A special show about Cilla Black is to be aired on Christmas Day – paying tribute to her groundbreaking series which saw her move from singer to TV host.
Cilla Black At The BBC will be hosted by Sir Cliff Richard on Radio 2 and feature material from Cilla’s early work with the Beeb, before she went on to be a huge ITV star years later with Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.
The show also coincides with what would be the 60th anniversary of the beginning of Cilla’s career. And it features many rare songs and moments from her life.
Sir Cliff said: “Too many people that we love pass on, but fortunately, people like Cilla leave behind something that will remain in our memories forever
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“For me, it was a joy and a pleasure and an honour to have known Cilla personally and be in close touch with her constantly. So Cilla, God bless you, rest in peace, and just remember we are going to be screaming about you forever.”
In the 1960s Cilla was a major music star with hit records and performing to sell-out audiences alongside The Beatles.
In August 1967, Cilla’s manager Brian Epstein – only days before his death – engineered her switch to TV with her own variety show. The tribute celebrates the star as she made this move into presenting with the hugely successful series, Cilla. With big opening and closing numbers and duets with music guests, interviews, link-ups with the public and comedy it was truly groundbreaking.
Robert Willis, Cilla’s son, said: “Sixty years ago, my mother began her illustrious career in showbusiness. She was a trailblazer for women in pop music and television. I am thrilled we are celebrating her milestone anniversary.
“The documentary reflects on this incredibly special time in her life when she made the transition from chart-topping pop singer to much-loved star of TV.
“These ground-breaking shows were top telly viewing watched by over 18 million viewers each week.”
The BBC1 show Cilla ran for 66 shows across eight series until it ended in 1976. Decades later, ITV made Cilla the queen of Saturday night TV again with Surprise Surprise and Blind Date.
She died aged 72 in 2015 at her Spanish home after a fall.
- Contributors for Cilla At The BBC on Christmas Day at 10pm include her son Robert, Tony Blackburn, Jimmy Tarbuck, Joe Brown, Sir Tim Rice, George Layton, Bob Harris
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