Tributes continue to be paid to Caroline Aherne
- Published
![Picture of Mrs Merton](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/15B4E/production/_90201988_merton.jpg)
Tributes have been paid to comedian Caroline Aherne, one of Britain's best-loved entertainers, who has died at the age of 52.
Friends and fellow entertainers have spoken on social media of their shock at her death. Aherne, who starred in Mrs Merton and The Royle Family, suffered from cancer, her publicist said.
She died at her home in Timperley, Greater Manchester on 2 July.
Her friend Noel Gallagher paid tribute at a concert in Nashville later that evening. He performed Half The World Away, the Oasis song which was The Royle Family theme tune.
"I want to dedicate the following song to a friend of mine who died this afternoon, her name was Caroline," he said.
"She was a very, very funny woman and she used this next song for a very, very, very, very brilliant sitcom in England called The Royle Family. So wherever you are..." he said, pointing upwards.
![Caroline Aherne and Steve Coogan at the South Bank Show awards in 2000](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/289D/production/_90279301_carolineahernestevecoogan_pa.jpg)
Caroline Aherne and Steve Coogan
Her friend Steve Coogan, said, external: "I loved her. She used to make me cry with laughter. This is the first time she's made me cry without laughing."
He told The Guardian she was uncomfortable with success so she "could easily have just remained a funny girl working as a secretary, so it's great that she became a household name instead, and so many people got to see her and have that joy."
John Thompson started out in comedy with Aherne under the name the Mitzi Goldberg Experience and they later starred in The Fast Show together.
"We've lost a great comedian, actress and writer, and sadly I've lost a very dear, very old friend," he told The Guardian., external
But he admitted that a lot of her friends had sadly lost touch with her years ago when "regular intrusion into her private life" had led her to become a "virtual recluse".
"She was an incredibly funny woman on and off screen, whose raw talent and 'funny bones' never failed to make me roar with laughter."
![Sorry for silence - I just... don't know what to say. What a sad, sad day. We've lost another one of our best.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/12CA/production/_90201840_40503be0-74d3-4777-805b-c4b3ff8c0e50.jpg)
Ralf Little, who played her brother in The Royle Family, said Aherne, external was "a sister, real and (for me) fake", as well as a genius and a friend with a "big, big heart".
He also told The Guardian that her death left a "noticeable gap" in the comedy world.
"Caroline was a leading light in showing that working class people can be on TV, being ourselves...
"Right now, I don't see anyone else doing what she did and I do think there is a noticeable gap left in Caroline's wake. Her death is a reminder how much she and her writing were, and still are, the exception."
![John Bishop tweeted: 'So sad to hear of the passing of Caroline Aherne. A Beautiful person I grew to know in recent years. My heart goes to her family.'](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/14A1C/production/_90280548_johnbishop-1.gif)
![So blessed to have known and worked with her from 1990 onwards most naturally funny person I've ever met. RIP Caroline Aherne](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/8B7E/production/_90201753_abb32db8-91fc-47e2-a306-5d63894a363d.jpg)
Debbie McGee, who was the subject of Mrs Merton's most famous interview when she asked her 'And what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?', was one of the first to pay tribute.
![Just heard the very sad news about Caroline Aherne she was wonderful especially as Mrs Merton. My interview will be a treasured memory RIP](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/10D2E/production/_90201986_d4092b40-d3e4-4fab-a541-53220d27e2b4.jpg)
Other comedians paying tribute include Sarah Millican and Jenny Eclair.
Millican said it was "so sad. What a wonderful talent she was."
![Yet another inspirational female comedian lost. Thank you for everything Caroline Aherne. RIP.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/D103/production/_90270535_e70147d2-13b9-4d27-a17c-0a8c3b80a0d2.jpg)
![Poor dear Caroline Aherne, how terribly sad](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/4146/production/_90201761_b70cb133-14db-4a22-a929-a4bb37bff2c3.jpg)
![Absolutely devastating news about Caroline Aherne. A true comedy genius, her work was equally funny & touching.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/127BE/production/_90201757_dbca5778-7b71-481d-ba28-1ddf9b87498b.jpg)
![Caroline Aherne moved television comedy on to a new place. Her extraordinary work will be cherished by future generations.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/BF0E/production/_90201984_aca09f67-ef4f-4081-9745-27a6cb9db630.jpg)
![Awful news about Caroline Aherne. She gave us all so many laughs and happy memories. Rest in Peace.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/175DE/production/_90201759_6e18ce57-c840-4596-ba5a-208f4057e461.jpg)
![Rob Brydon tweeted: So sad to hear that the brilliant Caroline Aherne has died. Such a great and distinct talent. RIP.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/3C94/production/_90280551_robbrydon.gif)
The League Of Gentlemen's Reece Shearsmith , externalalso remembered the star on Twitter: "Terrible news about Caroline Aherne," he wrote. "Another great gone. What a ghastly year."
Downton Abbey's Elizabeth McGovern, external added: "Another genius gone."
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill tweeted, external: "I'm devastated at the loss of brilliant writer/actor Caroline Aherne #TheRoyleFamily was a masterpiece! #GoneTooSoon."
Line Of Duty actor Daniel Mays, external said he was a "huge fan" and continued: "Absolute comedy genius and master of her craft. She'll be much missed. RIP."
Fellow comedian Stephen Merchant, external tweeted: "Another unique voice gone too soon. Perhaps inevitably, Half The World Away is playing in my head. #CarolineAherneRIP."
While comedy actor Sanjeev Bhaskar tweeted, external: Sad news abt #CarolineAherne. A genuinely original comedy voice."
![Very sad to hear about the death of the very talented and funny Caroline Aherne. Condolences to her family.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/4DC6/production/_90201991_e574ee94-461a-43eb-8e01-2992e1cd770e.jpg)
![Caroline Aherne...man, that's done me in. That's really done me in.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/D99E/production/_90201755_355646cb-9140-435b-badd-1cd4e14b4b4a.jpg)
![Caroline Aherne. Such a funny and talented woman. May she rest in peace x](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/F942/production/_90201836_5619d759-87e8-4136-b83c-03f8e4f16f52.jpg)
![My comedy hero has died. What a valiant battle she fought. Loved you Caroline Aherne](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/14762/production/_90201838_a4ea07b7-b42c-4792-a7b2-352044205a98.jpg)
Fan pages for shows Aherne was a part of also took to social media to express their grief at the news.
A Twitter page for The Royle Family, external, the sitcom she co-wrote and appeared in, posted: "So heartbroken to hear about Caroline Aherne. In shock, cannot believe it."
@goggleboxquotes, external tweeted: "RIP Caroline Aherne, the voice of Gogglebox and an incredible actress."
Compiled by Rozina Sini, BBC UGC and social news team
- Published2 July 2016