The Royle Family's Ricky Tomlison and Sue Johnston appeared on Loose Women on Thursday and gave a heartfelt tribute to the late Caroline Aherne.

Caroline starred on and co wrote the much-loved comedy The Royle Family, where she played Denise.

She died from lung cancer in July 2016 aged 52, and her co stars marked the four-year anniversary with some touching words about her.

Speaking to Nadia Swalaha, Jane Moore, Kate Adams and Judi Love, Sue said: "For me, she was the most generous of women and that showed in her spirit.

Sue and Ricky regaled the Loose Women with their hilarious stories (
Image:
ITV)

"She was very funny, but her generosity was extraordinary.

"At the end of a week’s filming there would be a table laid out with champagne, beers, sweets for the crew and everyone, she spoiled everyone.

"Sometimes, what used to make me laugh – especially these days – we’d get to about Thursday and we’d been constantly filming and on that sofa and she’d suddenly call the producer over and she’d go, 'John, I think we’ve all gone a bit flat, I think we need champagne!'

Caroline Aherne wrote and starred in The Royle Family (
Image:
ITV)

"And it would come! We’d be drinking champagne in those mugs."

Ricky had a painting of Caroline commissioned, and Sue revealed on the video call that it still hung in her stairway.

Regarding a reunion of The Royle Family, Ricky explained that it would not feel right without Caroline.

"Not for me, if it’s not broke don’t try and fix it", he said.

"She was wonderful."

He also had the Loose Women in stitches when he told the story of when Caroline had to tell him his testicle was hanging out in a shot, which the BBC had to try to edit out.

"She said, 'One of your testicles was hanging out the side of your underpants!

"'It's cost the BBC a fortune to get it edited out, what do you say about that?'

"I said, 'Well, was it the big one or the small one'?" he quipped.

*Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV