Victoria Wood, whose death was announced yesterday, was one of Britain's best loved comedians. Lorna Cooper looks back at her career

TRIBUTES were last night paid to comedian Victoria Wood who died of cancer at the age of 62.

The actress died at home in London surrounded by her family.

Her publicist, Neil Reading, said: "Victoria Wood has sadly passed away, after a short but brave battle with cancer. The multi Bafta award-winning writer, director, actor and comedian died peacefully at her north London home with family this morning. She was 62."

The tributes were led by her brother, the Darlington journalist and author Chris Foote Wood who said: "It is a great shock, particularly as I am the eldest of the four children of Stanley and Helen Wood, and Victoria the youngest, 13 years younger than me.

"But more than that I feel that Victoria’s death has robbed us of one of the brightest talents of our generation. It wasn’t just that Victoria was hugely talented in so many different fields, she was also outstanding in her tremendous, single-minded drive and determination to pursue her chosen career.

"I am hugely proud of what my sister has done so successfully in different fields of entertainment. It has been a privilege to have her as a sister, and particularly to have been able to observe at first hand how she developed her career from the earliest beginnings.

"Victoria’s two children, my niece Grace and nephew Henry, will be absolutely devastated to lose their mother at such a relatively young age. Another reason I admire Victoria is that she was determined from the start to give her two children as normal an upbringing as possible and to shield them from unwanted media attention. In this she succeeded superbly, aided in every way by her then-husband Geoffrey Durham who has continued his close support for their children after he and Victoria divorced in 2002."

Fellow stars also paid tribute to her talent last night.

James Corden said: "I'll always feel incredibly grateful that I got to see Victoria Wood on TV and in theatres. She was so brilliantly talented, what a sad day."

Ricky Gervais added: "So innovative, funny and down to earth. This has not been a good year."

Sir Roger Moore said the news was "difficult to absorb". He tweeted: "She was a total joy to work with and watch on TV. 2016 is becoming a terrible year."

Absolutely Fabulous actress Jennifer Saunders said: "Vic was simply one of the funniest writers and performers this country has ever produced. She was an inspiration and will be terribly missed. Am devastated that she has gone and my thoughts are with her family."

Comedian Sarah Millican said she was "incredibly sad" and described Wood as a "true comedy icon".

Journalist and author Caitlin Moran described the early influence Wood had on her, saying: "Seeing Victoria Wood on TV - working class, bookish, silly, clever, doing stand-up, singing, acting - made me think 'Girls can do this'."

Fawlty Towers actor John Cleese said he was shocked by the news. "I worked with her last year and was reminded of just what a superlative performer she was. Only 62 !", he tweeted.

Novelist JK Rowling posted a video of Wood performing Reincarnation Song, writing: "Watch and weep. 62 is far too young. RIP Victoria Wood."

Coronation Street's Sue Cleaver, who starred in Wood's BBC comedy Dinnerladies, tweeted: "RIP Victoria. Taken far too soon."

Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams said he had "happy memories watching #VictoriaWood's TV shows with my mum, dad & sister", and he described her as a "humble genius".

Sherlock creator and actor Mark Gatiss wrote: "Inconceivable that Victoria Wood has gone. She had a kindly yet savage eye for the ordinariness and the grotesquerie of life."