Cilla Black Dies In Spain

The death has taken place of the popular British entertainer, Cilla Black.

The one time pop singer, who went on to have a hugely successful career in UK television, died at her holiday home in Marabella, in Spain. She was 72 years of age. The causes of her death have not yet been established.

She was born in Liverpool in May 1943, and christened Priscilla Maria Veronica White. Her stage name came as a result of a mistake, when the editor of the music newspaper Mersey Beat, Bill Harry, erroneously referred to her as Cilla Black. She liked the name and adopted it as her own, for showbiz purposes.

Cilla played at The Cavern Club,where she impressed The Beatles, who became advocates, and their manager Brian Epstein, amongst others. She featured in a number of local groups, including Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, before embarking on a solo career. She scored her first hit single in 1964 with ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’ – a cover version of a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the great Dionne Warwick. That single went to No.1 in the UK, going on to become the biggest selling single by a female artist in the 1960s. The follow-up ‘You’re My World’ toped the UK charts and was a Top 30 hit in the US, peaking at No.26. Both singles sold over a million copies worldwide.

In 1965, her version of ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ went to No.2 in the UK, on the same week that the original by The Righteous Brothers topped the charts.

In total, Black had eleven hit records between 1964 and 1971. However, she credits Brian Epstein with advising her to make the switch to television – which she duly did. She fronted her own show, Cilla, from 1968 to 1976, which was reportedly brokered by Epstein before his death in August 1967. However, it was as the presenter of Blind Dat – produced by London Weekend Television for ITV – that she became on of the biggest TV stars in Britain. The show ran continuously from 1985 to 2003. She also fronted the light entertainment show Surprise Surprise on ITV.

She also worked as an actress and starred in a number of films and TV shows, including the Cilla’s Comedy Six series, broadcast at the start of 1975. She was named Britain’s Top Female Comedy Star in May 1975, by the Writers' Guild of Great Britain.

Cilla was married to her manager Bob Willis, who died of lung cancer in 1999. She celebrated 50 years in show business in 2013 with the show The One and Only Cilla Black, presented by Paul O’Grady.

Bruce Forsyth reacted to her death by saying that he hoped she would be with Bob again, adding that she never really got over his loss. Meanwhile her friend, the Northern Irish broadcaster Gloria Hunniford expressed her shock and her sadness.

"I am so sad and shocked by news about my good friend Cilla,” said Joan Collins. "She was a resplendent and rare talent.”

"Cilla was a one off,the funniest woman to lunch with,” Carol Vorderman added. "'Anyone Who Had A Heart?’ –- well, you had the biggest. We'll miss u.”

Irish singer Ronan Keating also paid tribute: "Saddened to hear about the passing of Cilla Black. A true showbiz legend."