British comedienne, actress, singer, songwriter, playwright, and director. Wood began her show business career in 1974, when she appeared on, and won, the ATV talent show 'New Faces'. By the late-1970s and early-1980s, she had had several plays broadcast by the BBC, and the positive reviews encouraged them to offer her the chance to produce a sketch show; which was first broadcast in 1981 under the title 'Wood & Walters'. Her comedy, though diverse, would often find her singing social commentaries whilst playing the piano, and it is this style of humour with which she is often associated. However, during her career she also appeared in sitcoms, as a stand-up, and latterly in documentaries. Multi-BAFTA award winning, she was appointed an OBE in 1997, then CBE in 2008. Born:19th May 1953, in Prestwich, Manchester, Lancashire, England, Died:20th April 2016, in Highgate, London, England. cancer, aged 62.
She was a multi-talented English comedienne, writer, pianist and actress who became known for her one-woman shows on stage and television, as well as her work with Julie Walters and her sitcom "Dinnerladies" .
She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Drama with honors at Birmingham University in Birmingham, England.
She was awarded OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1997 Queens Honours List and awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2008 Queens Birthday Honors List for her services to drama.
She had two children, Grace Durham (born in October 1988) and Henry Durham (born in May 1992).
She was awarded the 2005 British Comedy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Comedy.
Youngest sister of the politician and author Chris Foote Wood.
Youngest daughter of the author Stanley Wood and his wife Helen Wood , who married 11 July 1940.
Wood was the first of the main "Dinnerladies" cast-member to die in real life.
Granddaughter of Jack Mape (born John Mape 1886, died 30 March 1941) and Ada Mape (born Ada Cottrell 1895, died 1961) who married on 5 April 1913.
Admitted openly to being a compulsive overeater.
Separated from Geoffrey Durham in 2002, divorced later in 2003. Durham moved out of the family home in London to a flat just around the corner, remarrying a decade later.
Sister-in-law of Frances Foote Wood (died 30 May 2013).
The youngest of four siblings, yet the first of the four to die.
Younger sister of Penelope Wood (born 2 August 1945 in Devonport, Plymouth, England) and Rosalind Wood (born August 1950 in Bury, Lancashire, England).
Great-granddaughter of Patrick Mape (born in Ireland) and Annie Mape (born Annie Lawler) who married in 1877.
Niece of Annie Mape (born 1913, died 1916), Ada Mary Mape (born 1915, died 1916), Norah Duffy (born Norah Mape 1916, died 1 March 2002), Winnie Dunn (born Winifred Mape 1922, died 3 September 1985), John Thomas Mape (born 1926, died 2004), Jean Woodcock (born Jean Mape 1929) and Mick Mape (born Bernard Mape 1931, died 4 October 2010) all of whom are her mothers siblings.
Niece of Muriel Mape (born Muriel Collinson, died 10 March 2013).
Cousin of Lesley J Woodcock (born 1956).
Niece of Irene Mape (born Irene Creswell).
Cousin of Bernadette Duffy (born 1957).
Cousin of John Mape (born John Christopher Mape 1968).
Cousin of Stephen Dunn (born 1949) and Sharon Dunn (born 1951).
Granddaughter of John Wood and Eleanor Wood (born Eleanor Brigham) who married 5 December 1911.
Cousin of Susan Mansfield (born Susan Mape 1956).
Great-granddaughter of Mary Brigham.
Before they moved to Highgate, London, Wood lived with her husband in Silverdale, near Morecambe, Lancashire.
Inspired by Joyce Grenfell after seeing her one woman show in Buxton in April 1962 at the age of 8.
Attended Bury Grammar School Girls from the age of 11.
Joined Bury Orchestra and Bury Military Band at the age of 12.
Met her husband in July 1976 at The Phoenix Theatre in Leicester whilst performing in the musical Gunslinger.
Underwent an emergency hysterectomy in early 2001.
Toured with the comedian Jasper Carrott in the 1970s.
Cremated at a private ceremony in Golders Green, London, England on 4 May 2016. Among those attending were her two children Grace Durham and Henry Durham , her former husband and father of her children Geoffrey Durham and her long-time friend and collaborator Julie Walters.
A memorial service was held for Wood on 4 July 2016 at St James Church in Londons Piccadilly. The event was accessible via invitation only and tributes were given by Jane Wymark , Daniel Rigby , Harriet Thorpe , Julie Walters and Lesley Schatzberger. Ria Jones and Michael Ball performed one of Woods songs each and Nigel Lilley accompanied on the piano.
Wood was the patron of the charity Jessies Fund until her death in April 2016.
Woods very first television appearance was on a programme called "St John On..." , a miniseries comprising of 4 episodes. She appeared in each episode. The first episode was broadcast on 14 May 1974 when Wood was still only 20. The programme was only broadcast in the Midlands region of England. This was some time before her appearance on "New Faces" later that same year.
Great-aunt of Emily Wood.
Left more than four million pounds to charity via her will, which was made public in March 2017. It was also revealed that she left her home in Highgate, London to her two children. Each of three her siblings received fifty thousand pounds. Some of her friends received sums of money ranging from two thousand to twenty five thousand pounds.
Went to school with Lesley Schatzberger.
We all had really greasy hair. It made sealskin look dry and,unmanageable.
Life is a windowless room in the Hotel Bellevue.
I used to make my own food and ate on my own in my room.
