Victoria Wood spent years battling demons after being ‘neglected’ in childhood, reveal loved ones in eye-opening new documentary

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She was a hugely popular comedian in the UK, famous for her quick, clever humor and vibrant personality.

Despite her public success, Victoria Wood privately struggled with self-doubt about her weight and worked to overcome her shyness, stemming from a difficult childhood where she felt overlooked.

Ten years after comedian Victoria Wood passed away from esophageal cancer, her former school friends are sharing memories of her youth in a new 90-minute film called Becoming Victoria Wood. The film was released in cinemas last month and shown on U&Gold channel on Thursday.

She grew up as the youngest of four children, with a father, Stanley, who had given up his dream of becoming a playwright to support his family, and a mother, Nellie, who paused her education to raise them. Both parents carried a sense of unfulfilled potential.

Victoria has spoken before about a difficult childhood, describing herself as troubled and out of place during her teenage years. She’s also admitted to not applying herself enough, taking responsibility for a lack of effort during that time.

I’ve been reading more about Victoria, and it’s heartbreaking. Apparently, some of her classmates from Bury Grammar School for Girls have shared that she was going through a tough time at home, and it likely affected her happiness and schoolwork. It really puts things into perspective.

Victoria’s childhood friend, Lesley Schatzberger, observed that Victoria wasn’t one to fully commit to things she didn’t enjoy. However, Lesley also felt Victoria came from a family that lacked a strong sense of togetherness.

‘I didn’t ever know her parents which was really weird, certainly for school friends. 

After having tea at my house, she always asked to be let off on the hill and would walk the rest of the way home alone.

‘There didn’t seem to be a family context for Vicky, it was just Vicky.’ 

Anne Sweeney, a school friend, remembered her as someone who didn’t worry much about appearances. She wasn’t one to follow trends, and often had messy socks and a relaxed, slouching posture.

She felt like an outsider, and her way of coping was to pretend she didn’t mind. She seemed self-sufficient, but I believe she was actually quite shy.

Victoria invited Anne over to her house – the only school friend she extended the invitation to – and Anne thought the house felt exposed and rather gloomy.

Anne remembered there wouldn’t be anyone home to make tea. She felt her mother would come straight to her room and shut herself away.

Lesley added: ‘I think she was neglected really, looking back at her’.

By her own admission, Victoria turned to comfort eating while left alone in her family home. 

She explained that she used to eat constantly, from right after school until bedtime, and that she and her family were largely self-reliant.

My parents weren’t very focused on us growing up. My mother wasn’t much of a talker, and my father spent his free time writing, so they didn’t have a lot of time for their children.

Victoria maintained a difficult relationship with her mother throughout her life. In 1994, she recalled that her father proudly talked about her to people he didn’t even know, especially because she was on TV.

My mother avoids talking about me to others. If anyone points out that I sound like the comedian Victoria Wood, she’ll reluctantly acknowledge we’re family.

She remembered in another conversation that her mother always said she didn’t have a sense of humor, which she believed was true. Her mother was also often depressed during her childhood.

After having her children, Henry and Grace, with her husband Geoffrey Durham, Victoria was committed to ensuring they enjoyed a more joyful upbringing than she experienced herself.

Lesley explained that her mother’s upbringing likely made her extremely protective as a parent. She described her as a truly wonderful mother.

Victoria’s friend from university, Jane Wymark, shared that despite Victoria’s great success and busy life after having children, she always made time to be present for them.

As we matured, both of us grew more self-assured and comfortable with who we were.

This was a pivotal moment for Victoria, who had battled with her self-image for years due to hurtful teasing about her weight.

She confessed she was insecure about her weight, explaining that she felt embarrassed but didn’t know how to change it.

I was very self-conscious about my weight, and it was constantly brought up in media coverage of me.

Victoria’s close friend, Michael Ball, believes she struggled early in her career due to how she was perceived. He felt she was deeply affected by not fitting the typical image of established stars.

‘No one is harder on someone about their weight than that person themselves. 

‘She never minded being the butt of the joke but she didn’t give herself enough coming out on top.’ 

Oh my gosh, Victoria? She’s amazing. For thirty years she battled with her weight, constantly dieting. It’s heartbreaking, but she turned it into something incredible! She’d actually make jokes about it onstage – like, she owned it, you know? It’s so inspiring that she finally learned to just accept herself after all that. It’s like, she finally broke free, and it’s beautiful to watch.

Michael said his late friend helped him see weight and food in a simpler, more humorous light, making it easier to not take it so seriously.

Victoria was a strong advocate for showing plus-size women on television. Her Dinnerladies co-star, Maxine Peake, shared that Victoria’s support and her own weight were important in helping her get her first big acting role.

Maxine remembered Victoria telling her she’d been chosen for the role because of her physique – she was 5’7″ and weighed 15 stone at the time – not necessarily because she was the most talented candidate.

During drama school, a teacher warned me that if I didn’t stop eating so many chips, I’d never be cast as Juliet. I believe Victoria felt a strong connection with me then, perhaps seeing a bit of herself in my situation.

Victoria is known for encouraging many female comedians to use self-deprecating humor and for helping to promote positive body image.

Comedians Kerry Godliman, Dawn French, and Jennifer Saunders have all cited Victoria as a source of inspiration for their work.

Victoria consistently dismissed being called a ‘national treasure,’ preferring to describe her work simply as a joyful way to connect with people and make them laugh. She often said, ‘What could be better than that?’

‘As long as you do it well, I don’t think there’s any problem.’

Victoria simply and accurately described the realities of life in a 2011 interview, stating, ‘Life isn’t fair, is it?’

Some people live glamorous, exciting lives, while others have much more ordinary experiences.

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2026-02-13 00:20