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Craig Cash in tears recounting night Caroline Aherne rang 'to say goodbye'

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Caroline wrote and starred in The Royle Family alongside Cash playing the roles of husband and wife Denise and Dave Best
Caroline wrote and starred in The Royle Family alongside Cash playing the roles of husband and wife Denise and Dave Best

CRAIG Cash fought back tears as he recalled the night Caroline Aherne rang him to say goodbye after taking an overdose.

The Royle Family star and Gogglebox narrator, 63, spoke about the late comedian in a special show to honour her life.

Craig Cash fought back tears as he recalled the night Caroline Aherne rang him to say goodbye after taking an overdose eiqrdiqxxiqhxprw
Craig Cash fought back tears as he recalled the night Caroline Aherne rang him to say goodbye after taking an overdoseCredit: BBC
Caroline tragically died in 2016 after a battle with lung cancer at the age of 52
Caroline tragically died in 2016 after a battle with lung cancer at the age of 52Credit: PA
The comic had a turbulent life and attempted suicide in the late 90s which resulted in a stint at The Priory
The comic had a turbulent life and attempted suicide in the late 90s which resulted in a stint at The PrioryCredit: Getty

Dubbed the Queen of Comedy, the emotional Beeb documentary charted Caroline's personal and professional life.

Caroline tragically died in 2016 after a battle with lung cancer at the age of 52.

The comic had a turbulent life and attempted suicide in the late 90s which resulted in a stint at The Priory.

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Recalling the horrific phone call he received from Caroline, Craig told the documentary: "It was like the middle of the night.

"She was in London and I was in Manchester. I was in bed and the phone rang, and, she was saying goodbye.

"She just said 'I love you and I'm sorry. I'm going, I've taken an overdose'."

Fighting back tears, Craig said he told Caroline to 'make herself sick' to bring up the medication she had ingested.

He added: "I had to ring up her mum and tell her. Her mum rang an ambulance.

"Luckily they got there in time. They came and broke the door down and got her in time."

The documentary also featured unseen photographs and contributions from a cast of her lifelong friends, including Steve Coogan, Jon Thompson and producer Andy Harries.

The film traces Aherne’s life from childhood in Wythenshawe, Manchester, through her early adventures as a woman on Manchester’s alternative stand-up scene and the breakthrough moment when the BBC commissioned The Mrs Merton Show.

Caroline wrote and starred in The Royle Family alongside Cash playing the roles of husband and wife Denise and Dave Best.

Alex Doyle

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