Before they were famous: Celebrities who got their big break thanks to Cilla Black's Blind Date

Cilla Black's Blind Date featured several pre-celebrity personalities who appeared on the show before they became famous.

  • Mark Speight: Artist and TV presenter

Children's TV presenter Mark Speight appeared on the show in 1989. Credit: PA

Artist Mark went on to fame as the effervescent presenter of children's TV show SMart from 1994 to his tragic death in 2008.

  • Amanda Holden: Actor and presenter

Amanda Holden made her TV debut on Blind Date in 1991. Credit: PA

Amanda got her first TV appearance on Blind Date in the early nineties and went on to star alongside Stephen Tompkinson in Wild at Heart, before joining the Britain's Got Talent team as a judge in 2007.

  • Ed Byrne: Comedian

Ed Byrne showed up looking for love in 1993. Credit: PA

Dublin-born stand-up comedian and voice of Carphone Warehouse, Ed also features on panel shows like Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcoks.

  • Jenni Falconer: TV presenter

Jenni Falconer appeared on Blind Date in 1994 Credit: PA

Scot Jenni is perhaps best known for her work on ITV daytime show This Morning as a travel reporter and stand-in host. She's currently a radio presenter on The Heart Network.

  • Ortis Deley: TV presenter

TV's tech guru Ortis featured alongside Cilla in 1995. Credit: PA

Gadget Show presenter Ortis first appeared on our screens thanks to Cilla in 1995 and went on to front shows for CBBC and Channel Four before settling into his current role as tech guru.

  • Nikki Grahame: Big Brother contestant and columnist

Nikki first featured on our screens in 2003. Credit: PA

And finally: Nikki rocketed to fame post-Blind Date on Big Brother 7, largely thanks to her explosive temper tantrums and returned to the 16th series of the show this year. She also has a column for OK!'s "Hot Stars" magazine and featured in a Dominos pizza advert.