Cilla Black

**Cilla Black** (b. Priscilla Maria Veronica White 27 May 1943, d. 01 August 2015) was a British singer, entertainer and TV presenter.

Originating from Liverpool, she was championed as a solo artist by her friends The Beatles and like the Fab Four was also managed by Brian Epstein until his death. She was the best-selling British female recording artist in the UK during the 1960s, releasing a total of 15 studio albums and 37 singles, as well as hosting her own prime-time TV show, *Cilla*, from 1968 on BBC One. She had two consecutive UK no.1 singles, Anyone Who Had a Heart and You're My World in February and May 1964 respectively.

In 1975 she starred in her own show on ITV as a 'non-singing, non-dancing' Cilla in *Cilla's Comedy Six,* a series of six situation comedy plays*.* A second series entitled *Cilla's World of Comedy* was broadcast in May 1976.

Black further returned as a television show presenter, rather than singer, in the 1980s and 1990s, hosting entertainment shows such as *Blind Date* (1985–2003), *The Moment of Truth* (1998–2001) and *Surprise Surprise* (1984–2001).

Cilla Black died on 01 August 2015, at the age of 72.

## TV & Radio

significant dates

* 30 January 1968: first series of *Cilla* begins on BBC1 [1] (S1, Tuesdays, 8.00 pm)
* 24 December 1968: new series of *Cilla* begins (S2, Tuesdays, 8.00 pm except first show and NYE show)
* 18 November 1969: new series of Cilla begins (S3, Tuesdays 8.00 pm)
* 23 January 1971: new series of *Cilla* begins (S4, Saturdays 7.40 pm)
* 06 November 1971: new series of *Cilla* begins [2] (S5, Saturdays 8.10 pm) - theme song Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight) released as new single the previous day.
* 13 January 1973: *Cilla* features A Song For Europe 1973 with Cliff Richard.
* 15 January 1975: *Cilla's Comedy Six* begins on ITV

* 22 January 1983 - appearance on *Wogan* (effectively re-launching her TV career)
* 12 February 1983 - guest on *Saturday Superstore*
* 06 May 1984: *Surprise Surprise* begins on ITV, hosted by Cilla (until 26 December 2001)
* 30 November 1985: *Blind Date* begins on ITV, hosted by Cilla (until 31 May 2003)
* 16 October 1988: guest of *Desert Island Discs* (BBC Radio 4)
* 10 December 1988: Cilla Celebrates 25 Years in Show Business with the help of her friends Vince Hill, Frankie Howerd and guest conductor George Martin (BBC Radio 2)

* 26 September 1993: *Cilla's Celebration* (ITV) - 30th anniversary of first appearance on *Ready Steady Go!*
* 05 September 1998: *The Moment of Truth* quiz game begins on ITV, hosted by Cilla (until 29 September 2001)
* 20 September 2003: guest on new series of *Parkinson*
* 16 October 2013: *The One and Only..Cilla Black* (ITV) - rpt. on 04 August 2015 following her death

### Top of the Pops

* first: 05 February 1964 - Anyone Who Had a Heart
* ..
* 25 May 1978 - Silly Boy (new)
* 02 September 1993 - Through the Years (final appearance)

## Scrapbook

*scans GraemeWood*

*TV Times* - March 1972*Look-In*, July 1972*Cilla* / *A Song for Europe* preview in *Radio Times*, 13 January 1973*Record Mirror*, Dec. 19731975 *Cilla's Comedy Six* in TV Times*TV Times*, May 1984 for *Surprise, Surprise**Radio times*, Sep. 2003
## See also

* Cliff Richard
* May No.1s
* Agnetha Fältskog

## External links

* Cilla Black on Wikipedia
* *Cilla* on Wikipedia