Remembered by her peers as a comedy genius, we take a closer look at Victoria Wood's friends and co-comedians as they bid the star a fond farewell
A peerless writer, actor, comic and playwright (to name just a few of her talents), Victoria Wood was also renowned for being one of the most down-to-earth people in the business. So when it was announced on Wednesday 20 April that she had died following a short battle with cancer at the age of 62, it seemed the whole world was compelled to pay tribute to Britain’s leading lady of comedy.
If there’s one thing that’s clear from the deluge of messages being posted on the web, it’s that Victoria Wood was a woman who touched all walks of life with her brilliant wit and wonderfully warm personality. Twenty years on, characters like Mrs. Overall from Acorn Antiques, which Wood wrote, have stood the test of time. And her raucous ballad about a randy housewife named Freda trying to seduce her reluctant husband Barry always elicits a giggle in the Woman’s Weekly office, if only for the line “beat me over the bottom with my Woman’s Weekly”. Her talent for turning the mundane into the magical was genius, and the response from Woman’s Weekly readers on Facebook proved as much. So in memory of one of the finest British comedian’s to grace the stage and screen, we’ve pulled together the touching tributes from celebrities and the rest of the world alike.
Jennifer Saunders, ‘truly an inspiration and had so much left to give and we won’t see it’
Cant believe Vic has gone.She was truly an inspiration and had so much left to to give and we won't see it. She was so funny.#VictoriaWood
— jennifer saunders (@ferrifrump) April 20, 2016
Ruby Wax, ‘a comic genius’
Victoria #victoriaWood was a comic genius. I defy anyone to write anything funnier than her television show. So funny, I'd weep
— Ruby Wax (@Rubywax) April 22, 2016
Jenny Eclair, ‘she paved the way’
All of us women in comedy owe a huge debt of gratitude to Victoria- she paved the way
— Jenny Eclair (@jennyeclair) April 20, 2016
Julian Clary, ‘You always made us howl with laughter’
Such sad news. RIP Victoria Wood. You always made us howl with laughter.
— Julian Clary (@JulianClary) April 20, 2016
James Corden, ‘so brilliantly talented’
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
— James Corden (@JKCorden) April 20, 2016
Rory Bremner, ‘lovely, warm, funny, brilliantly talented Victoria Wood’
No. NO.This is too much.Now lovely, warm, funny, brilliantly talented Victoria Wood has gone.Words, songs, plays, she wrote the lot.So sad.
— Rory Bremner (@rorybremner) April 20, 2016
Lisa Riley, ‘a true idol’
The ULTIMATE comedy genius Victoria Wood has passed away…for me and so many more a true idol who we all aimed to https://t.co/IHUvnsUjzx🙏🏼
— Lisa Jane riley (@Reallisariley) April 20, 2016
Sue Perkins:
RIP, the briilliant, brilliant Victoria Wood x
— Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) April 20, 2016
Alan Carr:
Another legend gone. 2016 is going to be one of those years it seems. So so sad RIP Victoria Wood
— Alan Carr (@AlanCarr) April 20, 2016
Paul Hollywood, ‘a very funny, lovely lady’
A sad loss, I was fortunate to meet Victoria Wood a very funny, lovely lady .. My thoughts are with her family X pic.twitter.com/BelTIk0iL9
— Paul Hollywood (@PaulHollywood) April 20, 2016
Mary Portas, ‘Thank you for the laughs doll’
Oh Victoria Wood how you will be missed. My heart hurts. Thank you for the laughs doll xxx
— Mary Portas (@maryportas) April 20, 2016
Richard Madeley:
What unbelievably sad news about Victoria Wood. She was wonderful. We met/interviewed her many times and it was a privilege.
— Richard Madeley (@richardm56) April 20, 2016
What did you love most about Victoria Wood’s comedy? Feel free to post a message on the Woman’s Weekly Facebook group, and share our commemorative video.