Caroline Aherne was a BAFTA winning comic writer and actress best known for her comic character Mrs Merton and for her sitcom The Royle Family. In the mid '90s she went by the name Caroline Hook, having taken her husband's name (New Order bassist Peter Hook) but reverted back to Aherne following their divorce. She died from cancer in 2016 at the age of 52.
The unique life and talent of Caroline Aherne is celebrated in a new Arena film, featuring unseen photographs and contributions from a cast of her lifelong friends, including Steve Coogan, John Thomson, Craig Cash and producer Andy Harries.
Release Date:2023-12-25
Character:Self (archive footage)
Vote Count:3
Ricky Tomlinson sits back in his chair and takes a fond look back at the much-loved comedy series The Royle Family, sharing his memories of playing head of the family Jim Royle and his experiences working with the show’s co-creator Caroline Aherne, who, as well as writing the show with co-star Craig Cash, also played Jim’s daughter Denise. Ricky talks about how a chance encounter helped him get the part of Jim, recounts what it was like filming some of the show’s most iconic moments, and tries to get the bottom of the origins of Jim’s famous, below-the-belt catchphrase.
Release Date:2023-12-25
Character:Denise Royle (archive footage)
Bono estente! It's been over 25 years since quickfire sketch show classic The Fast Show first hit our screens, and what better way to celebrate its enduring success than with a two-hour extravaganza of archive clips, cast interviews and rarely seen footage?
Release Date:2020-08-29
Character:Various Characters (Archive)
Vote Count:2
Actor and comedian John Thomson looks back at the life and work of his friend and comedy colleague, the late and greatly missed Caroline Aherne. From rarely seen early routines from Caroline’s days on the Manchester stand-up circuit, through to some favourite moments from The Fast Show, Mrs Merton and The Royle Family, John is our guide as we wallow in a special selection of clips, characters and magic moments. To misquote Mrs Merton’s famous line to Debbie McGee – this is a collection that reveals exactly what it was that first attracted us to one of British television’s best-loved writers and performers.
Release Date:2016-12-31
Character:Archive Material
Documentary celebrating the British sitcom and taking a look at the social and political context from which our favourite sitcoms grew. We enjoy a trip through the comedy archive in the company of the people who made some of the very best British sitcoms. From The Likely Lads to I'm Alan Partridge, we find out the inspiration behind some of the most-loved characters and how they reflect the times they were living in.
Release Date:2016-09-12
Character:Denise Best (archive footage) (uncredited)
Vote Count:2
Mitchell, Becky, and Templeton set out to discover their school's many mysteries and secrets, along the way encountering monsters, paradoxes, and timely winery nonsense as they try to avoid the headmaster and Mitchell's worst enemy, Mr. Abercrombie.
Release Date:2013-05-08
Character:Stephanie / Various (voice)
Episode Count:26
Vote Count:4
A group of night security guards working at the fictional Whittington shopping centre in Greater Manchester must create an elaborate scheme to hide a robbery that has taken place on their watch.
Release Date:2013-04-12
Department:Writing
Job:Writer
Gogglebox is an entertaining television review programme in which some of Britain's most opinionated and avid telly viewers comment freely on the best and worst television shows of the past week, from the comfort of their sofas.
Release Date:2013-03-07
Character:Narrator
Episode Count:86
Vote Count:26
Christmas is coming but Barbara is not happy. Not only has she lost her wedding ring but Jim has won on a scratch card she found down the back of the sofa whilst looking for the ring and has kept quiet about his hundred pounds winnings. Nor is he especially sympathetic about Dave's impotency problem, though the entire Royle family unite to help recently widowed Joe from next door enjoy a restaurant-style evening in their house with the equally scatty Philomena, whom he has met through a want ad. On Christmas Day Barbara lashes out at Jim for his laziness and juvenile antics - though his description of a busty barmaid cures Dave's problem. However she is in for a pleasant surprise when she discovers just how he spent his scratch card winnings.
Release Date:2012-12-25
Department:Writing
Job:Writer
Character:Denise Best
Vote Count:3
It is Christmas Day in the Royle household and Barbara is up to her eyes in it, as Jim is out of action following an unfortunate incident in the precinct while Dave and Denise are feeling the effects of the recession the most, and worry that Anthony's lavish gifts will eclipse their gift of a fridge magnet.
Release Date:2010-12-25
Department:Writing
Job:Writer
Character:Denise
Vote Count:3
Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash discuss the creation of The Royle Family, with a look behind the scenes at the production of the show and interviews with the cast.
Release Date:2010-11-10
Character:Self
Vote Count:4
Jim and Barbara have received the gift of money from their children - but what to do with it? Barbara wants to finally go abroad, while Jim favours buying an HD satellite box.
Release Date:2009-12-25
Department:Directing
Job:Director
Character:Denise Best
Vote Count:1
Georgie Godwin is the fattest man in Britain. A tourist attraction, thanks to greedy 'agent, cabbie Morris. Devoted neighbour Janice is Georgie's only other regular outside contact until he meets Amy, a pregnant teenager fleeing a violent boyfriend ,whom he takes in as a lodger. Amy tries to help Georgie change his lifestyle, but Morris is more than keen to stop her ruining his tourist attraction.
Release Date:2009-12-20
Department:Writing
Job:Writer
Vote Count:12
Festive special edition of the hit family sitcom. Inspired by Nigella Lawson, Denise decides to cook Christmas dinner for the family. Jim provides the yuletide log and, much to his dismay, Dave's mum and dad are invited to join the festivities.
Release Date:2008-12-25
Department:Writing
Job:Writer
Character:Denise Best
Vote Count:3
Sunshine is a three-part comedy drama that began on 7 October 2008 on BBC1 from the co-writers of The Royle Family and Early Doors. These co-writers, Craig Cash and Phil Mealey, also appear in the series.
Release Date:2008-10-07
Character:Donna
Episode Count:3
Vote Count:4
Tension mounts in the Royle household as the family contemplates the prospect of becoming fully laminated throughout. Dr Mahmoud prescribes new medication for Nana in the form of yellow tablets; coincidentally they turn out to be the same colour as the tablets that Joe was prescribed for the swelling when he got his bits stuck in his zip. Meanwhile, a mysterious ginger visitor reminds Nana of her favourite musical.
Release Date:2006-10-29
Department:Production
Job:Associate Producer
Character:Denise Best
Vote Count:1
Dossa and Joe was a 2002, bittersweet television comedy series, created, and co-written by Caroline Aherne of the Royle Family. Peter Herbert served as co-writer. Made by Granada Australia, for the BBC, the Sydney-based series centres around a working class couple called Dossa and Joe. When Joe retires from his job as a factory worker, the couple realizes they know little about each after despite being married 40 years. Against Joe's wishes, the couple begins marriage counseling. The series starred Anne Charleston as Dossa and Michael Caton as Joe. The cast also included Jeanie Drynan. While the series received positive reviews, there were some dissenters. The series failed to earn good ratings and was not renewed for a second series.
Release Date:2002-05-15
Department:Writing
Job:Writer
Episode Count:6
Vote Count:1
The comedienne stars in this festive sketch show, alongside a host of celebrity guests.
Release Date:2000-12-25
Character:Self
Vote Count:6
Release Date:1999-06-03
Character:Self
Episode Count:1
Vote Count:1
Mrs Merton and Malcolm was a six-episode BBC One sitcom produced by Granada Television, and transmitted by BBC One in 1999. The series was written by Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash and Henry Normal. Network DVD published the series on DVD in 2008.
Release Date:1999-02-22
Episode Count:6
Vote Count:2
British comedy series focusing on the lives of a working-class family in Manchester who love the TV.
Release Date:1998-09-14
Department:Writing
Job:Writer
Character:Denise Best
Episode Count:23
Vote Count:52
Comedy show spoofing some of the highlights of the 1998 World Cup in France. Includes interviews with celebrities and famous fans including Bridget Nielsen and John Lydon, as well as send ups of other famous football goals in history, etc. Stars UK comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel in their own lounge room set, along with their mate Statto who provides news headlines on the world cup play.
Release Date:1998-06-09
Character:Self
Episode Count:1
Vote Count:1
Michael Parkinson returns for a second run of his iconic talk show.
Release Date:1998-01-09
Character:Self
Episode Count:1
Release Date:1996-10-06
Character:Self
Episode Count:1
The Yo-yo knickered slags get the blues when randy romeo Baz marries their love rival Thelma. But it's during their disastrous honeymoon at the sinister Paradise Park that the action really turns blue!
Release Date:1996-07-15
Vote Count:1
The Frank Skinner Show was a television chat show hosted by comedian Frank Skinner, which lasted nine series on British television between 1995 and 2005. As well as celebrity interviews, the shows included an initial stand-up routine, various sketches throughout the episode and usually concluded with a comedic song featuring Frank and the guest stars. The Frank Skinner Show became notorious over the years for the unconventional nature of the interviews, including some shocking revelations from the guests. The programme ended in 2005 after nine series. It was screened on BBC One from its first episode on 10 September 1995 until 3 June 1999. In 2000, the show moved to ITV. The programme was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award in 2001.
Release Date:1995-09-10
Character:Self
Episode Count:1
Vote Count:2
The World of Lee Evans was a BAFTA nominated TV show written by and starring Lee Evans and a range of actors, it followed Lee around getting stuck in tight situations and originally aired on Channel 4. The series was released on Channel 4 DVD in 2006 and features all episodes. The humour, which differs greatly from Evans' later stand-up humour, contains many elements of slapstick, and the show is similar in style to Mr. Bean. The series was a Granada Production in 1995 for Channel 4, and as Granada had adopted a new endboard cap at the end of their programmes at this time, The World of Lee Evans was amongst the first ever shows to use the endboard The series was quite popular though has had a very mixed reception in retrospect, some critics and Lee Evans fans saying the series is not as good as his other work. The series' slogan is If Lee Evans "needs to get from A to B, he starts at Z...".
Release Date:1995-06-02
Character:Daughter
Episode Count:1
Vote Count:2
The Mrs Merton Show is a mock chat show starring Caroline Aherne as the elderly host Mrs Merton. It ran from 10 February 1995 to 2 April 1998 and was produced by Granada Television and aired on the BBC. The writers included Aherne, Craig Cash, Dave Gorman and Henry Normal. Prior to TV success, Aherne's Mrs Merton character appeared on Frank Sidebottom's album "5/9/88", then made her TV debut on the 1991 Channel 4 gameshow Remote Control, hosted by Anthony H Wilson. The chat show was followed up by a sitcom, Mrs Merton and Malcolm, based on Mrs Merton and her son Malcolm, who was played by Craig Cash.
Release Date:1995-02-10
Department:Creator
Job:Creator
Character:Mrs. Merton
Episode Count:[ 30 ]
Vote Count:8
The Fast Show is a multi BAFTA award winning sketch comedy show written and produced by Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson.
Release Date:1994-09-27
Character:Various Characters
Episode Count:34
Vote Count:46
TV sketch comedy featuring Caroline Aherne, John Thomson, and Steve Coogan.
Release Date:1992-11-09
Character:Various
Episode Count:1
Frank Sidebottom's very own TV show, broadcast from the converted shed that functioned as his showbiz HQ. Also featuring diminutive sidekick Little Frank, the shows include Frank’s take on Crimewatch, Timperley’s contribution to Manchester’s Olympic bid, pioneering rocket science in the back garden, and even a staging of Live Aid 2!
Release Date:1992-01-10
Character:Mrs Merton
Episode Count:7
An Audience with... is a British entertainment television show produced by London Weekend Television, in which a host, usually a singer or comedian, performs for an invited audience of celebrity guests, interspersed with questions from the audience, in a light hearted revue/tribute style.
Release Date:1978-01-08
Character:Self
Episode Count:1
Vote Count:3