Walters joins all-star cast to narrate Wood biography

Julie Walters will be featuring as part of an all-star cast for the audiobook of Jasper Rees' authorised biography of Victoria Wood, Let's Do It.

Trapeze has promised the audiobook will be "a rich, multi-voice recording narrated by an all-star cast of some of the legendary performers who worked with Victoria over her iconic career". Alongside Walters narrating will be Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston, Susie Blake, Anne Reid, David Threlfall, Daniel Rigby, Jane Wymark, Richenda Carey and Kate Robbins. An introduction will be narrated by Rees himself.

Victoria Wood biography exclusive

Victoria Wood biography exclusive: 'She made audiences laugh till it hurt and choked them up with sorrow'. Jasper Rees explains what made the great Lancastrian a comedian like no other.

Modern comedy might not appeal, but joke's not over yet

Glumness settles on a large part of the nation whenever the subject of comedy comes up now. The lockdown has led to a more frenetic search for entertainment, and the current state of humour hasn't wanted for critics. This week, Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson, 80, said it was dire, and listed several comedians, adding: "They should be done under the Trade Description Act." I sympathised with his assessment, while also feeling there were a few comedians today who are as fine as any of previous generations.

Golden oldies: Britain's best vintage comedy

The best old sitcoms, stand up and stars of the silver screen are just what the nation needs to get us through these long housebound days - not everything on Netflix is notable, and Amazon Prime is hit and miss. So why not do yourself a favour, and when next looking for something to bring a smile to your face, take a trip back in time to see some of Britain's best comedy.

Comedy inspiration was the theme of The Essay: Top of the Bill (Radio 3, Monday to Friday) all last week, as five comedians and writers talked about the defining moment in their lives that made them turn to comedy. The best episode was Susan Calman's.

She recalled the life-changing moment she saw An Audience with Victoria Wood as a young girl: "I don't think a more perfect piece of comedy has ever been produced," Calman said, with awe and joy streaming through her voice as she remembered Wood's famously frisky Ballad of Barry and Freda (Let's Do It). It was delicious to revisit Wood's genius, and the whole series was a warming, invigorating study of laughter and influence. Letting comedians be serious, and to talk at length about their personal heroes, may have been the real risk this week, but it was one worth taking.

Comics in Oxford Dictionary Of National Biography

Caroline Aherne, Victoria Wood and Ronnie Corbett and have been added to a prestigious and definitive list of the greatest ever Britons.

Victoria Wood statue unveiled in memory of comedian

The likeness sits across from the library where she stole books as a child because she was too shy to ask about membership.

Victoria Wood statue unveiling in Bury tomorrow

A life-size bronze statue of Prestwich-born comedy icon Victoria Wood is to be unveiled in Bury town centre tomorrow.