Aherne, Caroline (1963- )

English comedian, writer, and actor. She co-wrote and acted in both The Mrs Merton Show (1995), a chat show in which she plays a pensioner who excels in insulting her guests, and the resulting sitcom, Mrs Merton and Malcolm (1999). In 1998 she co-wrote and acted in The Royle Family, a critically-acclaimed comedy which was said to break the mould of traditional sitcoms, being based on a family in the north of England who sit in front of the television for almost the entire programme. Consequently, the comedy results from dialogue and character rather than action.

Aherne began her career on local radio in Manchester, England (where she met her writing partners Craig Cash and Henry Normal), and then moved into British television. She was a member of a team of comedians who made The Fast Show (1994), a comedy sketch programme.