Victoria Wood Dead: 'The Ballad Of Barry And Freda' Is How We'll Best Remember Her

'Let's do it, let's do it tonight!'

The entertainment world is mourning the loss of a true legend, following the news Victoria Wood has died

It was announced the comedian had passed away at the age of 62, on Wednesday (20 April), following a short battle with cancer. 

As the star of sictom 'Dinnerladies' and sketch show 'As Seen On TV', Victoria was one of the biggest names in the comedy world, celebrated for her humour that centered on everyday life. 

Of course, fans will also remember her for interspersing her live shows with her own musical compositions, as she was often seen behind her piano bashing out one of her hilarious ditties. 

Just one such example is arguably her most popular comedy number, 'The Ballad Of Barry And Freda'. 

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Victoria Wood singing 'The Ballad Of Barry And Freda'
BBC

The song, which originated on her show 'Victoria Wood As Seen On TV' during the 1980s, tells the the story of a woman desperate for sex (Freda), whose husband (Barry) is an introverted man terrified of doing the deed. 

However, it is the allusions Victoria makes to Freda's desires, while avoiding using any taboo words, that make it all the more funny. 

Victoria even updated the song in 2009 to reflect the more modern problems facing the couple. 

As we bid a sad farewell to the star, this comedy masterpiece is how we'll best remember Victoria Wood

Victoria Wood: Her Life In Pictures
(01 of27)
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The unassuming writer/performer Victoria Wood, with her BAFTA Award for The Best Light Entertainment Performance for "Victoria Wood As Seen on TV". (credit:PA/PA Archive)
(02 of27)
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Comedienne Victoria Wood receives a Honorary Master of Science Dergree from UMIST, the Science, Engineering and Management University in Manchester today (Wednesday). Photo by Dave Kendall. See SHOWBIZ Wood. (credit:Dave Kendall/PA Archive)
(03 of27)
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Comedienne Victoria Wood, holds up her OBE which was presented to her by the Prince of Wales on behalf of the Queen during today's (Friday) Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace. WPA ROTA Photo by Rebecca Naden/PA. See PA story ROYAL Investiture (credit:Rebecca Naden/PA Archive)
(04 of27)
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Actress and comedienne Victoria Wood attends a party to celebrate 60 years of BBC television. (credit:NEIL MUNNS/PA Archive)
(05 of27)
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COMEDIENNE VICTORIA WOOD, WHO WILL APPEAR IN 'DINNERLADIES', HER FIRST EVER SIT-COM. (credit:MATTHEW FEARN/PA Archive)
(06 of27)
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Norman Wisdom, First President of Comic Heritage, presents the first-ever Eric Morecambe award to Victoria Wood, at the heritage's Christmas dinner in London. (credit:David Giles/PA Archive)
(07 of27)
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Victoria Wood (left) and Julie Walters team up again, in Londn today (Friday), this time in Ms Wood's first ever sit-com, Dinnerladies, in which she plays Bren, one of five dinner ladies, with Walters playing her mother, Petula Gordeno. Dinnerladies will be shown on BBC-1 in November. (credit:Matthew Fearn/PA Archive)
(08 of27)
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Victoria Wood (credit:Steve Etherington/EMPICS Sport)
(09 of27)
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(From left; Back row) Mariella Frostrup, Davina McCall, Janice Robertson, (front row), Geri Halliwell, Emma Freud, Dervla Kirwan and Victoria Wood in Leicester Square to help launch the 1999 Comic Relief appeal, raising money through the sale of squeaking red noses. (credit:Fiona Hanson/PA Archive)
(10 of27)
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Comedienne Victoria Wood and co-star from TV sitcom Dinner Ladies, actor Duncan Preston, arriving at the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTA's) at Grosvenor House in London. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive)
(11 of27)
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Victoria Wood (left) and Julie Walters pose for photographers during a photocall outside the Theatre Royal, Haymarket in London. The pair are discussing plans for their forthcoming musical based on Victoria's award-winning BBC sitcom 'Acorn Antiques'. Production is expected to enter the West End next year. (credit:Peter Jordan/PA Archive)
(12 of27)
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Victoria Wood pictured during the three days she spent working in the bakery at ASDA in Boldon near Newcastle for the store's new 'there's no place like ASDA' advertising campaign launched today. (credit:David Parry/PA Archive)
(13 of27)
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Victoria Wood at the National Blood Donor Day campaign, Trafalgar Square, London.Doug Peters/allactiondigital.com (credit:Doug Peters /Doug Peters)
(14 of27)
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Victoria Wood pictured during the three days she spent working in the bakery at ASDA in Boldon near Newcastle for the store's new 'there's no place like ASDA' advertising campaign launched today. (credit:David Parry/PA Archive)
(15 of27)
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STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 2045 SUNDAY 20 MAY 2007. Victoria Wood with the award for Best Actress recieved for Hosewife 49 at the British Academy Television Awards, held at the London Palladium, central London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday 20 May 2007. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire (credit:Yui Mok/PA Archive)
(16 of27)
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Victoria Wood receives her CBE at Buckingham Palace, London. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Archive)
(17 of27)
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Victoria Wood arriving at the 2005 Comedy Awards, ITV Studios, Southbank, London.©Doug Peters/allactiondigital.com (credit:Doug Peters/Doug Peters)
(18 of27)
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Victoria Wood receives her CBE at Buckingham Palace, London. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Archive)
(19 of27)
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Victoria Wood arrives for the press night of Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Trafalgar Studios in London. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
(20 of27)
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Victoria Wood and daughter arriving at The British Comedy Awards 2011, Fountain Studios, Wembley, London. (credit:Doug Peters/Doug Peters)
(21 of27)
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(Left - right) Victoria Wood, Michael Ball, Sophie Hunter, Benedict Cumberbatch talk with the Princess Royal as they attend a reception and dinner in support of Motor Neurone Disease Association at Buckingham Palace, London. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
(22 of27)
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Victoria Wood arriving for the Philips British Academy Television Awards at the Grosvenor House, 90 Park Lane, London. (credit:Yui Mok/PA Archive)
(23 of27)
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Victoria Wood arriving at the Sky Arts South Bank Awards, at the Dorchester hotel, in central London. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Archive)
(24 of27)
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Victoria Wood arrives at the BAFTA TV Craft Awards held at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London. (credit:Jonathan Brady/PA Archive)
(25 of27)
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Comedienne Victoria Wood (right) signals the beginning of The SunWalk, London, starting from Battersea Park in south London, a pirate themed charity walk to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Archive)
(26 of27)
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(Left - right) Michael Keaton, Graham Norton (top), Victoria Wood and Jamie Oliver during filming of the Graham Norton Show at the London Studios, in central London. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
(27 of27)
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Victoria Wood during filming of the Graham Norton Show at the London Studios, in central London. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)

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