Three titans of the stage, screen, and airwaves have left indelible marks on the worlds of arts and media, and in recent weeks, their legacies have been underscored by loss, tribute, and remembrance. Pauline Collins, the Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated actress best known for her role in "Shirley Valentine," has died at 85 after a years-long battle with Parkinson's disease. Meanwhile, a decade after her passing, the beloved British comedian and writer Victoria Wood is being honored with a theatre bearing her name in England's Lake District. And in Australia, the airwaves have fallen silent with the death of John Laws, the legendary broadcaster whose distinctive voice shaped radio for over seventy years.
Pauline Collins passed away peacefully in her London care home during the week of November 3 to November 9, 2025, as reported by USA TODAY. Her family announced her death on November 6, sharing, "Pauline was so many things to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her life. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen. Her illustrious career saw her play politicians, mothers and queens." They added, "She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine – a role that she made all her own."
Collins' journey to stardom was marked by perseverance and late-blooming success. After earning money as a teacher in London for six years, she began acting in the early 1960s, appearing on the pioneering medical soap opera "Emergency-Ward 10." She soon became a familiar face in British television, with memorable roles such as Samantha Briggs on "Doctor Who" in 1967, a part she reprised in a new form in 2006 as Queen Victoria in the rebooted BBC series. Her comedic talents also shone in the Liverpool-based sitcom "The Liver Birds" in 1969.
Her breakout role, however, arrived with ITV's period drama "Upstairs, Downstairs," where she played the maid Sarah Moffat. It was here that she met her husband, actor John Alderton, with whom she shared her life and collaborated on several projects over their 56-year marriage. Reflecting on her big break, Collins told The New York Times in 1988, "I was 30 years old. Which for a big break was quite old, really."
Collins' defining moment came in 1988, when she took the stage as Shirley Valentine, an unhappy Liverpool housewife who rediscovers herself, in Willy Russell's one-woman play at London's Vaudeville Theatre. The performance won her a Laurence Olivier Award, and when she brought the play to Broadway the following year, she received a Tony Award. The film adaptation, directed by Lewis Gilbert, earned Collins both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. As she told The New York Times during her Broadway run, "There are as many Shirley Valentines here as there are in England. Men, too, as well. Lots of men wrote to me. This is not a feminist play. It's a humanist play. On a broader scale it's about everybody who has unfulfilled areas in their lives, and that applies to men as well as women."
Her filmography extended to roles in "City of Joy" (1992) alongside Patrick Swayze, "Paradise Road" (1997) with Glenn Close and Frances McDormand, and "Quartet" (2012) with Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon. In recognition of her contributions to drama, Collins was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001. She told the BBC at the time, "I was amazed that I should be awarded anything - I think I said 'What's it for?'" Her family has encouraged donations to Parkinson's UK in her memory, highlighting her enduring generosity and commitment to others.
While Collins is being remembered for her vibrant performances and warmth, Victoria Wood is being celebrated in a different way. The Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness-on-Windermere, a 260-seat venue she helped open and where she staged several of her own works, will be renamed the Victoria Wood Theatre starting January 2026, according to The Mirror. Wood, who died from cancer in April 2016 at the age of 62, was a beloved figure in British comedy, known for her sharp wit, musical talents, and groundbreaking presence in a male-dominated field.
Wood's connection to the Lake District was profound. She had a cottage in Ambleside, which she left to her children, Grace and Henry, with instructions that it should remain in the family as long as it was enjoyed. She was also a trustee and patron of the Old Laundry Theatre, which was opened in 1992 by Roger Glossop and Charlotte Scott. The couple, who became close friends with Wood after working together on her musical "Talent" in 1978, described the renaming as a way to ensure her legacy endures. Glossop told The Sunday Times, "People do forget very quickly. The trust is intent on people remembering Vic and her remarkable talent. So what we want from these legacy projects is to keep the name bouncing along."
The renaming of the theatre will coincide with the world premiere of "Fourteen Again," a jukebox musical featuring Wood's music and lyrics, with a script by Tom MacRae. MacRae, known for co-writing "Everybody's Talking About Jamie," said, "How do you explain Victoria Wood to people who have no context for her? I say, 'She is probably one of the most beloved British comedians of them all, working at a time when there were very few female comedians and a consensus that women weren't funny. And yet you never think of her as being this trailblazer. She was just the funniest person you wanted to watch. She was just Victoria Wood. She was brilliant. There was an absolute determination within her. But everyone felt like they were friends with her.'"
Wood's career highlights include the BBC sketch "Acorn Antiques," the sitcom "Dinnerladies," and the acclaimed ITV drama "Housewife, 49," for which she won two of her five BAFTA awards. At the time of her death, her long-time collaborator Julie Walters said, "The loss of her is incalculable." The theatre's new name and the premiere of "Fourteen Again" aim to keep Wood's spirit alive for new generations of fans.
Across the world in Australia, the radio industry is mourning the death of John Laws, the legendary broadcaster known as "golden tonsils." Laws died peacefully at his home in Woolloomooloo, Sydney, on November 10, 2025, at the age of 90, as reported by Network Ten and The New Daily. His family shared, "Today marks a very difficult day for our family, with the news that our beloved father/grandfather/uncle John Laws has died peacefully at home." Laws had spent two weeks in hospital in October before his death, but had remained in good spirits until his final days.
Laws' career spanned more than seven decades, beginning in 1953 at 3BO in Bendigo and taking him to major Australian stations such as 2UE, 2GB, 2UW, and 2SM. At his peak, he attracted two million listeners each morning, pioneering a unique blend of entertainment, information, and opinion delivered in his instantly recognizable deep, rich voice. He was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame and was once considered the best-paid radio broadcaster in the world.
His influence extended beyond entertainment. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute, saying, "Generations of Australians trusted and respected him for telling it straight, digging deep and giving his guests and his listeners a chance to be heard. John was always a thoroughly prepared and thoughtful interviewer – and wonderful company off-air." Laws' career was not without controversy, most notably the 1999 cash-for-comment scandal, which saw him and rival Alan Jones found to have breached broadcasting regulations for accepting payments in exchange for favorable commentary. Despite such episodes and occasional on-air controversies, Laws remained a fixture of Australian radio until his retirement in 2007, and again after his return in 2011.
As the world reflects on the contributions of Pauline Collins, Victoria Wood, and John Laws, their stories serve as reminders of the power of creative voices to shape culture, entertain, provoke thought, and offer comfort. Their legacies will continue to resonate in theatres, on screens, and across the airwaves for generations to come.
