Comedian and actress Caroline Aherne has died after battling cancer, her publicist has confirmed.
Fellow comedians and stars of her television show The Royle Family and Gogglebox have paid tribute to her, describing her as a "comic genius".
The BAFTA-winning actress had battled cancer three times in her lifetime, first being struck with the disease in childhood.
Debbie McGee, the widow of magician Paul Daniels who was at the receiving end of one of Mrs Merton's most famous lines, said her creator Caroline Aherne was "wonderful".
Aherne's Mrs Merton famously asked McGee in a 1995 episode: "What first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?"
TV presenter Keith Chegwin, who was also a 'victim' of Mrs Merton said: "Even though she was taking the mickey out of me. I never laughed so much."
McGee's husband Paul Daniels died in April, also of cancer, in a year that has seen the death of scores of big names in entertainment.
The former Oasis frontman was told The Royle Family star had died moments before he took to the stage in Nashville, Tennessee.
Following her death at the age of 52 from cancer, we take a look back at Caroline Aherne's career in pictures.
Caroline Aherne, best known for Mrs Merton, The Fast Show and The Royle Family, has died her publicist has confirmed.