Diane Hutchinson (also O'Connor) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Alex Fletcher. In 2010, Hollyoaks series producer, Paul Marquess, embarked on the show's rejuvenation and axed a number of cast members. To compensate for the departures, the character of Diane and her family were created and introduced. Fletcher's casting was announced in June 2010 and she began filming her scenes in the same month. The actress said working on the show is practical as she does not have to relocate. She made her first on-screen appearance on 1 September 2010. Diane was introduced with her husband, Rob (Gary Cargill) and stepchildren, Sinead (Stephanie Davis) and Finn (Connor Wilkinson). The O'Connors were one of three families introduced throughout the year. Diane is described as a "loving wife" and a "devoted stepmum". Diane is a little bit over the top, but Fletcher hoped that she would be quite likeable. Diane is a marketing worker. Fletcher explained that Diane has a great relationship with Sinead and Finn and that she did not want Diane to be "the wicked stepmother". Diane's storylines have mainly focused on her desperation to have her own child. She undergoes a second round of In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. Fletcher said that she really wanted to get the storyline right because it affects so many people. She added that she feels she has a "huge responsibility" to do the storyline justice. Diane's second round of IVF fails and she breaks down, subsequently stealing a baby boy from the hospital. Her other storylines have involved splitting from Rob, coping with Sinead's erratic behaviour, protecting and defending rapist stepson Finn, marrying Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), for whom she knew him since they were kids, giving birth to twins, the discovery that her and Tegan Lomax's (Jessica Ellis) babies were swapped at birth and her feud with Tegan, being secretly poisoned by her nephew Scott Drinkwell (Ross Adams), the discovery that she had an affair with Scott's father and caused the breakdown of his family, a friendship with schemer Marnie Nightingale (Lysette Anthony), inadvertently selling The Hutch to Marnie and leaving for her dream job in France. The character went on a brief hiatus in autumn 2015. Diane's last appearance was on 28 October 2015, however, the character returned to screens on 2 February 2016. In March 2016, Fletcher announced her pregnancy and that she would be taking maternity leave, not confirming whether or not she would return to Hollyoaks after. Fletcher filmed her exit scenes in May 2016 and Diane's exit storyline saw her and Tony offered jobs in France in a restaurant, however when the day arrived, Tony stayed behind to help relapsed drug addict, Ste whilst Diane left for France. Diane's exit scenes aired on 13 July 2016. In December 2016, it was announced that Diane was to return in the New Year with her niece Lily Drinkwell, played by Lauren McQueen. Diane's return scenes aired on 4 January 2017. In 2018, Fletcher and Pickard were nominated for Best Partnership at the Inside Soap Awards.