Her life in words and magical pictures
Nation’s favourite Cilla dies suddenly at 72 in her Spanish villa
CILLA Black was remembered as the ‘Queen of Showbusiness’ last night following her sudden death at the age of 72.
Miss Black, one of Britain’s best loved entertainers and a star for more than 50 years, died on Saturday evening at her Spanish holiday villa.
She had arrived at the luxury home in Estepona, near Marbella, three days earlier with the eldest of her three sons.
Emergency services were called at around 6pm on Saturday and her body was taken away at about 1.30am yesterday after the judge overseeing a routine inquiry into her death authorised the move.
Tests were underway last night to establish the cause of death, but Spanish police said early indications suggested the singer-turned-presenter died from natural causes.
A post-mortem examination is due today. Miss Black’s spokesman Nick Fiveash confirmed her death yesterday and said further details would be released after a coroner’s report is completed.
Last night rock stars, entertainers, actors and politicians paid tribute to the Liverpoolborn star, who grew up in a cramped flat without a television but went on to become one of the biggest names in broadcasting thanks to Surprise Surprise and Blind Date.
They described her as a ‘national treasure’ who, as the doyenne of Saturday night TV, was ‘like a friend in your living room’. Former Beatles Sir Paul
‘A friend in your living room’ ‘She was so kind and helpful’
McCartney and Ringo Starr, who got to know her in the 1960s at Liverpool’s Cavern Club, said they were shocked by her death and would miss their close friend.
Sir Paul said: ‘She was a lovely girl who infected everyone with her great spirit. It was a privilege to know and love her.’
Former ITV boss Lord Grade said she was a queen of British showbusiness, an enduring family favourite and ‘a natural performer of the highest quality’.
David Cameron said: ‘ Cilla Black was a huge talent who made a significant contribution to public life in Britain. My thoughts are with her family.’ Miss Black, who also had homes in London, Denham in Buckinghamshire and Barbados, had flown to Spain with her eldest son and manager, Robert, 45. She spent much time abroad, warmer climes helping to alleviate pain caused by her chronic arthritis.
In December, she revealed she could no longer shake hands because of the condition.
She also suffered from hearing problems and although she otherwise seemed in good health, she said she was ‘falling apart’.
In an interview 14 months ago, she also claimed 75 was a good age to die and spoke movingly about watching the desperate decline of her mother.
Miss Black, who was left devastated by the death of her beloved husband and manager Bobby Willis from lung cancer in 1999 at the age of 57, told how her family had wanted her to stay alive for as long as pos- sible. But she said: ‘ Secretly I don’t want to linger.’
She was born Priscilla White in Liverpool in May 1943 and broke into showbusiness as a teenager after working as a check-in girl in the cloakroom of the Cavern Club.
There she was spotted by rising local stars The Beatles and was signed by their manager, Brian Epstein, who launched her into a pop career.
She had a string of hits, starting in 1964 with Anyone Who Had a Heart, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and You’re My World. Both went to number one in Britain.
She moved into television in the late 1960s, hosting the BBC1 variety show Cilla.
She went on to host Blind Date and Surprise Surprise for ITV for more than a decade, her down- to- earth approach, humour and Scouse catchphrase ‘ lorra lorra laughs’ endearing her to the nation.
Miss Black was made an OBE in 1997 and in 2013 she celebrated her 50 years in showbusiness and received a Bafta in recognition of her long career in entertainment.
When asked about the Bafta, she said: ‘I think they’re giving it to me just for being alive.’
She appeared at a rally for the Conservative Party in 1992 and reportedly once said of Margaret Thatcher: ‘ She put the Great into Great Britain.’ However she later denied this, saying: ‘I’m apolitical.’
Last year her life was dramatised in a three-part ITV series, Cilla, recalling her relationship with Bobby in 1960s Liverpool and her often ruthless quest for fame. She was played by Sheridan Smith, who earned a Bafta nomination for her performance.
Last night the actress said: ‘I’m absolutely devastated to hear the tragic news about Cilla. She was the most remarkable woman, a true legend.
‘She was so kind and helpful to me, it was a privilege to play her. She will be truly missed.’
Miss Black’s sons Ben, 41, and Jack, 35, did not wish to comment outside the villa in Estepona last night, and Robert was unavailable for comment.