Royle Family’s Ricky Tomlinson says he and Caroline Aherne sobbed for real filming Baby David birth scene because she did not have children
Royle Family co-star pays tribute to his dear pal as all of Britain mourns the loss of national treasure after cancer battle
Ricky Tomlinson has revealed Caroline Aherne cried real tears during the Royle Family Baby David birth scene - because she was childless herself.
Ricky, who played the character of Caroline’s lazy dad in The Royle Family, was left in shock upon hearing of her death, aged just 52.
He says the emotionally charged scene was filmed only once - and left both of them genuinely upset.
Ricky told the : "Without a shadow of a doubt, it is the one that most sticks in my mind. I think it was so special to her because she didn't have children.
"And it was so special to me because my own little girl, my Kate, was born on Christmas Day. And that's why the tears were real."
Speaking on her passing, the 76-year-old also told the how the troubled star “never once complained."
He said: “I’m so bloody shocked. She was absolutely wonderful and amazing to work for. Kind, funny, witty.
"A true professional and one of the most generous people I ever worked with.”
Caroline revealed she had been diagnosed with lung cancer two years ago, having suffered from bladder cancer some years earlier, and eye cancer from a young age.
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Despite this, Ricky revealed she wasn’t one to fuss: “She never talked about her health, ever. I can never ever remember her complaining.
“She must have gone through a lot but I never saw her looking unwell.
“She never flagged in work and the atmosphere when she was writing and acting was brilliant,” he said.
Confirming her tragic passing, Caroline’s publicist Neil Reading said in a statement: “Caroline Aherne has sadly passed away, after a brave battle with cancer.
"The BAFTA award-winning writer and comedy actor died earlier today at her home in Timperley, Greater Manchester. She was 52.”
Caroline rose to prominence in the 1990s when she played mischievous chat show host Mrs Merton.
She also starred in The Fast Show, and most recently narrated hit Channel 4 programme Gogglebox.
The star was forced to miss a number of episodes as she battled her illness.
Despite this, pal Ricky believed her health was on the up.
He explained: “Her death is the biggest shock in the world. It’s knocked me for six.
"[Caroline’s older brother] Patrick said she was in good spirits last time we spoke. We were planning to meet in a pub in Manchester where I was doing a little talk two weeks ago, but he didn’t show up.
“Someone said: ‘Everything’s fine. He’s gone back to Spain.’ And I thought that’s good... she must be on the mend because he wouldn’t have gone away if she was ill.”
Prior to her death, Caroline had been a smoker, and fought depression and a drink problem over the years.
She also spent time in the Priory clinic after an attempt on her own life.
But Ricky remembers the star as a generous, talented and supremely funny woman.
He said: “When you went to work you’d have a beautiful dressing room, with flowers, a card and message from her and a bowl of sweets.
"She really cared. She used to send out to Sainsbury’s and get me half a dozen cans of mild beer.
"And if they worked late, there might be 30 on the set and she would send out for 30 takeaways.
"Whatever you wanted. Every week when you finished filming there would always be a little present.
"A little bag of goodies and a Lottery ticket for everyone. It was those little things I loved her for. She was one of a kind.”
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