The Royle Family stars Sue Johnston and Craig Cash have opened up about the creator of the show, Caroline Aherne’s death after she died of cancer in 2016, aged 52. Sue admitted she’s found it hard to watch the hit sitcom ever since while Craig still described his pal’s death as an “open wound”.
When discussing Caroline’s death ahead of the BBC’s tribute to the actor’s career and legacy, Craig told Radio Times: “It’s still an open wound. I was reticent, but I wanted the film to be balanced, to show the funny side of Caroline, the biggest part of her. To me, she was an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent.”
Sue will be on our screens again over the festive period for a one-off BBC Two special which is a tribute to comedy actor and writer Caroline.
While Sue admitted it was “very hard” to rewatch The Royle Family, she said Caroline would be proud to know the show is “still loved” today. She added: “It was very hard, because there are so many people in it who are no longer with us, but The Queen of Sheba [the landmark 2006 episode] is my favourite, and I watch it with a lot of pride.
“The first series was rerun the other day, and do you know, little kids now ask for selfies with me because they love it as much as the older generations did. I think how proud Caroline would have been to know it’s still loved.”
As well as co-creating the programme, Caroline also starred on the show as Sue’s on-screen daughter Denise Best.
Caroline isn’t the only star of the show to have died as Liz Smith, who played Norma ‘Nana’ Speakman died in 2016, aged 95.
Peter Martin, who starred as neighbour Joe Carroll died in April this year, aged 82, and Doreen Keogh, who played Peter’s on-screen wife, Mary Carroll, died at the age of 93 in 2017 after suffering from Alzheimer’s.
The Royle Family ran on the BBC for three series from 1998 to 2000, as well as specials from 2006 to 2012.
The show centred around a Manchester-based family who are fixated with television called The Royles.
The show was helmed by the family patriarch Jim Royle, played by Ricky Tomlinson, and as well as Sue and Caroline, also starred Ralf Little and Craig Cash in primary characters as Antony and David respectively.
Caroline Aherne: Comedy Queen airs on Christmas Day at 9pm on BBC Two.
