GOODBYE MRS MERTON
Royle Family star Caroline Aherne dies at 52
COMEDY genius Caroline Aherne has died of cancer aged just 52. The Royle Family and Mrs Merton star’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans online.
COMEDY genius Caroline Aherne died yesterday aged 52 after a battle with cancer.
The Royle Family actress and writer passed away at her home in Manchester.
The telly favourite, who played chat show host Mrs Merton, was reported in April to have been battling throat cancer.
She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2014, and was treated when she was younger for bladder cancer and retinoblastoma, which left her almost blind in one eye.
Her publicist Neil Reading said: “Caroline Aherne has sadly passed away, after a brave battle with cancer.
“The Bafta award-winning writer and comedy actor died earlier today at her home in Timperley, Greater Manchester. She was 52.
“The family ask for privacy at this very sad time.”
Caroline’s death sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes online. Sue Johnston, who played mum Barbara in The Royle Family, said: “I am devastated at her passing and I am numb with grief.”
Ralf Little, who was Caroline’s brother Antony in the 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”
Tania Alexander, the creator of Channel 4 hit Gogglebox, which Caroline narrated, said she was “beyond sad about the loss of my dear pal Caroline Aherne”.
Caroline was born in Ealing, west London. Her father was a railway worker and the family moved to Wythenshawe, Manchester when she was two.
She attended a local convent grammar school and studied drama at Liverpool Polytechnic before beginning a glittering career.
In 1994 she married New Order guitarist Peter Hook. They split three years later.
Caroline appeared in 90s comedy hit The Fast Show, playing characters including a South American weathergirl famous for her “Scorchio” catchphrase.
She then created Mrs Merton, an elderly chat show host known for asking guests rude questions.
The grey-haired character famously asked Debbie McGee, “So, what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?”
Last night McGee, who recently lost husband Paul to a brain tumour, tweeted: “Just heard the very sad news about Caroline Aherne, she was wonderful especially as Mrs Merton. My interview will be a treasured memory RIP.”
Caroline later wrote and starred in smash hit BBC sitcom The Royle Family, as sofa slob Denise Royle.
Caroline had struggled with health problems for a number of years. She was admitted to hospital in July 1998 after overdosing on sleeping pills at her home in Notting Hill, west London.
And she was treated for alcohol dependency and depression at celebrity clinic The Priory.
In recent years Caroline won a new generation of fans narrating Gogglebox. But she was forced to take time out earlier this year as her health deteriorated.
She revealed how she used her sense of humour to deal with lung cancer, saying: “So many funny things happen when you’re in there and, looking back, you do have a right laugh with the nurses.
“Although I was on morphine, so maybe it was just me laughing.
“But that’s a way you can cope with it. If you can separate yourself from it, a sense of humour really, really helps.”