Ten years after her death, friends and colleagues of Victoria Wood have shared memories of the comedian, writer and performer, describing her as a 'genius' who was both generous and exacting. Wood, who died in 2016 at the age of 62, is remembered for her sharp wit, suburban observations and iconic characters such as Mrs Overall.
Actor Duncan Preston recalled first meeting Wood after she had been drinking with Julie Walters. 'I can still hear the crash of a door in a corridor as they arrived,' he said. Preston, who worked with Wood on several projects including 'dinnerladies', described her as 'not the easiest person to work with because she insisted that you do everything exactly as it was written'. He added that she once wrote him an angry letter after he complained about his role.
Comedian Alexei Sayle remembered seeing Wood perform early in her career at Cardiff's Chapter arts centre. 'In a climate of very male comedy and rock music and later punk, Victoria stuck out: confidently suburban and witty, with no swearing or violence,' he said. 'She was a bit of a revelation.'
Actress Sally Ann Triplett, who worked with Wood on 'Acorn Antiques: The Musical!', recalled her meticulous attention to detail. 'You don't meet many actual geniuses and, as most people would tell you, Vic could be tricky,' Triplett said. 'But it's because she just knew what was needed.' She also noted Wood's generosity, giving her gifts for her daughter, who shared a name with Wood's own child.
Wood's legacy continues with the new musical 'Fourteen Again', which opens at the Victoria Wood theatre in Bowness-on-Windermere on 1 May, starring Sally Ann Triplett.
