Where Royle Family cast are now as Peter Martin dies – from star’s horror car crash to I’m A Celebrity & Gogglebox fame
IT was the brilliantly British sitcom about a TV-loving family who habitually stuffed their faces and broke wind.
The Royle Family, which first aired in 1998, starred Ricky Tomlinson whose catchphrase “my arse” became just as iconic as the hit show.
The relatable BBC comedy scooped multiple BAFTAs and regularly features in lists of top British TV programmes.
Today tributes poured in following the death of actor Peter Martin, who played the Royles’ neighbour Joe Carroll, and also starred in Emmerdale.
Sadly he’s not the first cast member to pass away unexpectedly.
We reveal what became of The Royle Family stars – from tragic deaths to a horror car crash.
Ricky Tomlinson
Former Brookside star Ricky, 83, played patriarch Jim Royle.
He went on to star in Mike Bassett: England Manager and landed roles in the Christmas film Nativity, Sacha Baron Cohen’s comedy Grimsby and had a cameo in Death In Paradise.
In 2003 the father-of-three caused a stir when he revealed details of his affairs in his autobiography, which spent five weeks at the top of the UK’s best-selling chart.
Ricky has also battled health problems including needing a quadruple heart bypass in 2007, which fortunately was successful, and has the skin disease Prurigo nodularis, which causes a severely itchy rash.
In 2021, after years of legal battles, the actor and 23 others known as the ‘Shrewsbury 24’ cleared their names after wrongfully being imprisoned for union activity during the 1972 national builders’ strike.
Ricky previously branded the judge “a gobs***e” and spoke candidly about spending two years behind bars for conspiracy to intimidate and affray.
The Lancashire-born star was awarded the Freedom Of Liverpool in 2014 and has reportedly donated more than £1.2million to hospital-based charities.
Sue Johnston
Sue played Jim’s long-suffering wife Barbara and bagged the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress in 2000.
The 79-year-old went on to spend more than a decade on the BBC show The Waking Dead, and played Gloria Price in Coronation Street and Miss Denker in Downton Abbey.
Last year Sue bravely spoke out about being sexually assaulted in 1970 at the age of 27, and how it continues to cause her anxiety to this day.
She told The Mirror: “I can’t, even now 50 years later, have somebody run up behind me. I have to step aside. I think it’s just an instinct.”
The harrowing attack, which left Sue fearing for her life, inspired her Brookside character Sheila Grant’s rape storyline.
The mum-of-one, who’s a vehement gay rights campaigner, was made an OBE as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s 2009 Birthday Honours.
Caroline Aherne
Caroline won a BAFTA for her portrayal of Denise in The Royle Family, which she co-wrote with Ricky, Craig Cash, Phil Mealey and Henry Normal.
The London-born actress was previously known for The Mrs Merton Show, The Fast Show and The Smell Of Reeves And Mortimer.
She went on to narrate Gogglebox – which was inspired by The Royle Family – when it started in 2013.
Away from the cameras, Caroline faced personal struggles including a battle with alcoholism and depression.
In 1998 she attempted to take her own life following the death of then-boyfriend Matt Bowers, a BBC technician, who had stomach cancer.
Later in life Caroline was successfully treated for bladder cancer and a rare cancer of the retina – but in 2014 she started treatment for lung cancer.
She bravely spoke out about the disease and became the voice of the Government’s One You campaign, which urged people to cut down on cigarettes and alcohol.
Sadly Caroline passed away in July 2016 at the age of 52 and was paid tribute to during the Stand Up To Cancer fundraiser later that year.
Months after her death, her ex-husband Peter Hook, former band member of Joy Division and New Order, sparked outrage by claiming Caroline physically abused him during their troubled marriage.
Ralf Little
Ralf Little played Antony Royle in the show and has since appeared in Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, Death In Paradise and Our Yorkshire Farm.
The actor, who is the grandson of Welsh International footballer Albert Lockley, has continued to act but also plays football and is a regular for Soccer Aid.
In 2015 Ralf came under fire for criticising the former Professional Footballers’ Association chairman Clarke Carlisle on Twitter after he tried to kill himself.
The actor later apologised, revealing he and Clarke “have history”.
Ralf, 43, was temporarily banned from the social media platform four years later for impersonating the Conservative Party press office.
Last year he got engaged to playwright and screenwriter Lindsey Ferrentino, who he met after being cast in her play Ugly Lies The Bone.
Craig Cash
Craig Cash starred as dopey Dave Best, winning two BAFTAs for his amusing portrayal.
He now narrates Gogglebox after the death of his co-star.
The actor, now 62, is married to Stephanie Davies and has two children, Harry and Billy.
Both appeared in the 2006 Royle Family episode The Queen Of Sheba.
Sheridan Smith
Sheridan, who played Antony’s first girlfriend Emma Kavanagh, only had a small part in the show, but is now one of the nation’s biggest stars.
She’s appeared in everything from Heartbeat to Two Pints Of Lager, The Bill, Gavin & Stacey, Jonathan Creek and Benidorm.
In recent years 41-year-old Sheridan played Cilla Black in an ITV mini-series and had gritty roles in dramas Four Lives and The Teacher.
She’s also enjoyed success on stage, currently starring in Willy Russell’s one-woman play Shirley Valentine on the West End.
Mum-of-one Sheridan has spoken candidly about her battle with anxiety, panic attacks and alcohol that have deeply impacted her life and ability to perform.
In 2021, she said she was “lucky to be alive” after crashing her £100,000 Range Rover into a tree while driving through tough weather conditions caused by Storm Arwen.
Andy Whyment
Nowadays Andy Whyment is best known as Kirk Sutherland in Corrie – a part he’s played for 23 years – but before that he appeared as Darren in The Royle Family.
The 42-year-old had also appeared on reality TV shows Soapstar Superstar, The X Factor and Dancing On Ice.
Andy placed second on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! back in 2019 and is currently starring in the all-star edition I’m A Celebrity… South Africa.
Away from the screens, Andy has been married to wife Nicola for 16 years and they have two children, Thomas and Hollie.
Jessica Hynes
Jessica Hynes had a small part in Royle Family as Cheryl but went on to make her name as the co-writer and star of the sitcom Spaced, alongside Simon Pegg.
She went on to appear in blockbuster films Shaun Of The Dead and Bridget Jones’ Diary 2, as well as Doctor Who.
In 2017, Jessica played a medieval knight in the revival of the game show The Crystal Maze and portrayed Suffragette organiser Emmeline Pankhurst in Drunk History.
The actress married teen sweetheart Adam in 2002 after dating since they were 18 years old and they have three children.
Liz Smith
Liz Smith had a long TV career behind her before taking on the role of much loved Nana Norma in The Royle Family.
Her portrayal was highly praised by fans and Shane Allen, the controller of BBC comedy commissioning, said she “brilliantly captured the grandparent in everyone’s family”.
Among Liz’s biggest credits are Lark Rise To Candleford, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Oliver Twist, Keeping Mum, The Vicar Of Dibley and Casualty.
The actress, who was appointed an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours, passed away at the age of 95 in 2016.
Doreen Keogh
Doreen Keogh had appeared in British shows Coronation Street, Father Ted and Minder before joining the Royles as neighbour Mary Carroll.
The actress, who used to keep dogs, donkeys and ducks at her home, died in 2017 at the age of 93 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Peter Martin
The late Peter Martin played Joe Carroll in The Royle Family but also starred in Brassed Off, Chucklevision, Coronation Street and Last Of The Summer Wine.
Apart from the BBC sitcom, he’s best known for playing Len Reynolds in Emmerdale for six years until 2007.
After his death aged 82, Ricky Tomlinson called him an “absolute joy to work with and a brilliant actor” who will be “sadly missed”.
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