Victoria Wood’s brother defends decision to release tell-all biography about star’s ‘fat and lonely’ childhood
The book goes against Victoria's wishes to keep her personal life out of the public eye
THE brother of comic Victoria Wood has defended his decision to write a biography about her that claims she was overweight and unhappy as a child.
Chris Foote Wood will release the explosive new biography of the late comic - in which he brands her 'fat and lonely' in a controversial move later this month.
The "warts and all" book features extracts from a journal written by the pair's late father Stanley Wood.
In the private diary, he slams a young Victoria for being too "fat", watching hours of television and for being "very glum and morose".
In one scathing entry, he says she was getting "fatter than ever and has more spots", before listing what she would eat for breakfast - claiming that she would tuck into her lunch just half an hour later.
Other entries say the star, who had two children, Henry and Grace, would have kids like "balloons".
Chris said the book, called Victoria Wood Comedy Genius - Her Life And Work, would provide ";a unique insight into how an overweight, lonely and unhappy girl overcame early difficulties to build her hugely successful career".
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The book has threatened to tear the family apart following Victoria’s death from cancer aged just 62 in April this year.
But Chris claims it would be a "betrayal" not to tell the truth about her childhood struggles.
He said: It would be a nonsense to leave out Vic’s unhappy childhood.
“On the contrary, it is all the more to her credit that she overcame these early difficulties to forge her hugely successful career.”
Victoria's illness remained a secret until after her death
Chris’s decision to publish the material goes against Victoria’s determination to keep her personal life out of the public eye.
Her illness remained a secret until after her death and the exact form of cancer she suffered has never been revealed.
Even her funeral arrangements remained closely guarded by her former husband and their children, who were at home with her when she died in Highgate, north London.
Chris, who has raised £20,000 through crowdfunding to erect a life-size memorial of Wood in the centre of Bury, Lancashire, says he is not seeking financial gain - instead vowing to donate the royalties to charity.
He told the Mirror: "I have always admired Victoria’s great talents and her dedicated work ethic. I count myself as one of her greatest fans.
“This book is a tribute to my multi-talented sister. It is not for money, it is a labour of love – I am donating all my royalties to Victoria’s favourite charities.
"For 44 years our dad Stanley Wood kept a daily journal in which he recorded what happened in our family, particularly Victoria of course, and this has been an invaluable source."
“I have had the privilege of watching Vic’s career grow from its earliest beginnings, through the years of struggle before her eventual success.
“It was so sad when Vic died at only 62. She had so much more to give, but at least she has left us a huge body of work we can still enjoy.
“I hope this book will be a fitting memorial to her and tell fans what it was like in her childhood and later behind the scenes.”
A site has been agreed and Bury Council will maintain the statue once erected.
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