• [Dailystar Icon]
• TV
• Bbc

BBC star breaks silence on 'really hard' moments filming emotional series

TV actress Diane Morgan has opened up on the emotional and physical challenges she faced while playing AI robot Linda in BBC's highly praised new series Ann Droid

[Ann Droid star Diane Morgan]

Ann Droid star Diane Morgan spoke about playing a robot in the BBC show(Image: BBC)

Actress Diane Morgan has revealed the extraordinary measures she took to authentically portray a robot in BBC's latest series, Ann Droid. The six-part programme, which launched this month, chronicles Diane's character Linda, an AI eldercare robot assigned to assist widow Sue (Sue Johnston).

Yet when discussing her preparation for the robotic role, Diane admitted the mechanical characteristics she adopted led to a physical injury. Speaking to Alex Jones and Vernon Kay on The One Show, the actress revealed she developed an ulcer during production from refusing to blink while wearing special blue contact lenses, reports the Mirror.

The series has garnered tremendous acclaim since its debut, with countless viewers finding it surprisingly emotional. Online, one person said: "Linda is the best thing to come out of 2026 #AnnDroid."

[Ann Droid cast]

Ann Droid follows robot Linda on hand to help Sue(Image: BBC)

Someone else commented: " Just finished binge watching #AnnDroid and it's so heart warmingly hilarious.", reports the Express.

Another added: "It's a brilliant show with an (unsurprisingly) similar vibe to Afterlife - poignant & relatable (grief, aging, empty nest) but also laugh out loud hilarious. Isolated clips don't do it justice - it's very funny, moving, clever."

While a fourth commented: "Please please make a second series of 'Ann Droid'. Love Diane Morgan & Sue Johnston. Found last episode quite emotional, what a refreshing change to usual sitcoms/Murder mysteries!".

Prior to the series launching, Diane disclosed that certain scenes proved particularly demanding as she was required to remain completely expressionless. She revealed: "What was hard was that Sue got these really emotional scenes, and I'm sitting next to her, motionless. But obviously I'm hearing everything, and she's amazing.

[Diane Morgan in Ann Droid]

The series also features Death in Paradise star Danny John-Jules(Image: BBC)

"There were times, sitting on the bed, where I thought, 'I'm gonna cry, I'm gonna cry'. And I can't cry, I'm a robot. It was really difficult."

Joining Diane and Sue in the cast are notable names such as Paul Ready, Andrea Valls, Kathryn Hunter and Death in Paradise star Danny John-Jules.

Ann Droid is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.

Join the Daily Star's WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots more

Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz here

Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.