Caroline Aherne on leaving the public eye: ‘Celebrity is just a game’

'I’ve decided I’m no good at it'

Tomlinson says he never once heard her complain about her ill health and she always remained energetic

Caroline Aherne co-created and starred in one of the most popular British comedies in the 1990s.

Before that, she managed to persuade a number of famous figures to appear on her chatshow and be grilled by her middle-aged persona, Mrs Merton, with Debbie McGee being handed one of her most excruciating questions.

The Royle Family actress and co-creator died in her Manchester home earlier today from lung cancer. She was 52.

But unlike most people of such a high profile, the Bafta-winning actress struggled with bouts of depression, binge drinking and was uncomfortable with her celebrity status.

She retreated from public life in 2001 and announced her decision to leave the TV industry after becoming jaded with the fame game. A move back to Manchester to be close to her family followed and Aherne’s name rarely ventured into newspapers or magazines after that.

Her reasons for leaving the public eye were simple but apt.

"Celebrity is just a game," she told The Mirror at the time. "It’s a fascinating game and loads of people love playing it. But I can’t be arsed playing it anymore because I’ve decided I’m no good at it."