Paul O'Grady breaks down during radio tribute to close friend Cilla Black

Paul O'Grady broke down in tears as he celebrated the life of close friend Cilla Black during his radio show.

The presenter seemed overcome with emotion after playing the star's 1966 hit Alfie before managing to tell listeners: "That always does me in that one - completely finishes me off".

The last hour of his Sunday night BBC Radio 2 show was dedicated to his friend of many years Cilla, who died of a stroke after falling and hitting her head at her Spanish villa.

Opening the show, O'Grady thanked listeners for their "touching" messages, saying: "It's been quite a week really and, as you know, we lost the queen of showbiz herself and I lost a very good friend."

He added: "I'm just grateful that last week's show was pre-recorded before I found out the sad news about Cilla."

Paul presenting Cilla with her lifetime achievement award last year. Credit: PA
Paul pulls a face next to Cilla as they attend a party for gay style magazine Attitude in 2004. Credit: PA

O'Grady reflected on some of his favourite memories with Cilla, including riding the Orient Express with her, and "getting thrown out a bar in New York".

He said Cilla wanted to be remembered as a singer saying: "She said to me 'I want singer on my headstone', and I said, 'Why do you want to be known for being a sewing machine?'

"She said 'I'll have you in a minute'."

Speaking last week, O'Grady said Cilla's death had left a "huge void" in his life.

"There's no more 'what's your name and where do you come from? There's no more calling out for our Graham and certainly no more lorra, lorra laughs."

Paul and the 'queen of showbiz' Cilla pictured in 2014. Credit: PA

Cilla made a posthumous comeback to the UK music charts on Friday with her compilation album The Very Best Of which was first released in 1983 and re-released in 2013.

It reached number 14, making it Black's highest charting album since Sher-oo! in 1968, according to the Official Charts Company.

O'Grady said: "Now today, Cilla is back in the charts and she would be absolutely thrilled - she would be modest about it, but she would be thrilled."

The presenter played a host of songs by Black, including You're My World and Imagine, her duet with close friend Cliff Richard.

He also played Elvis Presley's Trouble, a song "she absolutely used to love" which "sums up our relationship".

O'Grady said an emotional farewell at the end of the hour-long show with the words: "I'd just like to say Cilla, you'll be missed, not just by me but by all of the legions of your fans as well."