Actor Steve Coogan has paid tribute to actress Caroline Aherne during an appearance on Channel 4 comedy fund-raiser Stand Up To Cancer.
Caroline died in July at 52 after a battle with lung cancer.
The programme, which also paid tribute to musician David Bowie who died of cancer in January, featured a short speech by Steve as well as a montage of the actress’ most prominent work.
Steve, who was friends with Caroline for almost 30 years, said she was “sassy, sexy, earthy, kind, smart, sometimes daft”.
He added: “She mercilessly took the piss and she made me and a small gang of Manchester friends laugh until they cried.
“She was both ordinary and extraordinary.
“I never thought Caroline would become famous, she seemed too real, too genuine,” he added.
Steve recalled working on a television pilot with the Royle Family star on a hot day and he chose to wear shorts. “She took one look at my legs and said, ‘That reminds me, I must get some chicken drumsticks on the way home’,” he said.
The programme then screened a montage of Caroline’s work, including her performance as Denise Best in The Royle Family for which she won best actress at the British Comedy Awards in 1999.
