Victoria Wood

British comedienne, actress, singer, songwriter, playwright, and director. Born: 19 May 1953 in Prestwich, Lancashire, England, UK. Died: 20 April 2016 in Highgate, London, England, UK (aged 62). Wood began her show business career in 1974, when she appeared on, and won, the ATV talent show 'New Faces'. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, she had had several plays broadcast by the ITV, and the positive reviews encouraged them to offer her the chance to produce a sketch show; which was first broadcast in 1981 under the title 'Wood & Walters'. Her comedy, though diverse, would often find her singing social commentaries whilst playing the piano, and it is this style of humour with which she is often associated. However, during her career she also appeared in sitcoms, as a stand-up, and latterly in documentaries. Multi-BAFTA award winning, she was appointed an OBE in 1997, then CBE in 2008. She died of cancer.