Caroline Aherne ‘never wanted fame’

A former producer of The Mrs Merton Show has said he thinks Caroline Aherne was “happier before she was successful” and that she found it “very difficult” dealing with her celebrity status.

Speaking on Radio Five Live, Peter Kessler, when asked by presenter Stephen Nolan if his former colleague was happy with her success, said his perception was “she was happier before she was successful”.

Questioned about the personal battles she may have faced, the former producer revealed: “This is really one of the great tragedies of my professional life that I have watched happen, is that when we started working, Caroline was an innocent, happy young woman with an immense talent.