‘I was fascinated by Kate Bush and the Smurfs, so I had great taste’: Diane Morgan’s Honest Playlist | Diane Morgan

The first song I fell in love with
Madness baggy pants. I remember thinking it was the coolest thing I’d ever heard, partly because there was a guy in huge pants hanging from the ceiling playing the saxophone on Top of the Pops. Maybe that helped. It was hilarious!

First song I bought
Smurfs? I think I just ordered it instead of going out and buying it myself because I was three. Obviously I was fascinated by both Kate Bush and the Smurfs, so I had great taste in music. The first song I bought with my own pocket money was probably “I Should Be So Lucky,” because I wasn’t introduced to Autumn yet.

The song to which I inexplicably know all the words
It’s strange when words you don’t like find their way into your memory. I know more music hall songs than I should for my age, because we were forced to sing them at drama school. I also remember the lyrics to “Catch a Chicken in the Air” from the movie Spitting Image. I was 11 years old at the time.

Best song to play at a party
Ghost Town of Specials. It’s probably the best song ever. It’s not really the best game to play at a party, but sometimes it’s nice to sit and think about things.

The song I can no longer listen to
The Rising Lark by Vaughan Williams. This was the opening music they played every night when I was on tour with Joe Orton’s What the Butler Saw. I was a student assistant in stage management at the time, and the stage manager was an absolute arsehole. You made my life miserable. Every time I hear this music I feel like I’m standing in the wings again and I feel physically ill.

The song that changed my life
Maybe container drivers by the fall. I was always more interested in comedy than music. I find bands that take themselves too seriously really embarrassing. When I caught the fall it was a complete revelation. The words were very funny and ordinary.

The song that wakes me up in the morning
Java by Bert Kempfert. I love Bert Kempfert. I got into it during lockdown. It gave the Beatles their big break. It was a good egg.

The song that makes me cry
Across the universe. Reminds me of my dad He played the Beatles a lot but this song in particular makes me miss him. And also the work of This Woman by Kate Bush. It breaks the heart. Guaranteed to make me cry in seconds.

The song I want played at my funeral
If I Could Dream by Elvis Presley. A touching and joyful song when worshipers weep and throw themselves on my coffin in grief.
Diane Morgan stars in the second series of Last One Laughing on Prime Video from 19 He walks.