Caroline Aherne
Updated: 12/20/2025, 11:22:13 AM Wikipedia source
Caroline Mary Aherne (24 December 1963 – 2 July 2016) was an English actress, comedian, writer and director. She was best known for performing as the acerbic chat show host Mrs Merton, in various roles in The Fast Show, and as Denise in The Royle Family (1998–2012), a series which she co-wrote. She won BAFTA awards for her work on The Mrs Merton Show and The Royle Family. Aherne narrated the Channel 4 reality television series Gogglebox from its inception in 2013 until 8 April 2016. She died of cancer at the age of 52.
Infobox
Born
Caroline Mary Aherne(1963-12-24)24 December 1963Ealing, London, England
Died
2 July 2016(2016-07-02) (aged 52)Timperley, Greater Manchester, England
Alma mater
Liverpool Polytechnic
Occupation(s)
Actress, comedian, writer, director, producer
Years active
1990–2016
Notable work
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Spouse
mw- Peter Hook (m. 1994; div. 1997)
Occupations
Actress, comedian, writer, director, producer
Tables
· Filmography
1992
Frank Sidebottom's Fantastic Shed Show
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
No
The Dead Good Show
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
Yes
1993
It's a Mad World, World, World, World
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
No
Comic Timing
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
Yes
1994–2014
Role(s)
The Fast Show
Notes
Yes
1995
1995–1998
Role(s)
The Mrs Merton Show
Notes
Yes
1996
Auntie's All-Time Greats
Role(s)
Yes
Notes
No
1998–2000, 2006–2012
Role(s)
The Royle Family
Notes
Yes
| Year | Title | Actor | Writer | Acting role | Additional information |
| 1992 | Frank Sidebottom's Fantastic Shed Show | Yes | No | Mrs Merton | 3 episodes |
| The Dead Good Show | Yes | Yes | Various characters | Unknown episode(s) | |
| 1993 | It's a Mad World, World, World, World | Yes | No | Various characters | TV special |
| Comic Timing | Yes | Yes | Mrs Merton | 1 episode | |
| 1994–2014 | The Fast Show | Yes | Yes | Various characters | 25 episodes (acting) 10 episodes (writing) |
| 1995 | The World of Lee Evans | Yes | No | Daughter | 1 episode |
| The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer | Yes | No | Woman with Dog / Flatulent Mother | 2 episodes | |
| 1995–1998 | The Mrs Merton Show | Yes | Yes | Mrs Merton | Leading role – 4 series (29 episodes) |
| 1996 | Auntie's All-Time Greats | Yes | No | Mrs Merton | TV special |
| 1998–2000, 2006–2012 | The Royle Family | Yes | Yes | Denise Royle | Leading role – 3 series & 7 specials (25 episodes) 11 episodes (director) 8 episodes (associate producer) |
| 1999 | Mrs Merton and Malcolm | Yes | Yes | Mrs Merton | 1 series (6 episodes) Additional served as associate producer |
| 2002 | Dossa and Joe | No | Yes | — | Director & executive producer (6 episodes) |
| 2008 | Sunshine | Yes | No | Donna | Miniseries (episode 2) |
| 2009 | The Fattest Man in Britain | No | Yes | — | Television film |
| 2013 | The Security Men | No | Yes | — | Television drama – executive producer |
| 2013–2014 | Strange Hill High | Yes | No | Stephanie | 2 series (26 episodes) Additional voice roles |
| 2015 | After Hours | Yes | No | Sheila | 2 episodes |
· Awards
1997
Best Female Comedy Performer
Role(s)
Won
1999
Role(s)
Nominated
Role(s)
Best TV Comedy Actress
Notes
The Royle Family and Mrs Merton and Malcolm
2000
Role(s)
Won
Best Writer
Role(s)
Won
2001
TRIC Awards
Role(s)
Comedy Programme
Notes
Won
BAFTA Awards
Role(s)
Best Comedy Performance
Notes
Nominated
Best Situation Comedy
Role(s)
Nominated
2007
Best Situation Comedy
Role(s)
The Royle Family: "Queen of Sheba"
Notes
Won
Royal Television Society Awards
Role(s)
Best Comedy Writer
Notes
Won
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 1997 | BAFTA Awards | Best Talk Show | The Mrs Merton Show | Won | |
| British Comedy Awards | Best BBC1 Personality | Won | |||
| Best Female Comedy Performer | Won | ||||
| TRIC Awards | New TV Talent of the Year | Won | |||
| 1999 | BAFTA Awards | Best Comedy Series | The Royle Family | Nominated | |
| Best Comedy Performance | Nominated | ||||
| British Comedy Awards | Best TV Comedy Actress | The Royle Family and Mrs Merton and Malcolm | Won | ||
| Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Writer's Award | The Royle Family | Won | ||
| 2000 | BAFTA Awards | Best Comedy Performance | Won | ||
| Best Situation Comedy | Won | ||||
| Royal Television Society Awards | Best Sitcom | Nominated | |||
| Best Writer | Won | ||||
| 2001 | TRIC Awards | Comedy Programme | Won | ||
| BAFTA Awards | Best Comedy Performance | Nominated | |||
| Best Situation Comedy | Nominated | ||||
| 2007 | Best Situation Comedy | The Royle Family: "Queen of Sheba" | Won | ||
| Royal Television Society Awards | Best Comedy Writer | Won | [citation needed] |
References
- "findmypast.co.uk"http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=caroline&lastname=aherne&eventyear=1964&eventyear_offset=2&county=london
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biographyhttps://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-111392
- FreeBMDhttps://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=RnS6GxLscVPNA4DpLd872A&scan=1
- "Manchester Television Broadcasters and Film Actors including Caroline Aherne..."https://web.archive.org/web/20130719071036/http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/broadcasters1.html
- Rinaldi, Graham. "Aherne, Caroline (1963–)". screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved on 25 August 2007.http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/458572/index.html
- "BFI Screenonline: Aherne, Caroline (1963–) Biography"http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/458572/
- Herald Scotlandhttp://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/behind-the-laughter-lines-1.256807
- Manchester Evening News Saturday 14 August 1993, page 25
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/a-warm-and-gentle-kicking-1572047.html
- "The MRS Merton Show"https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/themrsmertonshow/
- Independent.co.ukhttps://www.independent.co.uk/voices/raw-northern-and-working-class-no-wonder-so-many-tv-luvvies-didn-t-get-caroline-aherne-a7116876.html
- "KFM Radio | About Us"https://www.kfmradio.co.uk/about-us/
- TheGuardian.comhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jul/02/caroline-aherne
- "KFM - Stockport"https://www.thepiratearchive.net/kfm-stockport/
- TheGuardian.comhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/04/i-am-kloot-feature
- "Preview; JOHN BRAMWELLThe Kazimier. - Free Online Library"https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Preview%3B+JOHN+BRAMWELLThe+Kazimier.-a0366318872
- TheGuardian.comhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/jul/13/mrs-merton-caroline-aherne-comic
- "Mrs Murton's Nightcap". theafterword.co.uk. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2017http://theafterword.co.uk/mrs-murtons-nightcap/
- British Comedy Guidehttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_dead_good_show/
- Times Saturday August 3 1991, page 18
- Times Saturday November 20 1993, page 21
- BBC Newshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4788517.stm
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/02/caroline-aherne-actor-comedian-dies-52-royle-family
- "BBC Inside Out – North West comedy"https://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/northwest/series7/comedy_accents.shtml
- "Obituary: Caroline Aherne"https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-27392549
- Manchester Evening News Monday 10 January 1994, page 6
- ‘She was sharp as a tack but daft as a brush’: friends and colleagues remember the genius of the Royle Family’s Carolinehttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/16/the-genius-of-caroline-aherne-royle-family-friends-remember
- "BBC One – Pound Shop Wars"https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nts9x
- "Foster's – The Fast Show"https://web.archive.org/web/20111105230039/http://fosters.co.uk/tagged/The_Fast_Show
- Manchester Evening News Monday 28 February 1994, page 6
- Manchester Evening News Friday 1 July 1994, page 6
- Manchester Evening News Thursday 11 July 1996, page 33
- Manchester Evening News Thursday 3 October 1996, page 33
- Manchester Evening News Thursday 2 January 1997, page 4
- Manchester Evening News Saturday 15 February 1997, page 4
- Manchester Evening News Friday 11 April 1997, page 6
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27392549
- MRS MERTON SUICIDE ATTEMPT; Caroline takes pills overdose, Daily Mirror, 7 July 1998https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MRS+MERTON+SUICIDE+ATTEMPT%3B+Caroline+takes+pills+overdose.-a060667554
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/07/02/caroline-aherne-comedienne--obituary/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/profile-caroline-ahern-the-queen-of-comedy-1133097.html
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-27389409
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28032961
- Manchester Evening Newshttp://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/caroline-aherne-voice-new-health-11219060
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36694598
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/02/breaking-actress-caroline-aherne-dies-after-brave-battle-with-ca/
- Huffpost UKhttp://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/caroline-aherne-funeral_uk_5788a9f1e4b08078d6e87283
- "Friends and family gather for Caroline Aherne's funeral"https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2016071532427/caroline-aherne-funeral/
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg384w39ezo
- "Past winners 1996"http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/1996.aspx
- "Past Winners 1997"http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/1997.aspx
- Daily Mirrorhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/I'll+never+marry+again+but+I+hope+Hooky+and+I+can+be+friends+one+day%3B...-a061129809
- "Television Comedy – Programme or Series in 1999"http://awards.bafta.org/award/1999/television/comedy-programme-or-series
- "Television Comedy Performance in 1999"http://awards.bafta.org/award/1999/television/comedy-performance
- "Past Winners 1999"http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/1999.aspx
- "1999 Presented at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane"http://www.broadcastingpressguild.org/bpgawards/1999-2/
- BBC Newshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/686583.stm
- "Robinson booed at awards"http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1218732.stm
- BBC Newshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1280122.stm