Biographer gets exclusive access to late comedian's archive

Previously unheard recordings from Victoria Wood’s early career are to air on Radio 4 next month.

Footage includes her first ever-gig from 1973; a BBC staff training exercise the following year; and her composing Have You Met Miss Babs from the Acorn Antiques musical – complete with her doing her own percussion noises – in her own lounge.

The tapes form the basis of an hour-long documentary put together by the late comedian’s biographer Jasper Rees, who was given complete access to Wood’s enormous personal archive with the blessing of her management and family.

Other archive material to feature in the show includes the comic appearing on a BBC Birmingham show called Mother Music's Muffin Stand and a secret audio diary recorded during the making of Dinnerladies.

Those tapes covered not just the production of the sitcom, but recollections, notes and thoughts about her history and career – which form the basis of the new Archive on 4 programme.

The BBC say Rees is ‘the only person other than Victoria herself to have heard these diaries’ – so far.

His documentary, made by Pozzitive Television, is described as ‘a life story told in captured recordings, private rehearsals, inspired moments and creative struggles’.

Rees wrote the 2020 biography Let’s Do It as well as the follow-up collection of  her unbroadcast material, Unseen On TV.

Victoria Wood:Loose Chippings airs at 8pm on December 14.

•  Meanwhile, Absolutely Fabulous will be the subject of The Reunion, to air on Radio 4 on Christmas Day at 8am. Following on from the recent UKTV retrospective, the new show will feature contributions from Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, Jane Horricks and producer Jon Plowman.

Published: 27 Nov 2024