Comedy legends Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders have launched a fierce defence of their late friend and peer Victoria Wood, condemning the "hideous" and cruel reviews she endured in the late 1970s that focused on her weight.
'Chubby Cherub': The Cruel Critiques of a Pioneer
In a poignant new documentary celebrating Wood's life and career, titled Becoming Victoria Wood, the shocking extent of the criticism is revealed. Reviewers at the time described the comedy genius, who died in 2016 aged 62, with derogatory terms like "chubby cherub," "podgy," and "more than plump." One even wrote that she possessed "a talent as ample as her frame."
French, 68, and Saunders, 67, express their disgust at this treatment, noting they faced similar remarks early in their own career as the duo French and Saunders, being dismissed as "two chubsters." They argue that Wood, as a solo female performer breaking into a male-dominated arena, faced a uniquely harsh spotlight.
A Trailblazer's Private Pain
In the 90-minute film, set to air on UKTV's Gold channel on Thursday 12th February, archive footage shows Wood confessing the profound impact these comments had. "I did feel very insecure about being fat, it was always mentioned in anything that was ever written about me," she admitted. "I felt ashamed of it, but I couldn't actually get to grips with doing anything about it."
She added, revealing a sensitive nature behind her formidable talent: "I am very oversensitive to what people say - those words are emblazoned on my mind."
French, in the documentary, questions the sexist double standard: "Your physical appearance seems to be the first thing that matters. Is she supposed to hide away? Or change so that somehow she suits what you think a woman should look like? You know.. no!"
Owning Her Shape and Finding Courage
Both French and Saunders marvel at Wood's resilience, highlighting how she eventually channelled her experiences into her groundbreaking comedy. They point to sketches where Wood parodied fitness culture and proudly owned her identity, even coining the term "fattitude."
"Courage is what she had actually, the courage to do it," Dawn French reflects. "When you think about Vic's comedy, her physicality is a hundred percent part of it. Really what she was trying to do is own all of that."
Jennifer Saunders emphasises the solitary bravery it required: "She must have had to think, am I going to do this, am I going to stand up and do some jokes now... At least we had each other."
The documentary also features singer and friend Michael Ball, who notes, "No one is harder on somebody with a weight problem than that person themselves. Like any of us, Victoria needed to become comfortable as herself."
By the mid-1980s, with the launch of her seminal BBC series As Seen on TV, the critical tide had turned, finally focusing on her extraordinary wit and writing. The film serves as a powerful testament to Victoria Wood's legacy not just as a comic genius, but as a pioneer who endured and overcame relentless personal scrutiny to redefine British comedy.
