‘Truly inspirational’ British comedian Victoria Wood dies
Victoria Wood, a British comedian whose sketch shows and sitcoms blended playfulness and sharp social observation, has died.
The 62-year-old died on Wednesday at her London home ‘‘after a short but brave battle with cancer’’, her publicist Neil Reading said.
Wood got her break in 1974 winning the TV talent contest New Faces.
As a woman from northwest England she was an outsider in the world of British comedy, but became a well-known stand up, and got her own TV show in the 1980s with Victoria Wood as Seen on TV. It featured the spoof soap opera Acorn Antiques, which many consider a classic.
Wood also created and starred in the late-1990s sitcom Dinnerladies, set in a factory canteen. It featured an exceptional, mostly female, cast including Julie Walters, Celia Imrie and Maxine Peake.
New Zealand featured in a 2007 BBC series called Victoria’s Empire, in which she travelled to parts of the world that were once part of Queen Victoria’s empire.
Wood won five Baftas, including acting and writing prizes for the 2006 drama Housewife, 49.
In 2008, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth.
Many female entertainers hailed Wood as an inspiration.
Absolutely Fabulous creator Jennifer Saunders said ‘‘she was truly an inspiration and had so much left to give and we won’t see it’’.
Writer Caitlin Moran tweeted: ‘‘Seeing Victoria Wood on TV – working class, bookish, silly, clever, doing stand-up, singing, acting – made me think Girls can do this.’’
Harry Potter author JK Rowling said ‘‘62 is far too young. RIP Victoria Wood’’.
Ricky Gervais described Wood as ‘‘So innovative, funny and down to earth.’’
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted that Wood was ‘‘a national treasure loved by millions’’.