She had also battled alcoholism and depression throughout her life, a life that became public property with the success of spoof chat show host Mrs Merton in the mid 1990s.
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Caroline revealed she had been diagnosed with lung cancer two years ago, after previously having bladder and eye cancer.
Noel, who grew up in Burnage with brother Liam, just a few miles from Caroline’s childhood home in Wythenshawe, told the crowd: “I want to dedicate the next song to a friend of mine who died this afternoon”.
“It’s really sad. It’s the end of an era but also reminds me of the song Only the Good Die Young”, commented Rod, who added: “She must also have been the only comedian ever to buy the proprietor a drink!”
A relative told the publication: “It was too quick, we didn’t expect her to go”.
Aherne first hit the screens as a sharp-talking checkout girl in sketch programme The Fast Show, but became famous for her elderly agony aunt alter-ego Mrs Merton, who delivered subtle but deadly criticism to celebrities from behind a gentle exterior.
It is considered to be a classic British sitcom, despite the unusual format of a working class family sitting in a living room.
The BBC show was the toast of the 1999 British Comedy Awards, scooping four trophies including best actress for Aherne.
RICKY Tomlinson has made an emotional tribute to his TV daughter Caroline Aherne.
Recalling his time of working with her, Tomlinson said Aherne would always make sure the cast would have a lovely dressing room filled with flowers, a card and a bowl of candies, and would often sending out for takeaways if they filmed late.
And he shared a memorable conversation between their characters on “The Royle Family”, writing Antony’s quote about Denise’s husband, “Dave eats like a pig and you never say owt to him”, followed by her reply, “That’s asthma, thanks very much!”
He said: “When you went to work you’d have a attractive dressing room, with flowers, a card and message from her and a bowl of candies”.
“I looked horrified as she pointed to Ricky Tomlinson and said, “Ricky’s going to shave and play your part now”. It was those little things I loved her for.
Our thoughts and hearts are with Caroline Aherne’s family during this hard time.
“She never talked about her health, ever”.
In a statement Sue Johnston who played her mother Barbara in the sitcom said: ‘I’m devastated at her passing and I am numb with grief’.
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“What a voice, what a mind, what a woman”.
