The Royle Family's Caroline Aherne is reportedly recovering after electro-convulsive treatment.

The Daily Mail reports that the 41-year-old actress and co-writer of The Royle Family and The Fast Show has undergone electric shock treatment in an attempt to cure her severe depression.

The newspaper reveals that the treatment has been successful so far, Aherne having told friends that she is feeling 'much better'.

Aherne's depression has been a long time in the making, having been through a number of failed relationships (New Order's Peter Hook; film-maker Matt Bowers, who died of cancer), losing her father, alcohol problems and a failed suicide attempt in 1995.