Tributes to Caroline Aherne, whose death from cancer was announced today, have been flooding in. 

Tania Alexander, who created C4's Gogglebox, which Aherne narrated, tweeted: "Beyond sad about the loss of my dear pal Caroline Aherne - she was funny, clever and a huge inspiration to me."

One of the show's stars, Scarlett Moffatt wrote: "Can't believe what I'm hearing. What a beautiful, inspiring woman we have lost. Gogglebox will never be the same #CarolineAherne"

David Walliams tweeted: "One of the all time greats." 

Fellow comedian Miranda Hart compared Aherne to Victoria Wood, writing: "Yet another inspirational female comedian lost. Thank you for everything Caroline Aherne. RIP. X"

Reece Shearsmith wrote: "Terrible news about Caroline Aherne. Another great gone. What a ghastly year."

In a statement Actress Sue Johnston (pictured with Aherne as Barbara in The Royle Family) said: "I am devastated at her passing and I am numb with grief."

Fellow Royle Family co-star Ralf Little wrote: "Sorry for silence - I just... don't know what to say. What a sad, sad day. We've lost another one of our best."

John Bishop tweeted: "So sad to heard of the passing of Caroline Aherne. A beautiful person I grew to know in recent years. My heart goes to her family."

Sanjeev Bhaskar tweeted: "Sad news abt #CarolineAherne. A genuinely original comedy voice."

On Facebook Jason Manford wrote: "Awful news about Caroline Aherne. She gave us all so many laughs and happy memories. Rest in Peace."

Sally Lindsay from Coronation Street and Happy Valley posted a touching story about Aherne on Facebook: "My first ever job was on the Royle Family. I learnt so much from everyone on that j job,especially Caroline. As a working class new actor from Manchester I didn't have a pot to piss in and to my dismay I had my last £80 nicked from my dressing room. She found out and gave it me back without a word. We were from the same stock, I had nowt and she knew.
R.I.P love.
What a shite year."

In an interview with the Guardian Steve Coogan said: "I loved her. She used to make me cry with laughter. This is the first time she’s made me cry without laughing." Read the full interview here.

And in an extended moving post on Facebook, John Thomson, who worked with Aherne in Manchester long before they had TV success together on The Fast Show, wrote: ""We've lost a great comedienne, actress and writer and sadly I've lost a very dear, very old friend...She was an incredibly funny woman on & off screen , whose raw talent and 'Funny bones' never failed to make me roar with laughter."