Veteran actress Sue Johnston has shared a poignant tribute to her late friend and colleague, Caroline Aherne, on what would have been the comedy star's 61st birthday on Christmas Eve.
A Heartfelt Social Media Homage
Sue Johnston, 82, who famously played Barbara Royle to Aherne's Denise in the beloved BBC sitcom The Royle Family, posted a touching photograph of the pair on Instagram. She accompanied the image with the caption: 'Happy heavenly Birthday, Caroline, we love and miss you so much. X'. The post prompted an outpouring of affection from fans and famous friends alike, with presenter Carol Vorderman reminiscing about the show's iconic Christmas episodes, while Eamonn Holmes sent festive wishes.
Remembering a Comedy Icon
Caroline Aherne, the iconic actress and writer, tragically passed away at the age of 52 in July 2016 following a battle with cancer. She co-created The Royle Family with fellow star Craig Cash, a role for which she is most fondly remembered. However, her prolific career also included creating and starring in The Mrs Merton Show, appearing in The Fast Show, and providing the warm, familiar narration for the hit series Gogglebox.
A Life Marked by Courage and Humour
Aherne's health struggles were a significant part of her life. She announced her lung cancer diagnosis two years before her death. Speaking at a Macmillan Cancer Support event, she revealed how a sense of humour became her crucial coping mechanism. 'When you hear them [doctors] telling you you have cancer, it's true that you really don't take it in properly,' she admitted. She spoke fondly of sharing laughs with hospital staff, quipping, 'Although I was on morphine, so maybe it was just me laughing.'
Her fight with lung cancer, which she said was unrelated to her past smoking, was sadly not her first encounter with the disease. As a baby, she was treated for retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, which left her nearly blind in one eye, and she later also battled bladder cancer.
Beyond her physical health, Aherne also faced profound personal challenges. During the 1990s, she struggled with depression and alcoholism. In 1998, she was treated at The Priory clinic following a suicide attempt, later moving to Australia to escape the public spotlight. Her personal life saw a string of difficult relationships, including a marriage to New Order guitarist Peter Hook and a later romance with TV researcher Matt Bowers, whose death from cancer at 28 devastated her.
Despite these trials, Aherne's talent and warmth left an indelible mark on British comedy. Her final screen appearance was a brief cameo in Sky 1's After Hours in 2015. Sue Johnston's Christmas Eve tribute serves as a powerful reminder of a beloved star whose legacy continues to resonate with audiences.
