Meanwhile Sheridan Smith paid tribute to Wood on the West End stage last night, at the opening of her new show Funny Girl. “She handled the cancer the same way”.
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Writing in the Daily Mirror he added: “I am shocked”.
“I am shocked. All I know is it’s a great loss to comedy in this country”.
Victoria’s Empire saw Wood travelling the world in search of the history, cultural impact and customs the British Empire placed on the parts of the world it ruled.
Actor James Corden said on Twitter: “I’ll always feel incredibly grateful that I got to see Victoria Wood on TV and in theaters.She was so brilliantly talented, what a sad day x”. Wood’s contribution to the world of entertainment is incalculable.
As the ITV daytime show reacted to the news on Thursday (21 April), host Phillip told viewers and co-star Holly Willoughby of the good deed she once did for his wife, Steph.
“Victoria’s children, my niece Grace and nephew Henry (Durham) will be devastated to lose their mother at such a relatively young age”.
Of course we couldn’t mention Dinnerladies without a video of Victoria performing the theme for the brilliant comedy. “A true comic genius”.
Her fellow comedians, friends and colleagues were quick to pay their respects, with Absolutely Fabulous actress Jennifer Saunders citing her as an inspiration.
Presenters Ant and Dec also paid tribute to Victoria, saying “Very sad to hear of the passing of Victoria Wood”. One of the best lines ever in music.
BBC director-general Tony Hall said: “Victoria Wood was a woman with a stunning array of talents – a comedian, singer, songwriter, actress and director”.
They went on to collaborate frequently on a professional basis, most recently appearing together in December 2009 in Victoria Wood’s Mid Life Christmas.
She was a trustee of the Bowness-on-Windermere theatre, and was close personal friends with the directors of the theatre, Charlotte Scott and Roger Glossop, who could not be reached as they were too upset to speak.
Wood was the youngest of four children.
Victoria started her career on TV talent show New Faces in 1973, with her comedy sketch shows becoming a popular fixture on television in the 1980s.
“Victoria will be sorely missed”.
“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”.
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But it wasn’t until the 80s when she began to establish herself with Victoria Wood As Seen on TV, making her one of Britain’s most loved comedians.
