Di Botcher
Diane F. Botcher 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, 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
Television
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 | |
| 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 |
| - | - | National Theatre | - |
| - | - | National Theatre | - |
| - | - | National Theatre | - |