Actor Jessica Barden joins Becoming Victoria Wood - U&GOLD's feature-length documentary celebrating the life of Victoria Wood

The 90-minute film is produced by Rogan Scotland, part of BAFTA-winning Rogan Productions, in association with Phil McIntyre TV and distributed by Dartmouth Films

London, UK - 23 October 2025 - Actor Jessica Barden (The End of the F***ing World, Dune: Prophecy) will bring to life extracts from letters, interviews and Victoria Wood's own personal archive in specially filmed scenes combining readings with dramatisation in the upcoming feature length documentary Becoming Victoria Wood. Alongside Jessicas readings are testimony and reflection from school and university friends plus famous faces including Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders, Maxine Peake, Joan Armatrading, Jasper Carrott and Michael Ball, who all discuss their memories of Victoria Wood nearly ten years after her passing.

The film will be out in cinemas on 9thJanuary, before airing on U&GOLD in February. Becoming Victoria Wood is produced by Rogan Scotland, part of BAFTA-winning Rogan Productions, in association with Phil McIntyre Television and distributed by Dartmouth Films.

Victoria Wood remains one of Britain's most cherished entertainers - a comic genius whose work reshaped the landscape of British humour. But behind the joyous persona - the singer, the satirist, the sharp-witted writer - lay a young woman navigating insecurity, anger, and self-doubt. Told in her own words and through the voices of those who knew her best, the film uncovers the formative experiences and personal battles that powered Victoria's unmatched ability to make the nation laugh.

The film will explore rarely seen archive material and previously unheard audio recordings, to paint a vivid portrait of the woman behind the fame.

Among the unearthed treasures are her beloved scrapbooks, Victoria's first-ever recorded performance from 1973, behind-the-scenes footage from stage and screen, unheard interviews with Victoria and intimate audio diaries recorded during the making of dinnerladies- candid, confessional entries that reveal the unfiltered Victoria: thoughtful, biting, vulnerable, and funny. From Wood and Walters to As Seen on TV, Pat and Margaret to dinnerladies, the documentary carefully threads her most iconic work into her personal story, highlighting how her lived experience shaped the characters and worlds she created.

Becoming Victoria Wood will air in February on U&GOLD, following a nationwide theatrical release on 9th January.

Download image of Victoria Wood HERE

Picture credit: Copyright Phil McIntyre Television

Download image of Jessica Barden, in Becoming Victoria Wood HERE

Picture credit: Ricky Darko/UKTV

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Victoria Wood's first ever recorded performance was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4, this will be the first time it has been shown on television.

For more information please email Multitude Media: Gem Pinkney - Director, TV gem.pinkney@multitudemedia.co.uk

About UKTV

UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, U&eden, U&GOLD and U&alibi - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview, Freesat and Freely; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. UKTV's content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media.

UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UKs most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the worlds leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.

corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress

About Rogan Productions

Founded in 2013, Rogan Productions has fast become a world leader in the field of high-end, global documentaries. Led by James and Soleta Rogan and supported by some of the best talent in the documentary industry, Rogan has won and been nominated for over 40 major awards in the past 5years alone.

Recent hits from the London and Glasgow-based production company, include Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks, the highly regarded The Search for Nicola Bulley for BBC One, the critically acclaimed series Defiance: Fighting the Far Right for Channel 4, as well as Netflix's The Final: Attack on Wembley and Zuckerberg: King of the Metaverse for Sky.

About Phil McIntyre TV

PMTV have produced numerous Victoria Wood specials including, Victoria Wood With all the Trimmings and Victoria Wood's Midlife Christmas (for BBC One); Victoria at The Albert and Acorn Antiques: The Musical! (for ITV) as well as more recently the docu series celebrating her life and work entitled Our Friend Victoria.

Other comedy and light ents series and one off specials produced for broadcasters including BBC, Channel 4, UKTV and Netflix include; Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, Peter Kay Live at Manchester Arena, Peter Kay's Britain's Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice; Monty Python's Live from the O2, Craig Cash's and Phil Mealey's Early Doors, Ben Elton's Blessed, Get A Grip and The Wright Way; Dynamo: Magician Impossible and Beyond Belief; Dave's One Night Stand; Live From The BBC; Alan Davies' As Yet Untitled; BBC New Comedy Awards; and Rosie Jones's Disability Comedy Extravaganza.

Phil McIntyre TV has also filmed over 50 live stand-up comedy specials for TV or DVD broadcast, including most recently Monty Python Live: One Down Five to Go, James Acaster; R

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