BBC Two viewers were moved to tears during a tribute documentary showcasing the life and legacy of the late Caroline Aherne.
Best remembered for her portrayal of chat show host Mrs Merton, and as Denise in the much-loved sitcom The Royle Family, which she also co-wrote with Craig Cash, Caroline passed away in July 2016 at just 52 due to lung cancer.
An outpouring of emotions flooded social media as the programme aired last night, with fans reminiscing about Caroline's exceptional contribution to British comedy. One touched fan commented: "Feel a sense of sadness every time i think of caroline aherne, very talented lady x," and another stated: "Watching the Caroline Aherne documentary on bbc2, what a talent, taken too early."
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BBC)As sentiments continued, a third viewer shared: "The Caroline Aherne documentary, still very sad all these years later @BBCTwo," alongside another who praised: "That Caroline Aherne documentary was moving, what a GENIUS she was."
Companion and co-creator Craig Cash was visibly choked up as he spoke about the heart-wrenching final conversation with Caroline, where they reminisced about their moments together before she tragically informed him of her limited time left.
Recounting the exchange, he said: "I was just in denial. I just kept saying no, just kept repeating no. There's a lot to be said for denial. And she was like, 'But we had some laughs though didn't we, Cashy,'" which led to an emotional pause as he stepped away from the camera, overcome by grief, reports the Manchester Evening News.
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mirrorpix)In 2014, Caroline collaborated with Macmillan Cancer Support to enhance cancer care in Manchester, stating: "I've had cancer and my brother's had cancer and we know how it affects people. They've asked me to get involved and I'm really glad that I can do my bit to encourage Manchester people to speak up about where things do go wrong with cancer care. Our survival rates are 25% lower than average and the number of people getting lung cancer is a third higher here than in the rest of England."
According to her brother Patrick, Caroline received her lung cancer diagnosis "late last year", revealing that "the form of lung cancer that she is suffering from is genetic and linked to the retinoblastoma she had as a baby".
*Caroline Aherne: Queen of Comedy is available to catch up on BBC iPlayer.
