COMEDIAN Sophie Willan is following in the footsteps of her comedy heroine and has been named as the first winner of the BBC’s Caroline Aherne Bursary.

Bolton comic Willan beat off hundreds of others to win the prize, which was launched last year in memory of Caroline Aherne, the popular comedy star and writer who died in 2016.

Sophie will receive £5,000 to support development of her work and will also be mentored by BBC Comedy commissioning editor Kate Daughton, to develop a comedy script with the potential to perform at the Salford Sitcom Showcase 2018.

Sophie said: “I’m honoured and absolutely over the moon to have won. I discovered Caroline as a child when I watched her as Mrs Merton and instantly fell in love with her.

“I dreamt of being a comedy writer/performer and seeing the super talents of northern women I related to like Caroline and Victoria Wood made me feel like this could be a very real and attainable achievement for a girl like me.

“I have always connected on a deep and personal level with Caroline’s work — particularly The Royle Family. Like Caroline, my comedy is full of vivid characters that depict authentic and naturally funny people. People who are as flawed as they are lovable.

“I look forward to continuing that legacy with my own updated take on the Northern, working class experience as part of this bursary and hopefully inspire the next generation, just as Caroline inspired me.”

Designed to find, develop and support great new comedy talent, BBC Comedy Commissioning, in partnership with BBC Writersroom and BBC North, launched the bursary scheme last July, calling applicants to submit filmed content of comedy characters and Sophie’s entry impressed the panel.

Shane Allen, controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning said: “Sophie embodies all that was wonderful about Caroline – sharp writing, natural Northern feistiness and extreme likeability. We look forward to working with her.”

In 2015 Sophie won Magners New Comedian of the Year and the following year she took her debut show, On Record, based on her experiences of growing up in and out of the care system, to the Edinburgh Fringe. She is regarded as a rising star in British comedy.