I adored her as Mrs Merton. I remember thinking "is it wrong that I really fancy this old woman?" Her interviews were fantastic. I remember the interview she did with Debbie McGee. "What first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?"

The Royle Family was such a unique programme too. The theme song is a regular staple of my acoustic sets. It was so funny and very often moving. This really is such a big shame. I smurfing hate this disease... and this year