A statue of television comedian Victoria Wood, who died of cancer in April, will be built in her home town, Bury.
Wood, 62, wrote and starred in shows including Dinnerladies and Acorn Antiques. Her brother, Chris Foote Wood, a politician and former council leader in County Durham, has launched an online appeal to raise the £20,000 required for the public tribute.
He met council bosses to discuss the plan for the permanent memorial, which will be built in Library Gardens in Bury’s town centre.
The public will be asked to vote on two designs. The first is of the comedian seated at a piano, as immortalised in her song, The Ballad of Barry and Freda (Let’s Do It). Wood debuted the comedy ballad, widely regarded as her most famous song, on her sketch show Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV, which first aired in 1985. The second possible statue is of Wood standing dressed in an overcoat and beret as her character Kimberley’s Friend.
The go-ahead for the statue was announced after Bury council leader, Rishi Shori, met Wood’s brother. Shori described the comedian as a national treasure and said the statue would be a fitting tribute.
Shori said: “It was great to meet and discuss the options with her brother, Chris, who was very keen that the monument should be in Bury. This is the ideal location and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to identify a site which ticks all the boxes. I think it will become a tourist attraction in its own right.”
The Bafta award-winning comic was born in Prestwich and attended Bury Grammar School for Girls. She found fame as a television comedian and writer in the 1980s.
The council will not pay for the sculpture, but will assist with its upkeep. The JustGiving page has already raised £5,000 towards the cost. Foote Wood said: “I am delighted that the council has identified a suitable site for Victoria’s statue. I am sure that Victoria’s statue will be very popular with her numerous fans and will attract many visitors to the town.”
The statue could be unveiled in June next year.
