Pressure to much for Wood

Victoria Wood has vowed never to tour again.

She says she has nothing more to prove as a stand-up, and doesn't need the stresses live performance brings.

Wood says her current tour, her seventh, "is the best show I've done", but added: "I've reached the point where I don't want the pressure to carry on. I don't want to do any more live shows."

But the comedienne admits that, despite her experience on TV and as a writer, there is nowhere like the stage for honing the art of comedy.

"You can't teach yourself to be funny, but you can learn to apply it," she said. "Live is the only place to learn comedy, to improve your timing. Now I know just how long to wait for a laugh, when to push on."

But, as the performer who holds the record for the most performances at London's Royal Albert Hall, size isn't important when it comes to venues. "Being a stand-up is daunting," she admits. "but once you've done it for a time, the size of the venue is immaterial."

Wood's comments came as she recorded an interview with Paul Jackson today for Radio 4's In Conversation With series due to be broadcast in March.

She also revealed that she has written a new episode of Acorn Antiques for a BBC series about the history of sketch shows. And, in tribute to the relaunched Crossroads, she's updated it for the 21st century. "There's a bit aimed at young people," she said. "About scoring drugs."

There are still some tickets available for Victoria Wood's shows at the Royal Albert Hall, Click here to check availability.

Published: 17 Sep 2001