YOU can just imagine the scene. Victoria Wood is shown into her agent's office having been told he has a proposal to put to her.

"Now then Victoria," says the agent. "I know you'll want to think about this but I thought I'd mention it.

"The BBC would like you to travel all around the world at their expense visiting some of the most exotic locations on earth.

"Now you may have to do some presenting to camera but you can ad lib the script if you want.

"Do you think you'd consider it?"

Surprisingly Ms Wood didn't take much persuading and Victoria's Empire was born.

And to be honest I don't begrudge her the free holiday as it's proving both informative and fun viewing.

The voiceover is particularly entertaining with the comedian taking over from the documentary maker.

Last night there was a great bit where Victoria visited the home of a Newfoundland woman who collected memorabilia of the royal family.

As she droned on like some kind of government minister discussing the Keynesian theory of economics, Ms Wood intoned over the top "don't you wish they'd just get on with it".

At last, a presenter who is prepared to say what the audience is thinking.

At this rate, there's going to be another little chat in the agent's office about more series.