Remembering Caroline Aherne
The Mrs Merton and Royle Family star passed away in 2016
Last updated 2nd Jul 2020
Actress Caroline Aherne passed away at the age of 52 after a battle with cancer on 2nd July 2016. The star was best known for her work in The Royle Family, The Mrs Merton Show and The Fast Show.
Neil Reading, her publicist, confirmed the sad news in a statement from her family, "Caroline Aherne has sadly passed away, after a brave battle with cancer. The family ask for privacy at this very sad time."
The actress's illness first came to light after she agreed to take part in an appeal in her home city of Manchester that was asking patients and carers to help improve standards of care. In pledging her support she said, "I've had cancer and my brother's had cancer and we know how it affects people."
Where was Caroline Aherne from?
Aherne was born to Irish immigrant parents in London, but grew up in Wythenshawe in Manchester. She was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the retina as a child, like her older brother Patrick before her, and the local Catholic church raised funds to send her to Lourdes in search of a miracle cure. She was left with severely impaired sight in one eye.
She gained public attention as the Checkout Girl in The Fast Show but became a household name as blue-rinse granny Mrs Merton in The Mrs Merton Show, which first aired on BBC Two in 1995.
Caroline Aherne's awards
In 1996, she was voted best female performer at the British Comedy Awards. The Royle Family was born after she and friend Craig Cash, who played gormless Dave Best in the show, threw themselves into their work. The show was the toast of the 1999 British Comedy Awards, scooping four trophies including best actress for Aherne.
The Mrs Merton Christmas Show won the best talk show BAFTA in 1997 while The Royle Family took home the best sitcom award in 2000 and 2007.
Aherne was nominated for BAFTAs for her performance in both shows, as well as her directing of The Royle Family in 2001.
Caroline Aherne: Illness
The BAFTA award-winning writer and comedy actor died at her home in Timperley. Caroline, who was the beloved narrator of hit Channel 4 show Gogglebox, had been battling lung cancer and had previously been treated for bladder and eye cancer.
The star was also unlucky in love - her marriage to former New Order guitarist Peter Hook ended and she began a romance with TV researcher Matt Bowers. Although they split, she was devastated when he died of cancer at the age of 28.
Celebrity tributes
Actress Sue Johnston, who played Aherne's character's mother Barbara in the Royle Family, said in a statement, "I am devastated at her passing and I am numb with grief."
Ralf Little, who starred alongside Aherne as brother Antony in the hit sitcom, wrote on Twitter, 'Sorry for silence - I just... don't know what to say. What a sad, sad day. We've lost another one of our best. A character. A legend. A boss. A sister, real and (for me) fake. A boss. A writer. An actor. A genius. A friend. Big, big heart. Goodbye. X'
And her Fast Show co-star John Thomson expressed his grief on the social network too, 'I've lost a very good friend, we went back years. An irreplaceable comic genius. A joy to be and work with. The Renee to my Roy. RIP Caroline.'
Comedian David Baddiel paid tribute on Twitter writing, 'The talent, you all knew about. But she was a really lovely woman. Vulnerable and complex and damaged but...lovely.'
Britain's Got Talent judge and Little Britain comic David Walliams added, 'Absolutely devastating news about Caroline Aherne. A true comedy genius, her work was equally funny & touching.'