Caroline Aherne has died at the age of 52.

Best known for co-writing and starring in BBC sitcom The Royle Family, she rose to fame in the 1990s on The Fast Show and with her elderly alter-ego, Mrs. Merton.

The elderly lady character presented five series of spoof chat show The Mrs Merton Show for the BBC between 1995 and 1998, and reprised the role in a single series of sitcom Mrs Merton & Malcolm in 1999, which saw the chat show star and her adult son, Malcolm, living together.

Born in Ealing, west London, on Christmas Eve 1963, Aherne was raised in Manchester, the background upon which her most famous work, The Royle Family, was set. Throughout her life, she fought with depression and alcoholism, and was admitted to the Priory Clinic after a suicide attempt in 1998.

Most recently working as the narrator of hit Channel 4 series Gogglebox, Aherne was known to have been battling cancer for a number of years, including of the retina, bladder, lung, and finally, throat.

In a statement, her publicist said today: "Caroline Aherne has sadly passed away, after a brave battle with cancer.

"The BAFTA award-winning writer and comedy actor died earlier today at her home in Timperley, Greater Manchester. She was 52.

"The family ask for privacy at this very sad time."

The BBC has published an obituary to the comedy star.

Director-General Tony Hall says: "We are deeply saddened to learn of Caroline's death. She was a brilliant, award-winning comedy writer and performer, much-loved by audiences - especially for The Royle Family and Mrs Merton - and for her wonderful voicing of many shows. Our thoughts are with her family and friends."

In the following clip from spoof chat show The Mrs. Merton Show, Aherne - in the guise of the eponymous Mrs. Merton - interviews Steve Coogan.