Documentary to hit cinemas in January

The stars taking part in the 90-minute documentary Becoming Victoria Wood have been announced.

The End of the F***ing World  star Jessica Barden will read extracts from letters, interviews and other items from the comedian’s archive as they are dramatised by other actors.

Meanwhile, the likes of Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders, Maxine Peake, Joan Armatrading, Jasper Carrott and Michael Ball, will share their memories of Wood.

The film will be out in cinemas on  January 9, before airing on U&Golf in February.  

It will include never-before-seen archive material and previously unheard audio recording to explore the insecurity, anger and self-doubt that plagued the comedian. 

Becoming Victoria Wood draws on some of the same material used in last year’s Radio 4 documentary, Loose Chippings, including the  intimate audio diaries she recorded during the making of Dinnerladies and a tape of her first recorded performance in 1973.

When the documentary was originally announced in May, Hilary Rosen, UKTV’s director of commissioning, said: ‘Without doubt, Victoria Wood is one of the finest comics Britain has ever produced. 

‘This new biopic will shine a light on Victoria’s early life, the start of her career, and will go on to explore how she became one of our very best - and beloved - performers, who had the unique ability to capture the absurdity and the tenderness of everyday life in her exquisite writing.’

The documentary is being made by Rogan Productions with Phil McIntyre TV, directed by Catherine Abbott and produced by Heather McCorriston.

Published: 23 Oct 2025