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 (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 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)
 * 05 September 1998: The Moment of Truth quiz game begins on ITV, hosted by Cilla (until 29 September 2001)
 * 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)
 * last: 02 September 1993 - Through the Years
 * last: 02 September 1993 - Through the Years

Scrapbook
scans GraemeWood