Aherne as Mrs Merton with Craig Cash as Malcolm

Aherne admitted to enjoying certain aspects of fame, particularly attention from fans which she compared to being "like a cuddle".

But she also described her embarrassment when she was followed on holiday to Mauritius by a tabloid newspaper and secretly photographed.

"When I phoned my mum and she told me about the pictures, I though 'Oh God, what have they got?'"

Postponed

But despite her complaints the Manchester-born actress did agree to be photographed by Hello! magazine in the second week of her holiday.

Aherne now plans to move abroad and write an autobiography.

Plans for a ten-part BBC chat show hosted by Royle Family collaborator Craig Cash, have also been scrapped.

Aherne said Cash was shocked by her announcement but that her co-star is "so brilliant and talented" that he will be "fine".

A film called The Learner, which was due to go into production next year, has been postponed indefinitely.

The TV addicted Royles have been a TV hit

There will be no further series of The Royle Family, though there are plans for a US remake of the series.

Baggage

Aherne has become a particular target of press interest due to her very public battles with alcoholism.

"For whatever reason, my drinking, trying to top myself, going to The Priory, I realise that I'm a tabloid attraction," said Aherne.

"My life has been up and down like a rollercoaster."

She also complained that her relationships are dissected by the media.

One boyfriend's mother was visited by a journalist in Seattle and asked for baby pictures, something she said prospective partners would find "daunting".

As a consequence she is loathe to accept dates and has not had a boyfriend for three years.

"I've been asked out but I haven't wanted to give them a load of baggage they don't need," she said.