Daughter of secondhand-car salesman, Frank, student Diane Butcher arrived in Albert Square in 1988 when her father married Pat Wicks and took over as landlord of the Queen Victoria pub. 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI in Roman) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Problematic and strong-willed, she fell for lodger Paul Priestly at the pub and was broken hearted when he returned to the North of England.

Feeling misunderstood and unloved after believing that her family had forgotten her birthday, Diane ran away from home in 1990 and joined the down-and-outs on the streets of London. She was sinking fast when a street-wise teenager, Disa O'Brien, took her under her wing, showing her how to survive. Disa turned to prostitution for extra momey, and Diane - who had always been keen on art - posed for photographs for a man who made a sculpture of her. She eventually returned to Albert Square after months of searching by her father.

Diane became involved with Mark Fowler when he returned to his family home, and she enlisted his help in finding Disa. When they found her, the teenager was heavily pregnant and living in "Carboard City". After the baby, Billie, was born, Diane persuaded Frank to allow Disa and the baby to stay in his mother Mo's empty flat, where she took care of them. Disa subsequently abandoned baby Billie with Diane.

Soon after, Diane found out that Mark was HIV-positive. She pledged to stick with him, even though the task was daunting. However, when Mark proposed to her in 1991, she turned him down and left Walford to live in France. Jacques now lives in Manchester with Diane's sister, Claire.

She returned to Walford in 1997 with her son Jacques, but ran away again with her boyfriend Thomas leaving Jacques with Ricky and Bianca.