986 | Blood Brothers | Sherman Theatre | Mother |
| 1986 | Richard III | Royal Shakespeare Company at the Adelaide Festival Theatre | Lady of the court |
| 1986–1987 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Royal Shakespeare Company | Titania |
| 1987 | Speculators | Royal Shakespeare Company | Carol Cutter |
| 1990 | Sunday in the Park with George | London Revival | Frieda (Act One) Elaine (Act Two) |
| 1990 | Cats | New London | Grizabella |
| 1993–1994 | Sweeney Todd | Ensemble |
| 1995–1996 | A Little Night Music | Mrs Anderssen |
| 1995 | Under Milk Wood | National Theatre | Miss Price; Mrs Beynon |
| 1997 | Beauty and the Beast | Dominion Theatre | Madame de la Grande Bouche |
| 1997 | Cardiff East | Vera, Marge and Dolly's friend |
| 1999 | Card Boys | Bush Theatre | Iris |
| 2000 | Flesh and Blood | Hampstead Theatre | Marge |
| 2003 | Terrorism | Royal Court | Old biddy |
| 2003 | Black Milk | Royal Court | Auntie Pasha |
| 2004 | Les Misérables | Copenhagen | Madame Thenardier |
| 2009 | A History Of Falling Things | Theatr Clwyd | Mum |
| 2009 | Chicago | Cambridge Theatre | Matron "Mama" Morton |
| 2010 | If So, Then Yes | Jermyn Street Theatre | Welsh charlady |
| 2010–2011 | A Flea in Her Ear | Old Vic | Olympe |
| 2017–2018 | Follies | National Theatre | Hattie Walker |