Hailed by The Guardian as “the queen of Northern wit”, Victoria Wood brought not only heaps of humour, but also warmth and authenticity to British screens. As the youngest of four children, she grew up in Bury, Lancashire and often found herself lonely within a strange family dynamic – seeking solace in music, books, and television.
Rejecting the often patronising attitudes of men in the media, she felt unwilling to participate in TV appearances and thus often appeared as a shy character. As her theatre and TV commissions multiplied, Wood plunged into stand-up and, in doing so, became one of the country’s most beloved comedians. In fact, she sold out the Royal Albert Hall a record-breaking 47 times! Although a pioneer for women in comedy, she despised the gender label, saying “Funny is funny whatever you have in your trousers.” To this day, she is known for her witty lyricism, writing poignant songs that stick with audiences.
Her hit show Dinnerladies kickstarted a lasting collaborative partnership with Julie Walters, and showcased Wood’s perfectionism as well as her gift for character-driven humour.
Victoria Wood championed Northern and female voices on television, inspiring generations of women to put themselves out there and pursue creative careers.
2. Adele Rose
Adele Rose worked her way up from secretary at Granada Television to the first female writer for Coronation Street. After explaining to producers that the show lacked women working behind the scenes, she then turned out to become the series’ longest serving writer, penning more than 400 episodes between 1961 to 1998. Rose’s BAFTA-winning scripts gave bold female characters a platform.
In collaboration with Andrea Wonfor, Rose created the iconic Geordie teen drama Byker Grove, which became a national cultural phenomenon in the 90’s and famously propelled the careers of Ant and Dec, Charlie Hunnam, Donna Air and Jill Halfpenny. Byker Grove was monumental for regional TV production in the North East, exploring relevant social issues like drug abuse, abortion, or LGBTQ+ themes. It left a significant mark in an industry often dominated by Southern voices.
3. Sarah Millican
South Shields born and raised Sarah Millican proves that there’s no age stamp for success. She entered the comedy world at the age of 29, but her impact was swift and undeniable. Following a divorce, Millican found strength and comfort in stand-up comedy. She transformed her heartbreak and shock into witty, relatable humour. Her rapid rise to fame really took off when she won the Edinburgh Fringe Newcomer Award in 2008, followed by the British Comedy Award as “Queen of Comedy” only a few years later.
Millican’s debut DVD Chatterbox broke the sales record for female comedians and her honest and relatable humour has since reached audiences worldwide. Known for her personal and unfiltered approach to storytelling, she remains one of the most successful UK comedians. As a woman thriving in the male-dominated sphere of stand-up comedy, Millican surely paved the way for more women to find their fearless voices and audiences in this field.