Royle Family star Caroline Aherne has sadly passed away

Actress Caroline Aherne has died at the age of 52 after a battle with cancer, her publicist has said.

Aherne won numerous comedy awards and was the recipient of a BAFTA in 1995 for her work on Mrs. Merton.

Her hit shows – like The Royle Family and Mrs Merton – couldn’t have been further removed from the glitz and glamour of showbiz.

Not only did Aherne have a leading role in sitcom The Royle Family, she also appeared in The Fast Show and narrated Channel 4’s Gogglebox.

As news of her death unfolded, stars from the arts have been quick to pay tribute to Aherne. Aherne was nominated for Baftas for her performance in both shows, as well as her directing of The Royle Family in 2001.

Her richly Mancunian voice returned to British airwaves in 2013 as the narrator of a British reality TV series, “Gogglebox”, documenting people’s humorous reactions to the week’s TV programs. Those sentiments are echoed by his Little Britain co-star who adds: “Absolutely devastating news about Caroline Aherne”. Aherne had battled two bouts of cancer earlier in her life and had recently took part in a advertising campaign for non-smoking.

Aherne was born in London but grew up in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

Little starred alongside Aherne in The Royle Family and paid a heartbreaking tribute to the “legend” who he called his sister.

Aherne was married to New Order bassist Peter Hook from 1994 until 1997.

The Royle Family was the toast of 1999’s British Comedy Awards, scooping four trophies including best actress for Aherne.

Previously speaking about her illness at a Macmillan Cancer charity event, Caroline said: “When you hear them [doctors] telling you you have cancer, it’s true that you really don’t take it in properly, you just don’t think of the questions”.

“I actually have no recollection of it”, she said later.

By now she knew her future lie in entertainment.

On top of that she also suffered from bladder cancer.

In the guise of the squeaky-voiced pensioner with an elaborate coiffure, Aherne was able to ask Debbie McGee: ‘What was it that first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?’ and ‘Were you breast-fed, Carol Thatcher?’

It was said the Royle Family was her salvation.