Susan Calman first saw An Audience with Victoria Wood at the age of 14. It was almost by accident, but by the end of the show she had come to realise what she was destined to be. Yet Susan’s career took a curious path to the comedy success that is now hers. She trained as a corporate lawyer and her work took her to the UN in Geneva and Death Row in America. In 2006 she finally gave it all up to follow in the footsteps of her comedy hero, Victoria Wood. In this essay, Susan Calman celebrates Wood’s performance and writing skills, marvelling at her precise choice of language, her stage presence and, of course, The Ballad of Barry and Freda.

Susan Calman made an impression very quickly with her Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows and was a finalist in the prestigious BBC New Comedy and the So You Think You’re Funny Awards. Susan is now one of the country’s top stand-ups, beloved by Radio 4 audiences on shows such as The News Quiz and in her own sitcom, Sisters, and her four solo stand-up shows. She has presented Woman’s Hour, was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, is a hugely successful television presenter and has published two books.

Written and read by Susan Calman

Produced by Caroline Raphael for Dora Productions