At 52, Caroline Aherne leaves behind a comedy legacy that will endure for many years.

Her pioneering work on Mrs. Merton, The Fast Show and The Royle Family - which she wrote and created - has been lauded by fellow comedians and actors all day since the news broke of her passing from cancer.

Her co-star on The Royle Family, Ralf Little, commented that Aherne was "(a) character. A legend. A boss. A sister, real and (for me) fake. A boss. A writer. An actor. A genius. A friend," whilst David Walliams and Matt Lucas both offered tributes.

Lucas said that her work "moved television comedy on to a new place. Her extraordinary work will be cherished by future generations," whilst David Baddiel simply said that her passing "really done me in."

Meanwhile, many of Gogglebox's stars posted tributes to the series narrator on Twitter.

 

 

 

Many people have also shared a famous interview Aherne - in her Mrs. Merton character - did with Debbie McGee, the wife of magician Paul Daniels, which many have cited as the greatest comedy interview on British television.

Aherne's opening question was, "What first attracted you to millionaire Paul Daniels?", which was met with awkward, yet prolonged laughter by both McGee and the audience.

Aherne won numerous comedy awards and was the recipient of a BAFTA in 1995 for her work on Mrs. Merton. The Royle Family, which she co-wrote with Craig Cash, her on-screen husband, won Best Sitcom at the 2007 BAFTAs and the Royal Television Society Award for Best Comedy Drama.

Aherne had suffered from depression and alcoholism for many years and attempted suicide in 1998, a year after her marriage to ex-New Order bassist Peter Hook ended. Aherne had battled two bouts of cancer earlier in her life and had recently took part in a advertising campaign for non-smoking.