Comedian, singer and writer Victoria Wood has died after “a short but brave” battle with cancer aged 62. The comedian found fame in the 1980s and was best known for her BBC sketch Acorn Antiques and comedy Dinnerladies. She won five Baftas including two for her one-off ITV drama Housewife 49.

• Wood got her first break on the TV talent show New Faces in 1974, while still a student at Birmingham University.
• She established herself as a comedy star with her hit show Victoria Wood As Seen On TV and went on to create the popular BBC comedies Acorn Antiques and Dinnerladies, featuring her long-time collaborator Julie Walters.
• The pair became friends in the 1970s and first worked together in 1981 on the comedy sketch show Wood and Walters.
• Wood appeared on BBC One’s That’s Life! in 1976, which brought her into millions of homes on a frequent basis.

British Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute saying: “Victoria Wood was a national treasure loved by millions. My thoughts are with her family”. Wood married magician Geoffrey Durham, known as the Great Soprendo in 1980 – they separated in 2002. She leaves behind two children Grace and Henry.