Victoria Wood was a huge comedy talent and is sorely missed.
This 1994 TV film is absolutely fantastic and features many actors she often liked to use in her productions - Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston and so on. They just work brilliantly with the characters and scripts Victoria wrote.
For those who haven't seen Pat and Margaret, the story follows motorway services waitress Margaret Mottershead who goes with her colleagues and friends on a trip to London to watch a "Surprise Surprise" style TV show. Little does she know that she is going to get the surprise of her life when she is called down from the audience to be reunited with her long lost sister, a glamorous soap star from the US, Pat Bedford.
At first Pat rejects Margaret and even denies that they are related. As the film goes on details of a tough and unloving childhood come out, as well as the reason Pat ran away in the first place. This might sound quite dark and serious, but Victoria Wood's excellence in comedy writing manages to lighten the mood. The film flows really well and has some amazing comic scenes away from the main plot. Thora Hird is one to look out for in some of these scenes which she manages to steal with a look or just a few words. The ending of Pat & Margaret is wonderful and actually quite uplifting.
For those who know Victoria Wood's work well, you'll notice the beginnings of what perhaps was the influence for her later BBC sitcom Dinnerladies - many of the same cast, and a fairly similar kind of location and setting.
Victoria Wood was known to be a perfectionist, and for good reason - she produced outstanding comedy and drama. This is no exception.
This 1994 TV film is absolutely fantastic and features many actors she often liked to use in her productions - Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston and so on. They just work brilliantly with the characters and scripts Victoria wrote.
For those who haven't seen Pat and Margaret, the story follows motorway services waitress Margaret Mottershead who goes with her colleagues and friends on a trip to London to watch a "Surprise Surprise" style TV show. Little does she know that she is going to get the surprise of her life when she is called down from the audience to be reunited with her long lost sister, a glamorous soap star from the US, Pat Bedford.
At first Pat rejects Margaret and even denies that they are related. As the film goes on details of a tough and unloving childhood come out, as well as the reason Pat ran away in the first place. This might sound quite dark and serious, but Victoria Wood's excellence in comedy writing manages to lighten the mood. The film flows really well and has some amazing comic scenes away from the main plot. Thora Hird is one to look out for in some of these scenes which she manages to steal with a look or just a few words. The ending of Pat & Margaret is wonderful and actually quite uplifting.
For those who know Victoria Wood's work well, you'll notice the beginnings of what perhaps was the influence for her later BBC sitcom Dinnerladies - many of the same cast, and a fairly similar kind of location and setting.
Victoria Wood was known to be a perfectionist, and for good reason - she produced outstanding comedy and drama. This is no exception.