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. 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.

Significant dates

 * 30 January 1968: first series of Cilla begins on BBC1 (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 (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, and first entry for A Song For Europe 1973 with Cliff Richard.
 * 15 January 1975: Cilla's Comedy Six begins on ITV