British actress Caroline Aherne has died of cancer at the age of 52.
The star was best known for her work in The Royle Family, The Mrs Merton Show and The Fast Show.
"Caroline Aherne has sadly passed away, after a brave battle with cancer," Neil Reading, her publicist, said on Saturday.
"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."
Aherne, who was the narrator of hit Channel 4 show Gogglebox, had been battling lung cancer and had previously been treated for bladder and eye cancer.
A smoker, she had struggled with health problems for years.
She had fought depression and drink problems and spent time in the Priory clinic following a suicide attempt, before moving to Australia to avoid the glare of publicity.
The star also had a string of failed relationships - her marriage to former New Order guitarist Peter Hook ended and she began a romance with TV researcher Matt Bowers.
They split but she was devastated when he died of cancer at the age of 28.
Aherne admitted alcohol was an attempt to block out her problems.
Born to Irish immigrant parents in London, Aherne grew up in Wythenshawe in Manchester.
She was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the retina as a child, like her older brother Patrick before her, and the local Catholic church raised funds to send her to Lourdes in search of a miracle cure.
She was left with severely impaired sight in one eye.
She gained public attention as the Checkout Girl in The Fast Show but became a household name as blue-rinse granny Mrs Merton in The Mrs Merton Show, which first aired on BBC Two in 1995.
In 1996 she was voted best female performer at the British Comedy Awards but gave a rambling and slurred acceptance speech.
The Royle Family was born after she and friend Craig Cash, who played gormless Dave Best in the show, threw themselves into their work after a suicide attempt, which she described as her lowest ebb.
The show was the toast of the 1999 British Comedy Awards, scooping four trophies including best actress for Aherne.
The Mrs Merton Christmas Show won the best talk show Bafta in 1997 while The Royle Family took home the best sitcom award in 2000 and 2007.
Aherne was nominated for Baftas for her performance in both shows, as well as her directing of The Royle Family in 2001.
Comedian David Baddiel paid tribute on Twitter writing: "The talent, you all knew about. But she was a really lovely woman. Vulnerable and complex and damaged but ... lovely."
Britain's Got Talent judge and Little Britain comic David Walliams added: "Absolutely devastating news about Caroline Aherne. A true comedy genius, her work was equally funny & touching."
