‘She’d been drinking with Julie Walters. I heard a crash’: Victoria Wood’s genius – by her friends, fans and a

Dazzling performer, brilliant writer, maddening perfectionist, Easter Egg hunt maestro … on the 10th anniversary of Wood’s death, those who knew her best celebrate the shy introvert who redefined comedy I can still remember waiting to be introduced to Victoria at the Granada offices for her TV film, Happy Since I Met You. She’d been at lunch with Julie Walters and they hadn’t seen each other for quite some time. They were a little bit refreshed, you know what I mean? I can still hear the crash of a door in a corridor as they arrived, and when they came in it was like being hit by a firing squad. I said to my agent afterwards: “I don’t think I’d want that job.” And he said: “Well, they just offered you the part.” I had planned to be a serious actor – do the classics – but becoming part of Victoria’s company for her sketch shows was the end of that. I used to take her to work in my Saab every day, because we lived less than a mile apart. She would joke: “I love Duncan’s soft top.” We became good friends – and Julie and I had a thing at the time – but it wasn’t all sweetness and light. Vic was a genius and not the easiest person to work with becau

Apr 20, 2026 → Apr 20, 2026