“Two encores later, Victoria left the audience applauding wildly after two hours of solid laughter, during which she’d sung, acted and taken the merciless Mickey out of caravanners. What bad shocking news”.
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Of course we couldn’t mention Dinnerladies without a video of Victoria performing the theme for the brilliant comedy.
Her sharply observed comedy found humour in everyday British life – especially northern English life, with its strong strain of downbeat humour. She was one hell of a writer.
“After all, there’s 13 years between us, she lives in London and I live here in the North East and we are not close in that respect, although I did love her dearly”.
Singer Lily Allen was one of many to express shock at Ms Wood’s death in a year that has seen an unprecedented number of celebrity deaths.
Wood’s last written piece for TV, That Day We Sang, screened across the nation on boxing day and starred Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton.
Ms Rantzen has spoken of her continuing admiration for Ms Wood.
“We were contacted by her agent, who said she just wanted to come in and work the same shifts as everyone else in the canteen for a couple of weeks”.
“She was really nice as a director”. She was a brilliantly amusing woman.
“She has had a huge impact in comedy, my friends know who she is and so do my parents and everyone, she has had a lasting impact on generations and it is a huge shock for everyone”.
Actor James Corden said on Twitter: “I’ll always feel incredibly grateful that I got to see Victoria Wood on TV and in theaters. One of my all time favourites she brought so much laughter to to Walsh household”.
In 2006, staff at Lubin’s recreated the “Two soups” scene in front of a BBC film crew for a new documentary on the history of British comedy which featured Victoria Wood. She went on to win five Baftas, including two for her 2007 ITV wartime drama Housewife 49.
Speaking at his home in Darlington, in front of framed photos of the musician, writer and award-winning actress, he said: “It has been an enormous blessing to me”.
Speaking on “Good Morning Britain” today (21.04.16), he said: “I count myself as Victoria’s biggest fan…”
In March 1993 she appeared at the Wyvern on consecutive Sundays, using the shows to try out new material before a 70-date national tour.
Chris Foote Wood, 75, added: “I am hugely proud of what my sister has done so successfully in different fields of entertainment”.
She was born in Prestwich, Manchester, and spent her early television career with Granada.
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She separated from husband Geoffrey Durham, aka magician the Great Soprendo, in 2002 and is survived by their children Grace and Henry.
