Ricky Tomlinson wants to do Royle Family special

Ricky Tomlinson says he will try to persuade Caroline Aherne to do a Royle Family Christmas special.

Aherne, who wrote and starred in the BBC sitcom, moved to Australia last year following a battle with drink and depression.

At the time, she said she would never perform on television again after her private life was exposed in the tabloid press.

She recently returned to the UK to promote her new comedy Dossa And Joe, currently being shown on BBC2.