Comedian Victoria Wood has died after a “short but brave battle with cancer” at the age of 62.
Wood was well known for her comedy series Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV, as well as her role in sitcom Dinnerladies and her TV special Victoria Wood With All The Trimmings.
In 2006, she won two Bafta awards for acting and writing for her drama Housewife, 49, an adaptation of the diaries of Nella Last.
In 1997, she was made an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and was then made a CBE in 2008.
Wood, who got her showbusiness break as a winner on New Faces, won two other Baftas earlier in her career, both for best light entertainment performance.
The first was for Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV in 1986 and An Audience With Victoria Wood in 1989.
Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV also won the Bafta for best entertainment programme in 1986, 1987 and 1988, while An Audience With Victoria Wood won the same award in 1989.
She received a special Bafta tribute award in 2005.
Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: “Victoria Wood was a national treasure loved by millions. My thoughts are with her family.”
TV presenter Esther Rantzen paid tribute to Wood, saying she admired her at the start of her career and has done ever since.
“She once said about me ‘I don’t know why they go on about her teeth – have you seen her dresses?’, which I thought was quite fair,” Rantzen said.
Wood appeared on BBC One’s That’s Life! in 1976, which was her big break.
“She did a one-woman show for Childline where I felt hugely privileged to interview her and she told the story of her life with such wit. She just held us all enchanted for a whole evening,” Rantzen recalled.
“I think she is one of our greatest comic writers and performers, but she could also deal with serious issues as well, and she’s a huge loss.”
Wood’s long-term manager and friend, Phil McIntyre, said: “Victoria has been a part of our lives as a friend, devoted mother and national treasure for 30 years. She was always modest, generous and undemanding. A super person and a super and unique talent. There will be an unfillable void left on all levels and we will miss her deeply.”
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