Latest news with #Dinnerladies
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Victoria Wood returning to TV nine years after tragic death for new special
A new documentary about late comedian Victoria Wood will air on TV screens next Spring to mark ten years since her tragic passing A feature length documentary celebrating the life of Victoria Wood will be airing on U&GOLD next year. The documentary, titled Becoming Victoria Wood will be released next Spring, marking ten years since the star's passing. In the film, fans will be privvy to never-before-seen archive material and previously unheard audio recordings, including her first ever performance from 1973. The documentary will also include unseen interviews with Victoria and intimate audio diaries recorded during the making of Dinnerladies. Fans will see candid, confessional entries that reveal the unfiltered Victoria, as the documentary will showcase the connections between her real-life experiences and the themes explored in her work. Testimonies from the star's friends and colleagues from her formative years will also bring further insight into her evolution as a performer and person. The much-loved comedian and sitcom writer sadly died from cancer in 2016 at the age of 62. It was later revealed that the Lancashire-born star had been diagnosed with cancer four years earlier. In her authorised biography, Let's Do It, it was revealed she quit directing BBC 's Loving Miss Hatto for a year of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and ops on a malignant lymph node and cancer in the 'tummy area'. After being discharged from hospital, it's understood the star spent her last days at her home in Highgate, London, where she was cared for by her two adult children Grace and Henry, sister Rosalind, and her close friend and collaborator Piers Wenger. Hilary Rosen, Director of Commissioning for UKTV said on the documentary: 'Without doubt, Victoria Wood is one of the finest comics Britain has ever produced. This new biopic will shine a light on Victoria's early life, the start of her career, and will go on to explore how she became one of our very best – and beloved – performers, who had the unique ability to capture the absurdity and the tenderness of everyday life in her exquisite writing.' Executive producer James Rogan added: "Victoria Wood is an icon and a force of comedy. The story of where it all comes from is a fascinating and unexplored area of her extraordinary life. "We are looking forward to showcasing her genius and her journey for cinema and television audiences alike, and reminding the world of her unique vision and ability to make us laugh."
BreakingNews.ie
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Victoria Wood's intimate audio diaries to be heard in upcoming documentary
An upcoming documentary on Victoria Wood will feature intimate audio diaries from the late comedian. The Dinnerladies actress, creator and writer died in April 2016 aged 62 from cancer, after a multiple Bafta award-winning career as a highly respected and versatile entertainer. Advertisement Becoming Victoria Wood, which will air next Spring on U&Gold, is set to feature contributions from her friends and colleagues along with being 'told in her own words'. Victoria Wood died in 2016 (Jonathan Brady/PA) The film promises 'never-before-seen archive material and previously unheard audio recordings, to paint a vivid portrait of the woman behind the fame'. Among the unearthed work is a recorded performance from 1973, which has aired on BBC Radio 4 before this TV broadcast and has been seen as the first of her recordings, behind-the-scenes footage from stage and screen, unseen interviews with Wood and intimate audio diaries recorded during the making of Dinnerladies. The recordings are promised as 'candid, confessional entries that reveal the unfiltered Victoria: thoughtful, biting, vulnerable, and funny'. Advertisement Director of UKTV programmes, comedy and entertainment, Gerald Casey said it is 'an untold story that's truly cinematic in emotion and scope, this is an ambitious project that fits perfectly with our desire to bring our audience the absolute best of British comedy'. He also said the broadcaster is 'delighted' to work with Wood's long-term manager Phil McIntyre and his company Phil McIntyre TV after collaborating on the 2014 documentary Monty Python: The Meaning Of Live. Hilary Rosen, director of UKTV commissioning, said: 'Without doubt, Victoria Wood is one of the finest comics Britain has ever produced. A life-size bronze statue of the late comedian, writer and actor, Victoria Wood is unveiled in Bury town centre by comedian Ted Robbins (left) and her brother Chris Foote Wood (Danny Lawson/PA) 'This new biopic will shine a light on Victoria's early life, the start of her career, and will go on to explore how she became one of our very best – and beloved – performers, who had the unique ability to capture the absurdity and the tenderness of everyday life in her exquisite writing.' Advertisement Directed by Catherine Abbott, the executive producers for Rogan Productions are James Rogan and Mark Hedgecoe with Helen Nightingale for UKTV. James Rogan, creative director at Rogan Productions, said: 'I am delighted to be working with U&Gold and Phil McIntyre again after collaborating on the feature documentary Monty Python: The Meaning of Live. Victoria Wood is an icon and a force of comedy. 'The story of where it all comes from is a fascinating and unexplored area of her extraordinary life. We are looking forward to showcasing her genius and her journey for cinema and television audiences alike, and reminding the world of her unique vision and ability to make us laugh.' Wood starred in sketch shows Wood And Walters, Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, and comedies Pat And Margaret and Dinnerladies, along with frequently collaborating with Dame Julie Walters. Advertisement In 2006, she won two Bafta awards for acting in and making her drama Housewife, 49, an adaptation of the diaries of Nella Last, after earning best light entertainment performance gongs for a TV special and her programmes. Wood also won the 2005 special award Bafta, and in May 2019 she was honoured after her death with a two-metre high sculpture in Bury, Greater Manchester, near where she was born in Prestwich. Further information on casting and additional contributors for Becoming Victoria Wood will be released at a later date. The film will air next Spring on U&Gold, following a UK theatrical release. Advertisement
Irish Examiner
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Victoria Wood's intimate audio diaries to be heard in upcoming documentary
An upcoming documentary on Victoria Wood will feature intimate audio diaries from the late comedian. The Dinnerladies actress, creator and writer died in April 2016 aged 62 from cancer, after a multiple Bafta award-winning career as a highly respected and versatile entertainer. Becoming Victoria Wood, which will air next Spring on U&Gold, is set to feature contributions from her friends and colleagues along with being 'told in her own words'. Victoria Wood died in 2016 (Jonathan Brady/PA) The film promises 'never-before-seen archive material and previously unheard audio recordings, to paint a vivid portrait of the woman behind the fame'. Among the unearthed work is a recorded performance from 1973, which has aired on BBC Radio 4 before this TV broadcast and has been seen as the first of her recordings, behind-the-scenes footage from stage and screen, unseen interviews with Wood and intimate audio diaries recorded during the making of Dinnerladies. The recordings are promised as 'candid, confessional entries that reveal the unfiltered Victoria: thoughtful, biting, vulnerable, and funny'. Director of UKTV programmes, comedy and entertainment, Gerald Casey said it is 'an untold story that's truly cinematic in emotion and scope, this is an ambitious project that fits perfectly with our desire to bring our audience the absolute best of British comedy'. He also said the broadcaster is 'delighted' to work with Wood's long-term manager Phil McIntyre and his company Phil McIntyre TV after collaborating on the 2014 documentary Monty Python: The Meaning Of Live. Hilary Rosen, director of UKTV commissioning, said: 'Without doubt, Victoria Wood is one of the finest comics Britain has ever produced. A life-size bronze statue of the late comedian, writer and actor, Victoria Wood is unveiled in Bury town centre by comedian Ted Robbins (left) and her brother Chris Foote Wood (Danny Lawson/PA) 'This new biopic will shine a light on Victoria's early life, the start of her career, and will go on to explore how she became one of our very best – and beloved – performers, who had the unique ability to capture the absurdity and the tenderness of everyday life in her exquisite writing.' Directed by Catherine Abbott, the executive producers for Rogan Productions are James Rogan and Mark Hedgecoe with Helen Nightingale for UKTV. James Rogan, creative director at Rogan Productions, said: 'I am delighted to be working with U&Gold and Phil McIntyre again after collaborating on the feature documentary Monty Python: The Meaning of Live. Victoria Wood is an icon and a force of comedy. 'The story of where it all comes from is a fascinating and unexplored area of her extraordinary life. We are looking forward to showcasing her genius and her journey for cinema and television audiences alike, and reminding the world of her unique vision and ability to make us laugh.' Wood starred in sketch shows Wood And Walters, Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, and comedies Pat And Margaret and Dinnerladies, along with frequently collaborating with Julie Walters. In 2006, she won two Bafta awards for acting in and making her drama Housewife, 49, an adaptation of the diaries of Nella Last, after earning best light entertainment performance gongs for a TV special and her programmes. Wood also won the 2005 special award Bafta, and in May 2019 she was honoured after her death with a two-metre high sculpture in Bury, Greater Manchester, near where she was born in Prestwich. Further information on casting and additional contributors for Becoming Victoria Wood will be released at a later date. The film will air next spring on U&Gold, following a UK theatrical release.
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Victoria Wood's intimate audio diaries to be heard in upcoming documentary
An upcoming documentary on Victoria Wood will feature intimate audio diaries from the late comedian. The Dinnerladies actress, creator and writer died in April 2016 aged 62 from cancer, after a multiple Bafta award-winning career as a highly respected and versatile entertainer. Becoming Victoria Wood, which will air next Spring on U&Gold, is set to feature contributions from her friends and colleagues along with being "told in her own words". The film promises "never-before-seen archive material and previously unheard audio recordings, to paint a vivid portrait of the woman behind the fame". Among the unearthed work is a recorded performance from 1973, which has aired on BBC Radio 4 before this TV broadcast and has been seen as the first of her recordings, behind-the-scenes footage from stage and screen, unseen interviews with Wood and intimate audio diaries recorded during the making of Dinnerladies. The recordings are promised as "candid, confessional entries that reveal the unfiltered Victoria: thoughtful, biting, vulnerable, and funny". Director of UKTV programmes, comedy and entertainment, Gerald Casey said it is "An untold story that's truly cinematic in emotion and scope, this is an ambitious project that fits perfectly with our desire to bring our audience the absolute best of British comedy". Wood starred in sketch shows Wood And Walters, Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, and comedies Pat And Margaret and Dinnerladies, along with frequently collaborating with Julie Walters. In 2006, she won two Bafta awards for acting in and making her drama Housewife, 49, an adaptation of the diaries of Nella Last, after earning best light entertainment performance gongs for a TV special and her programmes. Wood also won the 2005 special award Bafta, and in May 2019 she was honoured after her death with a two-metre high sculpture in Bury, Greater Manchester, near where she was born in Prestwich. Further information on casting and additional contributors for Becoming Victoria Wood will be released at a later date. The film will air next Spring on U&Gold.
Metro
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Coronation Street legend, 95, comes out of retirement after 27 years
Coronation Street icon Thelma Barlow has come out of retirement to star in a new short film at the age of 95. Thelma first appeared on the ITV soap as dithering Mavis Riley at the engagement party of Emily (Eileen Derbyshire) and Ernie Bishop (Stephen Hancock) in 1971. The character reappeared the following year at their wedding, and by 1973 was a regular face on the cobbles having been employed as Rita Littlewood's (Barbara Knox) assistant at The Kabin. The two worked side by side for the next 24 years, but following the death of Mavis' husband Derek Wilton (Peter Baldwin), she decided to move to Cartmel, Cumbria to open a bed and breakfast. Mavis is still regularly mentioned whenever Rita needs a break from the drama. Since then, Thelma has had roles in Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies (which also starred Corrie alumni Anne Reid and Sue Devaney, alongside Sue Cleaver and Shobna Gulti, who would later join the show) plus in an episode of Doctor Who. More recently she's made personal appearances in documentaries celebrating her former colleagues Malcolm Hebden and Barbara Knox. Now, after years out of the spotlight, she's starring in Sleepless in Settle – a 20-minute comedy filmed in Rye and Rye Harbour on the East Sussex coast. The town doubles for Settle, North Yorkshire, where Thelma has lived for almost three decades. The film has been written and directed by actress Judy Flynn, who appeared as a secretary in Dinnerladies, which is where the two women met back in the late 90s. It follows a woman, Barbara, who tries to find a new partner for her middle-aged son. 'The film is just the sort of thing people need right now – a gentle comedy,' Thelma said of the film, which is now available to watch for free on YouTube. 'It has a very sweet message that people of different generations can successfully live together. 'It was such fun to make,' she added to the BBC. Speaking of her involvement with Judy, she told the RadioTimes: 'I was familiar with her work and knew it would be good. 'The characters are so well drawn, it was a joy. 'Good writing is easy to learn, there are some lovely lines that reminded me of when I joined Coronation Street.' Thelma previously appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss the film when it was announced last year. Hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls were also keen to know whether she'd ever reprise her role in Weatherfield. 'Well no, I would be far too terrified' she told them. 'I would be scared to do something commercial and in a big studio and the pressure of it.' She continued: 'I know the pressure of doing things perfectly. Said movie was less stressful because [I was] among friends.' Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! The GMB team also addressed Helen Worth's departure after 50 years on the Street as Gail Rodwell, and wondered whether that would be enough to tempt her back, something which Thelma was very quick to shut down! More Trending 'Oh don't keep on!' she said. 'Leave me alone…Not many people I knew are in it now.' It sounds as though she's keen to keep the past in the past, but then again, if you were to ask Mavis herself – she 'wouldn't really know'! View More » This article was originally published on 1 July 2024. If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. MORE: ITV viewers are sobbing over new series that's 'television at its best' MORE: I'm A Celebrity legend who only lasted 3 days 'tipped to return' MORE: Celebrity Big Brother's JoJo Siwa reveals how she really dumped ex at afterparty
