Last modified on Tue 13 Jul 2021 02.10 EDT
In the early 90s, Manchesterâs cultural revolution was in full swing. âEverything was thriving,â remembers actor, writer and comedian John Thomson who grew up in Preston before studying drama at Manchester Polytechnic. Beyond the Haçienda, a comedy scene was growing in the cityâs pub rooms where Thomson made friends with Wythenshawe local Caroline Aherne. âIn Manchester at that time, there were a lot of funny people,â Thomson says. âCaroline was naturally funny.â
Aherneâs comic creation Mrs Merton, the elderly talk-show host treading the line between innocence and insult, had begun making appearances in the late 80s alongside Frank Sidebottom. Aherne was also performing as the Mitzi Goldberg Experience. âShe used to wear this awful acrylic, curly wig, and she put on a southern drawl. It was Dolly Parton of sorts,â Thomson recalls. âI think she had a guitar, but she couldnâ