Diane Morgan and Maxine Peake interview: Your new favourite double act

Since meeting at a Manchester drama school, the two Boltonians have been desperate to work with each. Now, they are finally performing Beryl Bainbridge’s ‘The Bottle Factory Outing’ together. Jack Shepherd sits down with the duo to find out more about their lasting friendship

Peake (left) and Morgan with a copy of Bainbridge’s darkly comic 1974 novel (Pictures by Robert Shiret/BBC)

Britain has a long history of producing world-class comedy duos. And there might just be a new one in the offing: Diane Morgan and Maxine Peake. Were you to compare them to an iconic twosome, Morgan would be the comically silly Laurel while Peake would be the more parental Hardy.

Morgan – best known for her deadpan portrayal of the dimwit Philomena Cunk – is the more obvious comedian, offering plenty of cutting one-liners. Peake, who may have first come to attention in TV comedies Dinnerladies and Shameless but has since become the go-to actor for working-class women in more serious drama, is more of a straight talker.

The pair have been close friends ever since they met at a drama school – of which more later – and are now doing a radio play together: Beryl Bainbridge’s darkly comical The Bottle Factory Outing, in which they play Freda and Brenda, who work together in a wine-bottling factory in 1960s London.

Slouched comfortably on a sofa at the BBC’s Broadcasting House, the duo speak to The Independent about their friendship, political woes, and the sitcom they’re writing. The conversation, unsurprisingly, is soundtracked by constant laughter.

How did you both discover The Bottle Factory Outing?

Morgan: I think you read it, didn’t you? It’s more likely that you did and then told me to read it.

Peake: It was the first time I read a book and thought, “I could play that part, the blonde fat one.” Because I was that at the time.

M: “She’s got blonde hair and I’m a redhead. That’s just like us!” It was as tenuous as that. It’s one of the funniest Bainbridge books. Some of them are very dark.

P: I think that’s the beauty of them.

What do you think makes this one stand out?

Maxine Peake and Diane Morgan performing ‘The Bottle Factory Outing’ (Robert Shiret/BBC)

M: Because it was our casting!

P: And also the humour. And when we first met, we bonded over Withnail and I.

M: We wanted to be Withnail and I.

P: We used to hang out in the old Three Crowns in Bolton drinking cider. Diane was Withnail, and I was I. We were obsessed with that film.

Freda and Brenda love each other and despise each other at the same time.

P: A bit like me and Diane.

M: I don’t despise you.

P: Thanks.

You apparently met at drama school.

P: Well, we met at “a” drama school.

M: We didn’t actually get into the drama school. We were both just auditioning. It’s like saying “you went to Cambridge”, but you just went for the day.

P: It was my second time trying to get in [to Manchester Met]. I actually did a Q&A there last week. I mentioned not getting in a few times.

M: Good for you. I’m glad. I hope they were looking shamefaced.

What were your first impressions of each other?

M: I thought she was brilliant.

P: I still remember: you were doing a monologue… something about a hairdresser? It was one of these monologues I had seen a hundred times, doing the rounds at drama school. And Diane got up, and she put her hair in a high pony. And she did it so understated, so real. I remember laughing my head off, ’cause everyone else had done it really big. I thought she was a genius.

M: I think Maxine was probably the only one laughing.

P: We went to the canteen after and I sidled up to her. And went, “That was brilliant.” But then we didn’t get in, and we didn’t care.

M: I’m still not over not getting in.

Did you see each other as kindred spirits?

M: Definitely. I was a bit of a freak. Meeting you was like “Oh my God, there’s another one!”

P: We were both into comedy. I went to Diane’s house and there were Monty Python posters on the wall.

M: I wasn’t a normal child. No boybands.

Maxine, you previously said that trying to become an actor felt like entering an “alien world”, especially for a Northern woman. It must have been nice having someone to share the experience with.

‘Who gives a toss what people on Twitter think?’ says Peake (Robert Shiret/BBC)

M: I couldn’t work out why she wasn’t being cast left, right and centre. I remember an audition panel, where was it, the National Youth Theatre? And they didn’t look up at her.

P: It was a speech written from the point of view of a girl auditioning for drama school. So, I stood up and said “I’m going to do Shakers by John Godber,” and he said “Off you go then”. And the character starts off with “I’m not doing something from a play but something I’ve written myself.” And he looked up and went “Oh dear”. I went “Nonononono”… And I explained to him about three times that that was the speech. And he didn’t look up again.

M: You tried, didn’t you? They wouldn’t have that little face! Look at it! [Diane pinches Maxine’s cheeks] You were in that bloody children’s TV programme.

P: Oh, The Ward. With Danny Dyer.

M: They had to strap your boobs down, didn’t they?

A show with young Danny Dyer?

P: It was a hospital-based drama. I was 21 playing a 15-year-old nurse. And Danny Dyer’s character sexually assaulted someone…

M: There’s a bit where you’re in the back of an ambulance, and you’re crying over a dead body, and it’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.

P: You’re just jealous ’cause I was in a telly programme and you weren’t.

M: It’s hard when you watch your friends in things, because you can’t take it seriously, can you? Like imagine if I played Rose West? She had a book coming out, didn’t she?

P: No!

M: They nearly published her cookbook. She cooks in jail and her recipes are so popular that they almost published her cookbook, but they thought it would be in bad taste. Because obviously loads of people would buy it. I would buy it. Would you?

P: Sorry, Jack….

One of things that I really loved about The Bottle Factory Outing was that it’s about these two characters that are so different but still friends. It feels like an important message for today.

D: Are you trying to compare The Bottle Factory Outing to Brexit?

We could go there.

P: Oh, bloody hell.

The character, Freda, says “bloody foreigners” a few times. It’s a bit Brexit.

P: I think it’s a generational thing, because it’s set in the Sixties. I don’t think she’s a racist. Is she?

M: I don’t think so?

P: But I see what you mean when she says “bloody foreigner”.

M: I think she just doesn’t like anyone.

Even though they’re relatively despicable, you still fall in love with the characters. You can see why French and Saunders were going to make a film version of it.

M: Were they!

P: Oh yeah. I’m surprised it’s never been done. I think it will be. Especially in this climate – they are two very complex, funny female characters. It really follows their journey; the male characters are on the periphery. And they need each other, although they would never admit it to each other.

‘I was a bit of a freak,’ admits Morgan (Robert Shiret/BBC)

Diane, you once told The Independent “People can’t see the funny side of Brexit”.

M: Did I? Was that as Philomena Cunk though? Not that there’s much difference between us…

P: I wish I had said that.

M: I think that’s true. You can joke about everything, or you should be able to.

Perhaps Brexit is too raw? Look at the Cumberbatch Brexit film, where people were annoyed it was even happening.

P: People on Twitter? We didn’t have Twitter before, so you didn’t know if people were annoyed. Who gives a toss what people on Twitter think? That’s all they’re on there for, to whinge, and promote themselves.

M: There are always going to be angry people. I never get involved in Twitter. ’Cause where does it end? You just end up with people wanting to stab you.

P: This has all turned very political.

M: What next? Hashtag MeToo?

P: Oh, don’t.

I read that you were working on a sitcom together?

M: Don’t believe everything you read.

Are you not anymore?

M: I was writing it. And am still trying to get this thing made. It’s a very long process, and I’m edging towards it.

Is it easy to write for Maxine?

M: I’m not writing for Maxine, I’m writing a horrific version of Maxine. Maxine as an actress is actually an egomaniac and completely self-obsessed. Not like you at all, Maxine.

Is there any friendly competition between you?

M: I don’t think so. We’re quite different. Maxine’s cornered the market in screaming working-class women. And I just do silly comedy characters. So, we’re not going to cross over. And if we do, I’ll have her head off.

Your friendship has continued to be strong; what’s the key to lasting friendship?

M: We have history, don’t we? I remember her as a little chubby girl trying to get into places.

P: Is our friendship based on pity?

M: I feel a loyalty to Maxine because I remember those days down the pub. We would tell each other not to give up. It sounds really sad…

P: That’s ’cause it was.

M: …but we would try and keep each other going. It’s hard to forget that when I see her being all successful.

P: Well, when I walk down the street with Diane people aren’t interested in me.

M: She’s lying.

P: It’s true! They go “Oh Diane”. I was with a friend who never loses their shit, but they did when they saw Diane. It’s fine, I’m not jealous…

You must be quite proud of each other?

P: Really proud.

M: Watching you play bloody Hamlet. Oh my God. I was welling up.

P: I always knew Diane was going to get there. She’s got books now! I’ve seen the Philomena Cunk books in the store.

To wrap things up: describe each other in five words.

P: Intelligent. Hilarious. Dry… Oh God, five…

M: You can’t come up with five words to describe me?

P: Talented. Unique. There’s five!

M: To describe Maxine… Punctual… Well, she’s not even that! Socialist. Funny. Intelligent. Beautiful.

P: Nawwww. Come here. [They hug]

‘The Bottle Factory Outing’ is on Radio 4 and on BBC Sounds on 26 January at 2:30pm