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Victoria Wood Dead: Beloved Comedian, Actress And Writer Dies Aged 62

The entertainment world has lost a comedy giant.
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By 

Entertainment Editor, HuffPost UK

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Victoria Wood has died aged 62.

The beloved comedian, actress and writer passed away following a short battle with cancer.

Her publicist, Neil Reading, confirmed the news in a statement, which read: "The multi Bafta award-winning writer, director, actor and comedian died peacefully at her north London home with family this morning.

"The family ask for privacy at this very sad time."

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The entertainment world has lost a comedy giant in Victoria Wood
Sean Dempsey/PA Archive

After starting her career in 1974 by winning the 'New Faces' talent show, Victoria established herself as a comedy star with the award-winning show ‘Victoria Wood As Seen On TV’.

As well as a stand up comic, she was a frequent collaborator with Julie Walters, Duncan Preston and Celia Imrie, and was just as funny with her pen as on stage.

She wrote and starred in BBC sitcom ‘Dinnerladies’, and adapted her 'As Seen On TV' sketch, 'Acorn Antiques', into a West End production in 2005. 

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One of Victoria's most famous roles was in BBC comedy 'Dinnerladies'
BBC

During her career, Victoria won five Bafta Awards, two for her performance in ITV wartime drama 'Housewife, 49', which she also wrote, as well as six British Comedy Awards, including a joint Outstanding Achievement gong with Julie Walters in 2005. 

She was also awarded a CBE in 2008, having previously been made an OBE in 1997. 

In later years, she made fewer appearances on screen, with her last role in Sky's three-part adaptation of 'Fungus the Bogeyman', which aired over the Christmas period last year. 

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Julie Walters was a long-time collaborator and friend of Victoria's
Peter Jordan/PA Archive

A number of Victoria's comedy contemporaries and celebrity fans led the tributes on social media, while Tony Hall, director general at the BBC, also said in a statement: “Victoria Wood was a woman with a stunning array of talents - a comedian, singer, songwriter, actress and director.

"People identified with her warmth and great charm. She brought people from all walks of life together and made them laugh and cry. She will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with her friends and family.”

Victoria was married to magician Geoffrey Durham from 1980 until their split in 2002, and she is survived by their two children, Grace and Henry.  

Tap the picture below to launch the slideshow...

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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