Diana and The Piano

If you’re not familiar with the format of ‘The Piano’, each of the first episodes takes place in a different location around the UK; an upright piano is positioned in the concourse of a train station, and those with a talent for tickling the ivories are invited to show off their skills with a piece of their choosing. The Newcastle heat gave Diana her moment to shine. She played her original composition ‘Dreams’, written in memory of her late husband who passed away four years ago after 63 happy years of marriage. Her beautiful performance earned her a rightful place in the final.

The finale took place in an auditorium in Gateshead. Diana once more performed her heartfelt piano piece, this time on a grand piano in front of a live audience of 1,600, with almost 3 million watching at home. The moment she finished playing, she was greeted with a huge roar of appreciation and a standing ovation from the audience, many of whom were moved to tears. And naturally, she won! 

Now over to Diana herself… Diana always dreamt of becoming a concert pianist.

I first started sitting on the organ bench with my teacher when I was four years old and I just kept going ever since. Piano has been with me all my life. It’s music, isn’t it? It’s music you can make for yourself. It’s opened the door for me for so many things.

There was a period when I went to a school where they concentrated on music a lot but I couldn’t stay there, so I came back home and went to a local school and had to stop playing the piano, and that was difficult. I went into the RAF because there was a band, and I wanted to do music. I had to do an audition and that opened the door for me to carry on with music. My instrument there was a tenor horn though. 

Diana with her delivery driver, Clive

Diana was in the RAF for four and a half years before leaving to get married.

I met my husband in the RAF; he was in the Queen’s Colour Squadron. And sometimes we’d end up on the same engagements. I always used to say that he marched to my tune! I was on the Royal Tournament for two years when it was at Earls Court, and that was fantastic.

Playing piano has now evolved to composing.

Because of arthritis in my hands, I cannot play what I used to - Chopin and Beethoven and Grieg. My husband Phil’s favourite piece of music was the Moonlight Sonata, but I have to adapt it to my hands now and it’s not really satisfactory. When he passed away, I went to the piano, because the piano has always been my best friend. I went to play, just to improvise, on the piano. And I heard there was a tune coming out of it and I thought, “Hmm this is something I can do.” So I carried on with it and the piece turned out to be ‘Dreams’, which is what I played in the concert. I do practise a lot, but now it’s mostly composition.

Her daughter applied to The Piano on her behalf – without telling her! 

She’d had a hip operation and was bored at home. So I said to her, “There are plenty of interesting programmes - have you seen The Piano?” So she watched it and thought, “My mum can do that.” And she applied but didn’t tell me! And then she came to see me and said, “Mum, I’ve got a confession to make. I’ve put you in for The Piano, and they want to interview you… tomorrow!” And I was shocked. Better to ask forgiveness than permission she said! And it just took off from there.

When it came to performing live, Diana was both nervous - and not! 

I was used to playing with a lot of people listening, as an organist, and then as piano accompaniment to different groups of singers. So it didn’t hit me until we were taken on to the stage in the auditorium, just with a grand piano sitting there, and I was thinking “That’s going to be me on there!” The hosts were absolutely amazing though and made us all feel at ease. I never thought I’d win. I was so shocked! 

She discovered Wiltshire Farm Foods when her husband needed Softer Foods when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

I used to purée his food for him, but it became difficult. Wiltshire Farm Foods meals … were such a godsend, for me and for him. When he passed away, and the year before that, I wasn’t eating, and they all got a bit worried about me. So I carried on with Wiltshire Farm Foods myself. To have them delivered was so good, not having to go out to get them - because I just couldn’t. I enjoy the variety of them. I do easy dishes myself, but I have them in the freezer because I don’t always feel like cooking, or if it’s late, I can just go into the freezer and get a nice meal.

My driver Clive has been coming to deliver the food quite a long time now. It’s always Clive that comes. He gives my dog Lady treats! It’s so nice to see the same friendly person every time.

Diana and The Piano

National Television Awards 2016

Anne has taken part in Brain of Britain and Catchphrase – but a couple of big quizzes have got away…

I’ve never officially done ‘University Challenge’ - I was a reserve in 1978. The Chartered Institute of Editors and Proof Readers tried to get a team on ‘The Professionals’ version, but I think University Challenge has always felt it isn’t a real job. So that’d be fun. It would have been nice to go on ‘Only Connect’ but by the time other quizzes were aware of my existence I was being courted by ‘The Chase’ and I couldn’t really do other quiz shows. I was only allowed to do ‘Catchphrase’ because it was the ‘Celebrity’ one. Word and number puzzles aren’t my thing, but I did like being in Dictionary Corner on ‘Countdown’.

She describes her time on ‘I’m a Celebrity…’ as ‘awful’ and ‘ghastly’.

I’m very glad that I didn’t run away - it was only because my campmates were such lovely people that I stayed. ‘Enjoyed’ is the wrong word but I was quite proud of the ‘Hellish Hospital’ trial. There was this skeleton lying on a bed with two giant snakes curled up inside it. I’m not actually scared of snakes (unless they’re venomous), so I just said, “Excuse me, lads”, and just picked up the snake and there was the star underneath it!

At Wiltshire Farm Foods, we believe everyone should look forward to a tasty and appetising meal. That’s why we are so proud of our world-leading Softer Foods menu which includes meals across three different textures to help those living with chewing or swallowing difficulties eat with ease and confidence.