Trapeze scoops previously unseen material from Victoria Wood

Five years after the comedian's death, Trapeze is to publish previously unseen writing by Victoria Wood, discovered by writer Jasper Rees while he was researching her biography. 

Jamie Coleman, publishing director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to Victoria Wood Unseen on TV, a collection of documents unearthed by Rees, Wood’s official biographer, during his research for Let’s Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood (Trapeze, 2020). The deal was made with James Gill at United Agents, on behalf of Wood’s Estate.    

Victoria Wood Unseen on TV will be published on 28th October 2021 in hardback and e-book. 

“Announced on the fifth anniversary of Victoria Wood’s death, it will be a celebration of a national treasure whose unique talent is missed more with every passing year and will feature unseen sketches and a variety of scripts and manuscripts from throughout her life—collected, edited and introduced by Jasper Rees,” Trapeze said. 

Rees said: “In researching Victoria Wood’s remarkable life story I was amazed to find in her archive so much brilliant unseen material. I am deeply grateful to the Victoria Wood Estate for giving permission to bring these rare and glinting gems into the light, and thrilled to continue a fruitful collaboration with Trapeze Books, who have shown such passion for keeping Victoria’s flame alive."

Coleman said: “Time and time again, readers of the magisterial Let’s Do It said the same thing: that the joy with which they greeted this rich, detailed portrait of Victoria Wood on the page was tempered with a deep sadness at never being surprised by new material from that brain ever again. What Jasper has uncovered is a unique insight into the mind of an unsurpassed comedic genius and we couldn’t be prouder to bring it to the attention of her legions of fans.” 

Rees is an arts journalist and author who has written for the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times and theartsdesk.com, which he co-founded. Let’s Do It was written with the full co-operation of Wood's family, friends and colleagues including Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston, Dawn French, Anne Reid and Michael Ball.  

A writer, actor, director, singer, composer and stand-up comedian, Wood first appeared on national television in 1974 in the talent show “New Faces” and her debut stage play “Talent” was televised in 1979. Her 1980s sketch show “Wood and Walters” was followed by “Victoria Wood as Seen on TV” and “An Audience with Victoria Wood”. She became the pre-eminent stand-up comedian of the age, selling out the Royal Albert Hall 40 times while, in the 1990s, creating the TV film "Pat and Margaret" and the sitcom “Dinnerladies”. In 2005 she turned her much-loved soap parody “Acorn Antiques” into a West End musical, then wrote and starred in the wartime drama “Housewife, 49”. In 2014 she filmed her stage musical “That Day We Sang” for television. Given an OBE in 1997, she was made a CBE in 2008. Her work won eight Baftas, as well as many other awards. She died on 20th April 2016, aged 62.