Caroline Aherne Died Alone

The Royle Family star Caroline Aherne died alone, two years after she announced she was battling lung cancer.

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The comedy writer and actress, who found fame as her silver-permed, nosy-grandma alter ego Mrs Merton, died aged 52 at her home in Timperley, Cheshire, on Saturday, but was on her own in her final moments because her family were not aware how badly and quickly her condition had deteriorated.

A relative told the Daily Mirror: “It was too quick, we didn’t expect her to go. She wasn’t in a hospice. She was just at home. She left on her own.”

Caroline – who was first known for her work on The Mrs Merton Show and The Fast Show – was born with cancer of the retina and also suffered from bladder cancer. Despite her illness, she continued to work and narratted the Channel 4 reality TV series Gogglebox.

Caroline’s brother Patrick was born with the same disease. He paid tribute to his “beautiful sister” and her comedy legacy last night.

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He said: “My heart is broken as I loved her so much. But she is now in a better place and most of all she has no pain.

“I have lost a beautiful sister and the world has lost an amazing talent. I know Caroline would want everybody to be happy and not sad and I think we should now remember the comedy legacy that she has left for us. RIP Caroline.”