Diane Morgan: Last One Laughing S2 star backs Gosport man's campaign to ban trophy hunting

Diane Morgan, best-known for her role as Philomena Cunk and star of the new series of Last One Laughing UK, is the latest celebrity to back the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting.

Set up by Gosport man Eduardo Goncalves, the campaign aims to ban hunters from bringing their animal trophies back to the UK; the government has been persuaded to make this illegal, but campaigners are now pushing to expedite the law itself.

Speaking at an event in the House of Commons, 50-year-old Morgan said: “Let's stop pretending this is complicated and let's finally pass a proper, comprehensive ban on trophy hunting in the UK.

“Trophy hunting is a strange hobby. If someone said their hobby was collecting rare animals, you'd imagine they ran a wildlife sanctuary, not a hallway.

“Let's be honest about what trophy hunting actually is. It's not survival, it's not science, it's not conservation, it's rich people playing the world's worst game of Pokemon.

“I'm not a wildlife expert or a zoologist. I struggle to keep a houseplant alive but even I understand the basic concept that if you love animals, you probably shouldn't be flying halfway around the world to shoot them and turn their head into a coat rack.”

Other celebrity backers for the campaign include Dame Judi Dench, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, with the later being one of the original supporters of the campaign.

Speaking to The News in 2019, Eduardo said: “For some, it’s almost like regressing to a caveman-like status, getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The main difference is that cavemen didn’t kill animals in caged enclosures.

“For others, it’s a symbol of social status – these hunts are very expensive and the head of their kill takes a proud place above their fireplace.

“But worryingly, when you ask trophy hunters they simply say they enjoy it.”