EXCLUSIVE
Victoria Wood statue in ruins after car smashes into late comedian’s monument (Image: PA)
The smashed bronze statue of the late Victoria Wood has finally been repaired after a car crashed into it last year – and will be unveiled next week.
The cherished ‘Dinnerladies’ TV comedienne and mother-of-two tragically died aged 62 back in April 2016 after bravely battling terminal cancer.
A statue by artist Graham Ibbeson – who also created the Eric Morecambe monument in Lancashire – was unveiled in her hometown of Bury, Greater Manchester, in 2019 after a £20,000 Crowdfunding campaign.
But on 3rd June 2024 Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Bury Council confirmed a taxi registered in Wolverhampton crashed into the bronze artwork and knocked it completely over.
Now after repair works were carried out, the council have confirmed statue will be returned to its rightful spot at Church Gardens at 12pm on Wednesday 5th March.
The memorial was put in place in the town following an initiative which included members of Victoria’s family, members of her literary estate and the council.
Stock picture of the statue of Victoria Wood in Bury Greater Manchester. (Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
Comedian Ted Robbins (left) and Victoria’s thrilled brother Chris Foote Wood (Image: PA)
The statue captures Victoria performing one of her stand-up comedy shows, holding a microphone and wearing her trade-mark long jacket.
Photographs from just after the incident showed the wrecked vehicle perched on top of the life-size statue, which was lying flat on the ground having been ripped from its base, and cordoned off.
At the time of the crash the comedian’s brother Chris Foote-Wood said: “It’s a terrible shock to be told that your sister has been knocked down by a taxi, but Victoria always was tough and her bronze statue even more so.”
But he stressed: “But Victoria always was tough and her bronze statue even more so. She’ll be back good as new very soon.”
The statue of the Bafta award-winning comedian was commissioned after she died from cancer in 2016 at the age of 62.
At the time of the crash Bury Council said the statue would be moved so the damage can be assessed, adding: “Victoria Wood was a national treasure, and we are proud to call her one of our own.
“The statue was crowd-funded by Victoria’s brother Chris and from her estate, and maintained by the council. It was made by the acclaimed sculptor Graham Ibbeson and unveiled in 2019.
“It has been a source of great pleasure to many visitors to Bury, and it’s a huge disappointment that this incident has happened and the statue will have to be removed.
“We will be in close contact with Victoria’s family in deciding what to do next.”
The bronze statue of comedy legend Victoria Wood in her hometown (Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
A statue of the late comedian Victoria Wood was toppled after a car smashed into it. (Image: MEN Media)
Regarded as a comedy legend and one of TV’s most beloved stars in the 1980s, the BAFTA-winning actress and writer was born in Prestwich and brought up in Bury.
Wood began her career in the 1970s after appearing on television talent show, New Faces.
But she soared to stardom in the following decade with series include Wood and Walters, Victoria Wood As Seen on TV, and Acorn Antiques.
One of her most memorable shows was An Audience With… when she performed the “Let’s Do It” song entitled ‘The Ballad of Barry and Freda’ featuring the immortal line: “Not bleakly, Not meekly, Beat me on the bottom with the Woman’s weekly.”
The statue depicts Victoria performing one of her stand-up comedy shows, holding a microphone and wearing her trade-mark long jacket.
In May last year, a new plaque was unveiled at the statue which outlines her life and work.
It features several colour photographs of the multi-talented star including one with one of the several Baftas she won for her performing, writing and acting.
Victoria Wood, whose fans helped fundraise for the £20,000 statue (Image: PA)