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Let's Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood (Paperback)
Jasper Rees (author)Published: 08/07/2021
Featuring interviews with family members and the stars who knew her best, the official biography of the much-missed Victoria Wood draws on the comedian’s personal archives to tell a warm, compelling and very funny life story.
'I was born with a warped sense of humour and when I was carried home from being born it was Coronation Day and so I was called Victoria but you are not supposed to know who wrote this anyway it is about time I unleashed my pent-up emotions in a bitter comment on the state of our society but it's not quite me so I think I shall write a heart-warming story with laughter behind the tears and tears behind the laughter which means hysterics to you Philistines...'
From 'Pardon?' by Vicky Wood, Aged 14. Bury Grammar School (Girls) Magazine, 1967
In her passport Victoria Wood listed her occupation as 'entertainer' - and in stand-up and sketches, songs and sitcom, musicals and dramas, she became the greatest entertainer of the age. Those things that might have held her back - her lonely childhood, her crippling shyness and above all the disadvantage of being a woman in a male-run industry - she turned to her advantage to make extraordinary comedy about ordinary people living ordinary lives in ordinary bodies. She wasn't fond of the term, but Victoria Wood truly was a national treasure - and her loss is still keenly felt.
Victoria had plenty of stories still to tell when she died in 2016, and one of those was her own autobiography.
'I will do it one day,' she told the author and journalist Jasper Rees. 'It would be about my childhood, about my first few years in showbusiness, which were really interesting and would make a really nice story.'
That sadly never came to pass, so Victoria's estate has asked Jasper Rees, who interviewed her more than anyone else, to tell her extraordinary story in full. He has been granted complete and exclusive access to Victoria's rich archive of personal and professional material, and has conducted over 200 interviews with her family, friends and colleagues - among them Victoria's children, her sisters, her ex-husband Geoffrey Durham, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Dawn French, Anne Reid, Imelda Staunton and many more.
What emerges is a portrait of a true pioneer who spoke to her audience like no one before or since.
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
ISBN: 9781409184119
Number of pages: 592
Weight: 540 g
Dimensions: 198 x 128 x 46 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'This utterly absorbing and beautiful book, written with such insight and kindness, moved me hugely' - Julie Walters
'Let's Do It is a biography that feels as unflinching and true as it is entertaining and affectionate. Rees pulls off the trick of writing a brilliant tribute while also - somehow, almost - bringing Victoria Wood back to life in all her complicated glory.' - Viv Groskop
'When I met Victoria I gushed at her and she told me to stop, which was sweet and kind and saved us both! I won't gush now as per her non gushing desires, except to say that I would love people to read this beautiful book about the woman I will be forever grateful for in leading the way for me and other women in comedy and for making my life a jollier one.' - Miranda Hart
'There was none like her before and there's been none like her since - she was unique... I contributed to the book because I know that Jasper [Rees], who wrote it was a great friend of hers and she trusted him...and I knew that he would respect that... We weren't sitting down to be soft and fluffy about Vic, because Vic was quite spiky, quite demanding, and utterly hilarious.' - Dawn French
'An extraordinary, wonderful, rich biography of Victoria Wood - every bit as fascinating, challenging, and brilliant as she was. It is evident that Jasper Rees loves his subject and has been given unprecedented access to Wood's personal and professional archives. He explores Victoria's inspirations and creative processes, celebrating her genius, and never shying away from the tricky stuff.' - Nina Stibbe
'The authorised biography of Victoria Wood by Jasper Rees is great - wonderfully detailed on her creative process, the graft she put in and the mechanics of how she did what she did, but losing none of the warmth and joy of what ended up on screen. Recommended.' - Simon Blackwell
'Exemplary... Despite the memories of laughter it evoked, I was left saddened by the thought that Wood was really making strides into a brilliant second career as a screenwriter and director when illness took her away from us.' - Jonathan Coe
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“Victoria Wood, her life and work.”
I loved Victoria Wood, she was such a talented woman and her death has left a huge hole in British humour. Let's Do It is her authorised biography, written by Jasper Rees and read by Julie Walters, Jasper Rees,... More
“Considered and meticulous portrait of a comedy genius as a relatable and complex person”
(Forewarning: this is going to be a very rambling review.)
It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that Victoria Wood has been ( still is & forever will be) one of my favourite comedian/comidiennes &...
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“Excellent audio book”
I listened to this as an audio book and enjoyed listening to friends of Victoria Wood and her fellow entertainers reading each chapter. This is a wonderful appreciation of a complex and multi-talented performer. It is... More
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