Farewell Victoria Wood, national treasure

"Acting is not my favourite thing.

I don't like wearing costumes and wigs."

Comedian Victoria Wood's approach to life has entertained the public for generations.

And it is this different outlook on the banality of everyday life that made her such a hit - as shown by the stream of tributes paid to her since news of her death at the age of 62 following a short battle with cancer broke.

The actress died at home in London surrounded by her family.

Her publicist, Neil Reading, said: "Victoria Wood has sadly passed away, after a short but brave battle with cancer.

"The multi Bafta award-winning writer, director, actor and comedian died peacefully at her north London home with family.

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

Wood was well known for her comedy series Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV, as well as her role in sitcom Dinnerladies and her TV special Victoria Wood With All The Trimmings.

But her tours also made her a hit with Midlands crowds, too.

For a start, one of our finest local performance venues - Wolverhampton Civic Hall - owes a lot to Victoria, who vowed never to return again after an unsavoury incident where a lavatory cistern in her toilet fell on her head.

It led to a vast renovation of the venue in 2000 which led to many top acts continuing to be lined up to perform.

This refurb persuaded Victoria to change her mind, and she gave a brilliant performance in July 2001, despite the excessive heat which the renovated hall conjured up.

She even performed in one of our favourite eateries - The Pie Factory in Tipton - back in the 1980s.

It was this love o food which led to her being named the Star Baker in the Great Comic Relief Bake Off last year.

Nationally she also won recognition. In 2006, she won two Bafta awards for acting and writing for her drama Housewife, 49, an adaptation of the diaries of Nella Last.

Then in 1997, she was made an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours and was then made a CBE in 2008.

Wood, who got her showbusiness break as a winner on New Faces, won two other Baftas earlier in her career, both for best light entertainment performance.

The first was for Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV in 1986 and An Audience With Victoria Wood in 1989.

That New Faces victory came when she was still a student - studying a BA Drama at the University in Birmingham from where she graduated in 1974.

Since then her career has centered around stand-up comedy, branching out into films, sit-com, directing and producing.

Victoria Wood As Seen On TV also won the Bafta for best entertainment programme in 1986, 1987 and 1988, while An Audience With Victoria Wood won the same award in 1989.

She received a special Bafta tribute award in 2005.

Wood's live comedy was often interspersed with her own compositions and she frequently played the piano.

One of her most popular ditties that received adulation on Twitter following her death was The Ballad of Barry and Freda.

She also composed and performed the theme music for Dinnerladies.

Prime Minister David Cameron led the online tributes to the musch-loved star. He tweeted: "Victoria Wood was a national treasure loved by millions. My thoughts are with her family."

Wood's fellow comedians were also quick to pay their respects on social media, with Rory Bremner writing: "No. NO. This is too much. Now lovely, warm, funny, brilliantly talented Victoria Wood has gone. Words, songs, plays, she wrote the lot. So sad."

Jack Dee added: "I feel privileged to have known and worked with the great Victoria Wood. Unique and truly brilliant," while Ricky Gervais wrote: "RIP the brilliant Victoria Wood. So innovative, funny and down to earth. This has not been a good year."

Wolverhampton-born journalist and author Caitlin Moran, who herself has branched into television with locally-based sitcom Dances With Wolves, described the early influence Wood had on her, saying: "Seeing Victoria Wood on TV - working class, bookish, silly, clever, doing stand-up, singing, acting - made me think 'Girls can do this'."

Outside of comedy, TV presenter Esther Rantzen also paid tribute to Wood, saying she admired her at the start of her career and has done ever since.

"She once said about me 'I don't know why they go on about her teeth - have you seen her dresses?', which I thought was quite fair," Rantzen said.

Wood appeared on BBC One's That's Life! in 1976, which was her big break.

Following that, she spent a lot of time working with Smethwick's finest Julie Walters on and off since 1978 - their latest project was the 2009 special Victoria Wood's Midlife Christmas.

"She did a one-woman show for Childline where I felt hugely privileged to interview her and she told the story of her life with such wit. She just held us all enchanted for a whole evening," Rantzen recalled.

"I think she is one of our greatest comic writers and performers, but she could also deal with serious issue as well, and she's a huge loss."

Wood's long-term manager and friend, Phil McIntyre, said: "Victoria has been a part of our lives as a friend, devoted mother and national treasure for 30 years. She was always modest, generous and undemanding. A super person and a super and unique talent. There will be an unfillable void left on all levels and we will miss her deeply."

James Corden said: "I'll always feel incredibly grateful that I got to see Victoria Wood on TV and in theatres.

"She was so brilliantly talented, what a sad day."

Ricky Gervais also remembered her, writing: "RIP the brilliant Victoria Wood. So innovative, funny and down to earth. This has not been a good year."

Comedian and author Katy Brand wrote a short but poignant message: "Thank you, Victoria. RIP."

Bond actor Sir Roger Moore said the news was 'difficult to absorb'. He tweeted: "She was a total joy to work with and watch on TV. 2016 is becoming a terrible year."

Absolutely Fabulous actress Jennifer Saunders said: "Vic was simply one of the funniest writers and performers this country has ever produced. She was an inspiration and will be terribly missed. Am devastated that she has gone and my thoughts are with her family."

Comedian Sarah Millican said she was 'incredibly sad' and described Wood as a 'true comedy icon'.

Comedian Jenny Eclair said: "All of us women in comedy owe a huge debt of gratitude to Victoria - she paved the way."

Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins wrote on Twitter: "RIP, the briilliant, brilliant Victoria Wood x"

Actor Danny Dyer said: "A world without Victoria Wood is a sad sad thing. My first major crush. R.I.P beautiful. 2016 ... the year of taking the greats."

Comedian John Bishop wrote on Twitter: "A true comedy legend #ripvictoriawood."

BBC director-general Tony Hall said: "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."