Comedian Diane Morgan, known for her distinctive deadpan humour, has revealed a surprising personal transformation, embracing a vegan lifestyle that has even altered her perception of cheese – a former culinary love now described as smelling “like socks”.
The 50-year-old, currently starring in Last One Laughing on Prime Video, made the switch last January. While she was “never a big milk drinker anyway”, preferring oat milk, cheese proved a significant hurdle. “I couldn’t find a decent vegan cheese that I liked – it all tasted like glue sticks – so I just went cold turkey on it,” she explained.
The shift in perception was stark: “Then, after four weeks, my brain just went, ‘Oh, I don’t like cheese anymore, it smells like socks’. So now I don’t crave it at all.”
Morgan, who resides in central London, advocates for everyone to “go vegan”, citing her deep affection for animals and extensive work with animal charities. “I just love animals and I do a lot of work for animal charities, and consequently you see videos of the way animals are treated,” she said.
The grim realities of factory farming were a major catalyst. “A lot of factory farming is horrific and I was already vegetarian, but when I saw all of that and how they’re treated, and I just thought ‘I can’t do this anymore ’.”
The transition, according to Morgan, was “easier than (she) thought” and has inadvertently led her to consume more vegetables, a previous dietary challenge. She credits the “extra vegetables” and absence of dairy for a noticeable improvement in her complexion. “If you’re not eating meat or cheese, you’ve really got to make friends with the vegetable,” she noted. “And I tell you what, my skin’s got much better since I went vegan. It’s definitely clearer.”
Despite not enjoying cooking, Morgan has found success with a few staple vegan recipes. One “cracker” involves baking sweet potatoes with grated extra-firm tofu, chipotle, and paprika, topped with a dressing of blended vegan yoghurt, sliced jalapeños, and lime. Another simple favourite is roasted butter beans with olive oil, salt, and Tenderstem broccoli, finished with a squeeze of lemon juice.
“They come out like roast potatoes – golden and fluffy – and it’s so easy, healthy, and delicious,” she described. Her partner, TV producer Ben Caudell, shares cooking duties, though Morgan admits he enjoys it more.
Beyond her dietary changes, Morgan’s distinctive comedic voice is currently being lent to a serious cause: train safety. She stars in Govia Thameslink Railway’s inaugural safety video, Travel Safe with Diane Morgan, prompted by new research revealing two people are injured daily at train stations.
“At first I thought it was a mad idea, asking me, because I thought, am I the right person for this?” she admitted. “And then I thought it would be an interesting challenge to do something like this.” Incorporating her signature deadpan humour, she delivers vital warnings: “Two people every single day are getting injured… I had no idea it was that high. So, don’t run down a platform, whatever you do, or try and throw yourself between the doors.”
Known for her acclaimed portrayal of Philomena Cunk in Charlie Brooker’s Wipe series and subsequent mockumentaries, Morgan is also anticipating the release of Ann Droid. This new comedy series will see her star alongside Sue Johnston, exploring an unlikely friendship between a woman and a social humanoid robot. Her extensive career also includes roles in Mandy and After Life with Ricky Gervais.
Despite a career that is “busier of late”, Morgan acknowledges the importance of switching off. She admits to not having “cracked” work-life balance, but finds solace in dog walks, purposefully leaving her phone unchecked to “be in the present”. She laments the modern tendency to constantly chase “what’s next” rather than “enjoying what they’ve got”, striving to remain in the moment.
Fitness remains an aspiration, often thwarted by her demanding schedule. “I went through a phase last year of running, but then when it got really dark and cold, I stopped,” she recounted, adding that despite joining a local hotel pool, attendance is sporadic. “I’m so busy throughout the day that it’s difficult to find a time where you can go. But I really need to start doing something. Maybe I’ll start doing yoga at home or something, or lifting weights – that’s meant to be good, isn’t it?”
For relaxation, a bath is a favoured escape, ideally accompanied by archive documentaries from the Seventies about ghosts. “The Uncanny, With Danny Robins, I’m obsessed with that programme – and that’s the only show at the moment where I think, ‘I absolutely love that’,” she shared, noting her preference for older content: “I think I’m starting to get to an age where I just hate anything modern as well, this is why I’m delving into archives, looking for old stuff.”
Her ideal self-care day involves watching such documentaries with vegan chocolate and her rescue dog, Bobby.
Reflecting on her experiences, Morgan offers straightforward advice: “I wish I had some great advice for everyone… but get out in the garden, plant a flower, watch it grow. Or switch your phone off, that’s my advice… And go vegan.” While a holiday is probably due, her commitment to new projects and living in the moment continues to define her.
