It’s not often an entertainer can cherish a successful career spanning over five decades, but if there was one person who could pull it off effortlessly, it was Cilla Black.
Just two years ago, the singer and television host celebrated 50 years in showbiz with an ITV special The One And Only Cilla Black, and tonight we got the chance to relive her biggest moments as the programme returned back on our screens.
This time however, Paul O’Grady opened the show with a heartbreaking tribute to his close friend Cilla, and while he fought back the tears we too found ourselves struggling to gulp down the quivering lump in our throats.
Cilla’s career kicked off in the early 60s, long before many of us were born, so it’s easy to forget it was her incredible voice that propelled her into the limelight.
At just 21-years-old, Cilla was celebrating her first of two number one hits, Anyone Who Had a Heart, which became the biggest-selling single by a female artist in the history of British popular music and viewers were stunned at her incredible talent.
But it was when Blind Date reappeared on our screens, that the tears began to flow. For many, the dating contest (as well as the earlier entertainment show Surprise Surprise) aroused nostalgic memories of their childhood.
Cilla was praised as one of the most successful singers of her time and the youngest female entertainer to ever have her own television series, among other accolades.
She moulded our happy childhood memories and touched the hearts of many across the country and, after reliving her incredible lifetime, it’s safe to say there is only one Cilla.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article