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Caroline Aherne was ‘happier before she was famous’, says Mrs Merton producer

Noel Gallagher remembered his friend Caroline Aherne as his short U.S. tour continued in Nashville during the weekend.

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Speaking after her death on Saturday, the pair praised the actress and comedian for being “kind, amusing and witty”.

“The following song is for a friend of mine who died this afternoon”, Gallagher told the crowds.

“I don’t see anyone else doing what she did and I do think there is a noticeable gap left in Caroline’s wake”.

Fans of The Royle Family will immediately recognise this tune as the theme song to the hit British sitcom.

Her death was announced on Saturday afternoon by her publicist Neil Reading, who said in a statement: “Caroline Aherne has sadly passed away, after a fearless battle with cancer”. I know only too well, the pain that comes with the moniker “celebrity”, she never wanted fame.

“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”.

The 52-year-old was best known for her roles in The Royle Family, The Fast Show and The Mrs Merton Show.

An unnamed source close to the family has been speaking to the press about how sudden Aherne’s death was, so much so that the star “died on her own”.

However, the most poignant tribute so far came from her devastated brother Patrick.

‘I have lost a handsome sister and the world has lost an incredible talent. This song was the familiar soundtrack at the beginning of each episode of The Royle Family, and it always had the power of quietening down the chit-chat as we knew we were about to be treated to some TV gold. “Her death is a reminder how much she and her writing were, and still are, the exception”, he said. A boss. A writer.

He also told The Guardian: ‘Caroline was a leading light in showing that working-class people can be on TV, being ourselves. ‘Although I was on morphine, so maybe it was just me laughing.

We’re still processing the news that the inimitable talent that is Caroline Aherne is no longer with us.

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Ellie Goulding said: ‘So so sad to hear about Caroline Aherne. An actor. A genius.

Caroline Aherne