Welcome to episode 23 of The Minder Podcast in association with minder.org.

For our two-year anniversary of the show it’s time to honour one of the best characters in Minder history.

This episode is something a little different, part tribute and part enquiry – we are going to look at the very special Diana Malin and her character of Debbie Mitchell, as well as attempt to piece together where she might be today.

As you might imagine piecing together a history of Diana Malin is awkward, given she stopped acting in 1987 and there is very little about her online.

I did speak to a few people who knew her but they can only describe the person they knew in the 80s, and this was limited to Minder for the most part.

In the episode we go through all of Diana’s appearances in the show as well as her other acting (and beautician!) work.

You are in for a few surprises when it comes to the real Diana Malin.

And speaking of the real Diana Malin – where is she today?

In looking into both her history and her present there are several clues which have turned up. In this show I will share them with you.

Full disclosure: one story in particular is a little unpleasant. And is it really even Diana? Listen and let me know your thoughts.

One clue as to where Diana is came in 2014 and as promised in the episode, I am including the photo here which was discovered on Twitter.

Is this our Debbie?

We also mention an article in the programme which comes from 1982 and stated Diana was Dennis Waterman’s girlfriend!

Did they just mean in the programme, forgetting to call Dennis by his character name, or was there something to this? Photo courtesy of minder.org.

So who is the real Diana Malin and where is she today?

Over to Debbie Does London for all the clues you’ll ever need.

Download the show here.

You can also find the podcast through Spotify or Player FM.

3 comments

  • Simon July 12, 2023 at 7:28 pm

    So pleased the podcast is back Paul.
    An interesting and intriguing episode.
    One of the most prominent characters in the first years but in fewer episodes than we think.

    All the best
    Simon.

  • Chris Grant July 14, 2023 at 8:58 pm

    Every one of the episodes that Debbie appeared in was an absolute gem, and it’s a tribute to Diana Malins’s great performances that she’s so well remembered despite just a handful of shows; the same goes for Des and Penny too. I loved the grittiness of Minder’s first three series – this was the 80s before mullets, Jane Fonda work-outs and breakfast tv.

  • Johno July 26, 2023 at 12:27 pm

    Another brilliant episode, thank you…

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