Cilla Black

Acting

Cilla Black

Born 1943-05-27 · Vauxhall, Liverpool, England, UK

Priscilla Maria Veronica White is best known by her stage name Cilla Black. She rose to fame in the 1960s as a pop singer and her singles "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "You're My World" both reached number one in the UK in 1964. She hosted her own variety show titled "Cilla" in the 60s and 70s and was an occasional comedy actress. Her career had a massive resurgence in the mid-80s and 1990s were she presented "Blind Date" were many tuned in for her acerbic comments, "Surprise Surprise" showed her softer side and "The Moment of Truth" was her successful peaktime game show. In the 2000s she put in memorable appearances on chat shows such as "The Paul O'Grady Show", "Loose Women" and "So Graham Norton". She died on 1st August 2015 after a fall in her villa in Estepona, Spain. The day after her funeral, the compilation album The Very Best of Cilla Black went to number one on the UK Albums Chart and the New Zealand Albums Chart; it was her first number one album.

Acting credits

If These Walls Could Sing poster
6.5

The untold story of the Abbey Road studio, all-star interviews and intimate access to the premises.

If These Walls Could Sing

2022

There's Only One Paul McCartney poster
8.0

An affectionate portrait of the man and the musician in a week that sees the ex-Beatie playing at the Buckingham Palace concert. With contributions from Bono, Mike Myers , Dustin Hoffman , Meryl Streep , Cilia Black, Bob Geldof , Dale Winton , Travis and Richard Branson

There's Only One Paul McCartney

2002

The Music of Lennon & McCartney poster
7.0

A 1965 British television special honouring the songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It was produced by Granada Television and aired on that network on 16 December 1965 before receiving a national broadcast the following evening. The programme mainly consisted of other artists miming to their recordings of the songs. The Beatles performed Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out, and Peter Sellers delivered a comedic interpretation of A Hard Day's Night, in the style of stage actor Laurence Olivier's portrayal of Richard III.

The Music of Lennon & McCartney

1965

...Sings the Beatles poster
NR

Recorded for the fortieth anniversary of Abbey Road, a journey through some classic and curious Beatles covers in the BBC archives

...Sings the Beatles

2009

Produced by George Martin poster
7.4

A profile of Sir George Martin, Britain's most celebrated record producer, from his early days at EMI/Parlophone to his work with The Beatles.

Produced by George Martin

2012

The Ark poster
NR

Documentary filmed behind the scenes at London Zoo as it struggles to survive in the face of financial difficulties following the withdrawal of government subsidies.

The Ark

1993

Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes poster
NR

A history of the British television comedy double act Morecambe & Wise to coincide with the BBC drama about their early lives.

Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes

2011

Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC poster
9.0

It’s the city that gave birth to The Beatles, inspired Gerry to ride that ferry, and spawned Bunnymen and Atomic Kittens. Now with all eyes – and ears – on Liverpool for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, a look into the BBC’s archives for a selection of performances from some of Merseyside’s biggest and best-loved musical stars.

Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC

2023

An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck poster
10.0

Jimmy Tarbuck parades his comic wares in front of a celebrity audience, including Cilla Black, Bruce Forsyth, Billy Connolly, Michael Parkinson, Harry Secombe and Henry Cooper.

An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck

1994

Cilla in Scandinavia poster
6.0

Cilla Black hosts a show specially recorded in Stockholm on Midsummer's Day and on film locations in Norway, Sweden and Finland. With guest stars Ringo Starr, Sven-Bertil Taube, Basil Brush, Hannu Mikkola and Marvin, Welch & Farrar.

Cilla in Scandinavia

1971

Our Cilla: The One and Only poster
NR

Doumentary telling the story of Cilla Black, who rose from working-class roots in Liverpool to become one of the nation's most successful and best-loved singers, presenters and all-round entertainers.

Our Cilla: The One and Only

2021

The Abbey Road Story poster
NR

Television documentary about the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

The Abbey Road Story

1998

Burt Bacharach at the BBC poster
NR

A celebration of one of the all-time songwriting greats, featuring a selection of the finest songs from his extraordinary back catalogue and performances from the BBC's archives.

Burt Bacharach at the BBC

2023

The Day John Lennon Died poster
8.0

Reconstructing John’s last day in detail by way of radio and TV reports, the memories of people John knew and those he encountered before his assassination by Mark Chapman, relive one of the most momentous and tragic events in music history.

The Day John Lennon Died

2010

Work Is a 4-Letter Word poster
6.0

Dreamlike satire about a young man who resists getting a job at the lone employing conglomerate in his dreary industrial town, but changes his mind when he discovers the plant's boiler room has the perfect climate to assist him with his pet horticultural (fungal) project.

Work Is a 4-Letter Word

1968

Cilla Black's Christmas Eve poster
NR

Special featuring Cilla Black and her guests Frankie Howerd, Graham Fletcher, the Bee Gees, Julio Iglesias and George Benson.

Cilla Black's Christmas Eve

1983

Boom! Boom! The Best of the Original Basil Brush Show poster
9.0

'Boom! Boom!' The Best of the Original Basil Brush Show featuers the most hilarious moments from the Mr Derek, Mr Roy and Mr Howard years.

Boom! Boom! The Best of the Original Basil Brush Show

2001

Ferry Cross the Mersey poster
6.1

Gerry and Fred Marsden, Les McGuire, and Les "Chad" Chadwick portray themselves in a romp through the early-1960s Liverpool Beat Scene. Art students by day and musicians by night, the boys' big break comes by winning a local talent contest. But first, they must retrieve their instruments, which have been mistakenly carried to the airport.

Ferry Cross the Mersey

1965

Brian Epstein: Inside the Fifth Beatle poster
NR

Get to know the mastermind behind The Beatles’ worldwide domination, from an unknown Liverpool band to uncontested modern musical icons.

Brian Epstein: Inside the Fifth Beatle

2004

Cilla at the BBC poster
6.3

Compilation celebrating the BBC's coverage of Cilla Black's 60s pop star years on programmes like The Ken Dodd Show and Top of the Pops, plus moments from her self-titled series.

Cilla at the BBC

2015

The Frankie Howerd Show poster
NR

A variety-style show designed around Frankie Howerd, featuring musical guests, comedic monologues, and his characteristic interaction with the audience, promising a "star-studded" feel despite his ironic complaints about the lineup.

The Frankie Howerd Show

1968

60s Legends in Concert poster
NR

20 classic performances from the 1960s. Black & White, Special Limited Edition, Live, Original recording of artists including Lulu, Peter & Gordon, The Troggs, Herman's Hermits, The Small Faces, Cilla Black, Barry Ryan, Cat Stevens, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Manfred Mann, and more.

60s Legends in Concert

Cliff Richard: Castles in the Air poster
NR

Fimed in front of 11,000 fans against the breathtaking backdrop of the world-famous Leeds Castle. With special guest appearance by Cilla Black. Year 2004.

Cliff Richard: Castles in the Air

2004

Cilla at the Savoy poster
NR

In April 1966, Cilla opened in a 3-week cabaret season at London’s Savoy Hotel. On her final Sunday, she starred in her own television special produced by her manager Brian Epstein’s film company, Subafilms. It was the first colour television show of its kind to be made by an independent producer in Britain. The show was broadcast in the UK in black & white but aired in colour in The Netherlands and the USA. ‘Cilla at the Savoy’ was one of the most watched television specials of the 1960s.

Cilla at the Savoy

1966