Victoria Wood, who died nearly ten years ago, was one of the UK’s most acclaimed writer/performers

Victoria Wood is to be the subject of a feature-length documentary for UKTV’s U&GOLD channel.

Wood died nearly ten years ago, and the film aims to explore the inner battles, insecurities and formative experiences that elevated the writer/performer/comedian to comedy-icon status.

Becoming Victoria Wood is produced by Rogan Productions in association with Phil McIntyre TV, and distributed by Dartmouth Films. It will tx on U&GOLD next spring following a nationwide theatrical release.

Among the unearthed footage is her first-ever recorded performance from 1973, behind-the-scenes footage from stage and screen, unseen interviews with Wood and audio diaries recorded during the making of Dinnerladies.

Becoming Victoria Wood is commissioned for UKTV by Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning, and ordered by Gerald Casey, director of programmes, comedy and entertainment.

Executive producers for Rogan are James Rogan and Mark Hedgecoe with Helen Nightingale for UKTV. The film is directed by Catherine Abbott and the producer is Heather McCorriston.

Rogan said: “I am delighted to be working with U&Gold and Phil McIntyre again after collaborating on the feature documentary Monty Python: The Meaning of Live. Victoria Wood is an icon and a force of comedy. The story of where it all comes from is a fascinating and unexplored area of her extraordinary life. We are looking forward to showcasing her genius and her journey for cinema and television audiences alike, and reminding the world of her unique vision and ability to make us laugh.”

Rosen added: “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.”