Caroline Aherne tragically passed away from lung cancer at the age of just 52.
The much-loved actress and comedian was alone at her home in Timperley, Cheshire when she died – with only a few of her close friends and family realising how sick she was.
“It was too quick, we didn’t expect her to go. She was just at home. She left on her own,” a relative said following her death in 2016.
It seems very fitting that two of her finest pieces of work will both be airing at the same time tonight.
Caroline co-created and starred in iconic BBC sitcom The Royle Family with close friend Craig Cash – playing Denise Royle and her husband David respectively.
Before publicly revealing she was battling lung cancer in 2014 at the Macmillan Cancer Improvement Partnership, Caroline confided in her writing partner with a heartbreaking wish.
Caroline was the voiceover on Gogglebox from the very start, introducing the families with her dulcet tones and bringing a warming feeling to the Channel 4 show.
Not wanting to let down the viewers when she was unwell, brave Caroline asked Craig if he would take her place when she was unwell.
“In November 2013, when she was gravely ill with cancer, Caroline asked if I’d narrate Gogglebox when she wasn’t up to it,” he told Radio Times.
“Of course, I said yes; it was a very sad time and I wanted to do right by her and by the programme.
“Caroline was well and then unwell, well and unwell, so I filled in whenever she needed me to.
While Caroline took time off to receive treatment for the disease, Craig filled in as a relief host until she was strong enough to come back.
By February she was back recording and Gogglebox fans were thrilled and showered the actress with affection when she made her return to the show.
Caroline continued as the Gogglebox voiceover, with Craig continuing to stand in for his friend whenever she needed.
One of her final acting roles had been as Shelia in Sky One comedy After Hours in 2015, which was directed by Craig.
Co-star John Thompson revealed she was in remission when they worked on the show
Her hair, beneath her wig, had regrown and she was thin, but despite all this she was on amazing form, the Caroline I knew and loved working with,” he recalled.
“This was the last time I saw her. I’m grateful for that fact, as that was how I would want to remember her.”
Caroline carried on entertaining the nation as the Gogglebox voiceover and took on future roles.
But sadly the cancer returned and Caroline told a handful of her closest friends she had between three and 12 months to live.
Just two months later, Caroline sadly passed away.
It came as a massive shock to most people who knew her, as many were unaware of how seriously ill she was.
Caroline has selflessly refused to put her nearest and dearest through the torment she suffered.
After the death of his close friend, Craig took on Caroline’s voiceover role on Gogglebox, as had been her wish.
A tribute was made to Caroline at the end of the Gogglebox: Brexit special, which concluded with the words “In loving memory of Caroline Aherne” written across the screen.
The Royle Family theme song, Half The World Away by Oasis, played over the end credits in another touching gesture.
Craig later admitted that he struggled with the heartbreak of filling in for Caroline on Gogglebox after her death.
“When Caroline died in July 2016, I took over narrating duties,” he told Radio Times.
“She will of course forever be in my life, but it was heartbreaking going into the small studio in Manchester at 8am on a Friday morning to record the narration for the show, knowing that Caroline used to sit in the same room.”
However, rather poignantly, it did make him feel closer to Caroline to work in the same place she had.
Now that time has passed, going into the studio is a lovely little moment because Caroline is with me again,” he said.
“And I know she’ll be watching Gogglebox in heaven with 20 Bensons and a bottle of champagne.”
Craig and Caroline first met in the early 80s while working on a Manchester pirate radio station.
The pair hit it off straight away – and she invited Craig to help write the script on her TV series, The Mrs Merton Show.
They went on to write one of the greatest ever British sitcoms, The Royle Family, while playing on-screen couple Denise and Dave.
The original series ran from 1998 to 2000 – with five special episodes airing from 2006 until 2012.
A sixth was in the works before Caroline tragically passed away.
Ricky Tomlinson, who played her on-screen dad Jim Royle, was devastated when he heard the news.
“I’m so bloody shocked. She was absolutely wonderful and amazing to work for. Kind, funny, witty,” he told The Mirror.
“A true professional and one of the most generous people I ever worked with.”
Ricky said Caroline didn’t speak about her health and never once complained.
Her death knocked the actor for six, as he believed her health had been improving after speaking to Craig a few weeks before she died.
Ricky said: “Craig told me ‘She’s not bad, Ricky.’ And I was so pleased. I’m a bit of a bloody weepy and I wouldn’t get in touch with her, see. I’d start crying.
“So I’ve not seen her properly, other than the odd event, since we worked together. But I spoke to Craig and we were going to get together.”
Recalling their days on set in Manchester, Ricky explained his fondest memory wasthe 1999 Christmas Special in which Denise went into labour and Jim was left to comfort her.
“I think it was so special to her because she didn’t have children,” said Ricky.
“And it was so special to me because my own girl, my Kate, was born on Christmas Day.
“And that’s why the tears were real. The cameraman was the son of Corrie character Stan Ogden and at the end he was crying and said: ‘That’s it. We don’t need another take.’ It just stands out in my mind.”
In July this year, Caroline’s TV mum and dad, Ricky Tomlison and Sue Johnston, gave a heartfelt tribute during a reunion on Loose Women.
Marking the four-year anniversary of Caroline’s passing, Sue said: “For me, she was the most generous of women and that showed in her spirit.
“She was very funny, but her generosity was extraordinary.
“At the end of a week’s filming there would be a table laid out with champagne, beers, sweets for the crew and everyone, she spoiled everyone.”
Sue also revealed a cheeky behind-the-scenes secret during filming of The Royle Family that Caroline implemented.
“Sometimes, what used to make me laugh – especially these days – we’d get to about Thursday and we’d been constantly filming and on that sofa and she’d suddenly call the producer over and she’d go, ‘John, I think we’ve all gone a bit flat, I think we need champagne!’
“And it would come! We’d be drinking champagne in those mugs.”
Ricky had a painting of Caroline commissioned, and Sue revealed on the video call that it still hung in her stairway.
He had the Loose Women in stitches by revealing how Caroline once pointed out his his testicle was hanging out in a shot, which the BBC had to try to edit out at great expense.
Regarding a reunion of The Royle Family, Ricky explained that it would not feel right without Caroline.
“Not for me, if it’s not broke don’t try and fix it”, he said. “She was wonderful.”