New book shines a light on Caroline Aherne’s comedy genius

From the living rooms of Wythenshawe to millions of homes across Britain, Caroline Aherne made us laugh, cry, and, most of all, feel seen. Now, nearly a decade since her passing, Manchester is set to honour one of its brightest and most beloved stars in a powerful new way.

A new book written by poet, author, and fellow Mancunian David Scott — known to many as ARGH KID — will soon be published by Manchester University Press

Caroline Aherne

This tribute promises to shine a fresh light on Aherne’s life and her enduring influence on British comedy and culture. Through interviews, untold stories, and reflections on her groundbreaking work, Scott brings to life the woman behind the genius.

Born in London but raised in Wythenshawe, Caroline Aherne was a true Northern icon. Her razor-sharp wit and compassion gave birth to some of the most unforgettable characters in television history: the acerbic Mrs Merton, the beautifully flawed Denise Royle, and an array of quirky figures in The Fast Show.

Her journey wasn’t easy. Caroline struggled with depression, alcoholism, and personal tragedy — but somehow, through it all, she created work that was both hilarious and heartbreakingly real. Her comedy had an unmatched ability to reflect the everyday lives of working-class families, blending laughter and raw honesty in a way that had never been seen before. We sat down with arghkid to talk about the legend.

David Scott (arghkid) Interview

Caroline Aherne had a unique way of capturing everyday life with such warmth and sharp humour. What do you think it was about her background and experiences growing up in Manchester that gave her such a unique voice?

She (and Craig Cash) remained true to their roots. The Royle Family, for example, wasn’t some posh writer peering through a telescope from London writing about the “great unwashed Northerners”—they were writing from the inside, with the warmth and complexity the characters deserved. It was her peeling back the layers of her own Mancunian world: terraced house life with chip fat in the air and Thatcher’s mess still kicking about, proving the mundane could glow with wit and heart that resonated with people beyond the M60. They knew it because they lived it—and it’s not just comedy, it’s drama, heartbreaking, rebellious, on the face simple but within that genius. Wythenshawe and Manchester bred that in her. She turned that into fag-end wisdom, a quiet “up yours” to the shiny sitcoms of the time, and made us see the beauty in a sagging armchair and a row over the remote. That’s what made her voice sing: she didn’t look down, she looked across, and brought us all along for a brew.

What was the most challenging part of writing about someone as loved and iconic as Caroline Aherne — especially knowing how much she meant to so many people?

When I first talked to the publishers, I thought, “Christ, how do you write about Caroline without getting it wrong for everyone who loved her?” The Royle Family wasn’t conventional, so this book can’t be either—so it’s no polished biography nonsense. I didn’t know her, but I knew what her work meant to me, Manchester and beyond. It’s not about Caroline herself, it’s about Mrs Merton, the Royles, Sister Mary Immaculate, etc and how they were made, why they hit so hard, and what they left behind. The tough part is not messing that up for people who saw their lives in it, because to me that’s sacred. It’s a celebration of her genius, and I suppose nailing that’s the real challenge.

Caroline often gave a voice to people and communities that didn’t usually see themselves on screen. How important do you think that was to her, and how did it influence the way she created her characters?

I think it was rebellious, really, across all her work. Because how often did you ever see Mancunians or Northerners on the telly that weren’t built on stereotypes or written through an outside lens? Caroline Aherne flipped that. It was massive to her, that push against the grain. Not only in who she was portraying but the way she did it. Completely at odds with TV at the time. Take Mrs Merton—one thing that really choked me up was her warmth there, an elderly generation filling the audience, not as a trope but with real faces, laughter, her love shining through. You look at that generation today—where are those communities on TV? Marginalised through age, shoved aside. She didn’t let them be a joke; she brought them in, same as the Royles. It was her way of saying, “These are my people,” and making sure everyone saw them too. There was just so much love and pride of where she came from.

A Caroline Aherne statue?

As a woman working in a male-dominated field, Aherne also shattered stereotypes, inspiring countless comedians, including stand-up star Lucy Beaumont, who has called for a statue of Aherne in her hometown of Wythenshawe. Beaumont praised Aherne for “breaking the stereotype that women aren’t funny” and urged that a statue be erected to commemorate her enduring legacy.

“She was a pioneer,” says Beaumont. “Without Caroline, so many women, including myself, wouldn’t have found their voice in comedy. She showed us it was possible to be vulnerable, funny, sharp, and real — all at once.”

Aherne first found her comedic voice on the Manchester circuit in the 1980s and early ’90s, developing Mrs Merton from a character on a Frank Sidebottom album to a national treasure in her own right. With her cheeky, deadpan delivery, Mrs Merton was both disarming and brilliant — who could forget her famously sharp question to magician Paul Daniels’ wife: “So, what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?”

Her BAFTA-winning sitcom The Royle Family, co-created with Craig Cash, was unlike anything on TV at the time. Gone were the punchlines and canned laughter — in their place, long silences, awkward moments, and conversations about everyday life that were as funny as they were true. Alongside Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston, Aherne created a world that felt like home to so many.

Even after her passing in 2016, aged just 52, her influence can be felt. As the narrator of Gogglebox, her voice became a comforting presence to millions. She remained close to Manchester, never losing sight of her roots, and it’s this deep connection to her city and community that makes the calls for a statue in Wythenshawe feel all the more urgent and meaningful.

David Scott’s forthcoming book doesn’t just celebrate Aherne’s career — it reminds us of her humanity. It’s a portrait of a woman who, despite her own battles, gave everything to her craft and to the people who saw themselves in her stories.

As Manchester prepares to celebrate Aherne’s life through this landmark book, the movement for a statue in her honour continues to grow. Fans, fellow comedians, and locals alike hope to see her remembered not just in words and on screens, but in a place where people can gather to reflect on her brilliance and her legacy.

Because Caroline Aherne wasn’t just a star — she was our star.