Diona Doherty is one of the biggest names in local comedy and she has not let pregnancy slow any of that down.
The actress and The Blame Game panellist is preparing to welcome her second child into the world next month with her husband and fellow comedian Sean Hegarty.
Eight months pregnant, Diona is still gigging away on the stand-up scene, cracking people up on her podcast 'Remember When' and preparing for her newest comedy play 'The Hen Do' to wow audiences when it kicks off in September.
Read more: Belfast comedian on making most of 'hand he was dealt' on NI comedy scene
Back in 2020, Diona and Sean opened up on their journey with IVF ahead of the birth of their first child Winter after a six year process to start their family.
Speaking to Belfast Live ahead of the arrival of baby number two, Diona shared what it has been like to be a first-time mum preparing to do it all again.
She said: "After we had Winter, I did find that first year of being a mum really difficult to be honest - I had always thought I wanted two and then that was such a shock to my system, nobody can prepare you for it.
"I was adamant that I couldn't do that first year again but then you get past that and I went to Sean should we go again.
"We did IVF again for the second pregnancy but our embryos are frozen in the Czech Republic so the three of us were going to travel together to implant this embryo but Winter's passport didn't arrive in time."
Diona travelled on her own this time to undergo the embryo transfer, feeling more comfortable with the experience having done it before over two years ago.
"All went really well and it was a first-time successful embryo transfer this time so I was pregnant straight away," she said.
"I have been so so sick this time and I was doing my show Bridesmaids at the very start of this and I was so unwell on stage every night when I was performing so it was really really tough.
"The second time you are more distracted than your first pregnancy because you are running around after a toddler and I am also working loads whereas in the first pregnancy, it was the pandemic."
Despite only one left month until Winter becomes a big sister, Diona has no plans to stop what she is doing until closer to her due date at the end of May.
Diona joked: "I love being pregnant doing stand-up to be honest because I think I can get away with so much because no one wants to hate the pregnant girl.
"I feel like I can say things I maybe wouldn't have said otherwise - people are just nicer to the heavily pregnant, knackered woman on stage and I'm really enjoying it."
After the success of her comedy play 'Bridesmaid of Northern Ireland' which had a sold-out run across the country last year, Diona is back with a new show 'The Hen Do' which features her character from the previous play.
It follows Becky on her hen do in Ibiza with her mum and little sister and the crazy shenanigans that happen when you are let loose abroad before the big day.
She said: "For me, I wanted this play to be a real celebration of mothers because it is the first show I've written since becoming a mum and that's why the mum character is so prevalent.
"There is an element of really celebrating the character who sacrificed so much for them - it is a through and through comedy but there is definitely that nice sentiment of celebrating your mum."
Diona said the reaction to each night of performing Bridesmaids made her feel like she "was one of the Beatles" as she watched the crowds throw themselves into the night and sing, dance and laugh along with the show.
"My favourite thing every night was after the show seeing groups of friends leave the theatre singing the songs from the show and laughing, having a drink and a good night out.
"I was so so honoured to be the person to give them that night out because it is so difficult for adults to get a night out together - parents especially. For people to come to my show on their night out I am so grateful for and I loved seeing people having such a great time.
"When I am writing, I am thinking about it being funny and fun and entertaining for everyone coming rather than trying to change the world."
After Bridesmaids' success, the rights have now been sold to the UK and will be going on tour for five months beginning in July with a brand new cast and she hopes to bring it back to NI again in the future.
For more information about The Hen Do and to get tickets, see here
READ NEXT:
Watch: Comedians make Ulster Hall history at charity boxing night
Ciarán Bartlett on rise to become "Belfast Giant" on NI comedy scene
Belfast's 'longest-running' comedy club celebrates 30 years of laughter
NI comedians to take on Manchester United legends in charity football match
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What's On newsletter here
