Caroline Aherne: The moment Mrs Merton asked Debbie McGee what attracted her to Paul Daniels

Mischevious query remains the stuff of TV legend

The popular English comedian and Bafta-winning writer and actress Caroline Aherne has died, aged 52.

Aherne, who had suffered with cancer for a number of years, was perhaps best-known for her role as Denise Royle in popular BBC comedy series The Royle Family, where she appeared alongside Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston.

She also co-wrote the ITV comedy drama The Fattest Man in Britain and narrated Gogglebox between 2013 up until the months before her death.

But she first entered national consciousness in the guise of Mrs Merton, an agony aunt and elderly host of her own mock talk show, quizzing celebrities with a biting, faux naive interviewing style.

And the character she created came to be synonymous with what is widely believed to be among the best interview questions of all time.

It came when she opened an interview with Debbie McGee, the partner of magician Paul Daniels, with the query: "So what attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?"

The question had the studio audience erupting into laughter and McGee writhing with embarrassment.

Paul Daniels has since claimed he was not a millionaire at the time of marrying Debbie McGee.

But 20 years later, the question still remains the stuff of TV legend.

McGee paid tribute to Aherne on Twitter, describing the actress as "wonderful especially as Mrs Merton".

She added: "my interview will be a treasured memory RIP."

The Mrs Merton Show ran from 10 February 1995 to 2 April 1998, winning a Bafta in 1995.