Victoria Wood's most famous comedy sketches
Victoria Wood has died at the age of 62 following a short battle with cancer.
A comedy stand-up, writer, actor and director, Wood has won the most TV Baftas in history and held the record for the most sell-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall.
Tributes have poured in from fans, fellow comics and the prime minister, who called her a "national treasure, loved by millions."
Lancashire-born Wood thrashed her way to the top of a notoriously male-dominated industry in the 1980s with her innovative comic writing, witty ballads and deadpan delivery.
She got her big break on BBC One's That's Life! in 1976 when she was still a student at Birmingham University, and went on to star in Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV.
She won her first best entertainment Bafta for the show in 1986, going on to win again in 1987 and 1988, while An Audience With Victoria Wood took the coveted gong in 1989.
She was awarded an OBE in 1997 and a CBE in 2008.
TV presenter Esther Rantzen paid tribute to the comedy star: "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."
She frequently paired with friend and fellow comedian Julie Walters in memorable comedy sketches. They first appeared on stage together in 1978 in a London production of In At The Death and their celebrated comedy Wood And Walters followed in 1981.
Wood received a special Bafta tribute award in 2005.
Her live comedy was often interspersed with her own compositions and she often played the piano.
In the late 90s she created and starred in hit BBC sitcom Dinnerladies.
Wood was married to comedian Geoffrey Durham from 1980 until 2002. They had two children Grace and Henry.
In 1990 she performed a 60-date sell-out season at the Strand Theatre in London in Victoria Wood Up West before a six-week sell-out tour, earning her a Best Comedy Performer award at the British Comedy Awards
She performed a record-breaking 15 nights at the Royal Albert Hall in 1993 as part of a six-month tour of the country
In May 2001 she took on her first UK tour since 1997 and was awarded Best Live Stand Up at the British Comedy Awards.
Her 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."
Ten of Victoria Wood's funniest jokes:
I thought Coq au Vin was love in a lorry.
My children won't even eat chips because some know-all bastard at school told them a potato was a vegetable.
In my day we didn't have sex education, we just picked up what we could off the television.
I once went to one of those parties where everyone throws their car keys into the middle of the room. I don't know who got my moped but I've been driving that Peugeot for years.
My boyfriend had a sex manual but he was dyslexic. I was lying there and he was looking for my vinegar.
Jogging is for people who aren't intelligent enough to watch television.
Life's not fair, is it? Some of us drink champagne in the fast lane, and some of us eat our sandwiches by the loose chippings on the A597.
Sexual harassment at work - is it a problem for the self-employed?
A man is designed to walk three miles in the rain to phone for help when the car breaks down, and a woman is designed to say, “You took your time” when he comes back dripping wet.
People think I hate sex. I don't. I just don't like things that stop you seeing the television properly.