CHUNKY: The Best Bits from Acorn Antiques to Kitty

Mrs Overall: 'I sometimes think being widowed is God's way of telling you to come off the Pill.' And from page 86 in the middle of a frantically funny dialogue 'Got into drugs, marijuana, then cocaine, then Shake 'n' Vac. Then I became a monk, but we had words over my safari jacket.' Slip into your northern accent to read aloud the comic words of our much loved lost talent, Victoria Wood. First published as a stand-alone collection in 1996, Chunky collects sketches from Victoria Wood's award-winning TV shows together with previously unaired monologues and scenes. As well as the complete Acorn Antiques scripts, this omnibus edition includes her Up to You, Porky (the title of which was based on her former agent's dismissive quip), Balmy and Mens Sana in Thingummy Doodah. This revised edition collects the very best of her sketches, shows and more, and is newly introduced by Celia Imrie, star of so many of Victoria Wood's shows, with additions and annotations from Wood's official biographer Jasper Rees. Babs (on telephone): 'Acorn Antiques, can I help you? Gainsborough's Blue Boy? Yes, I think we have it in mauve, I'll just check...' Acute skewering of the absurdities of real life from corner shops to candlewick bedspreads, supermarket checkouts to suburban lust. From a Kitty monologue: 'My name's Kitty. I've had a boob off and I can't stomach whelks so that's me for you'. Plus the waspish continuity announcer Susie, Marjory and Joan and other unforgettable characters. 447pp with cast lists.