Could you play Cilla Black? Search begins to cast Cilla for new musical

Credit: ITV

Producers have kicked off their search to cast the leading role of Cilla Black in an upcoming musical based on the late singer's life.

Open auditions will open next month in Cilla's home town of Liverpool before moving to Edinburgh, Birmingham and London to find the perfect match.

Cilla - The Musical is produced by the Anyone Who Had A Heart singer's son, Robert Willis, who said he is looking forward to meeting an actress that can follow in her footsteps as a "natural born performer".

Credit: PA Images

Black became known in her later years as the host of dating show Blind Date. Her career in the limelight spanned six decades before her sudden death, aged 72, after a fall at her villa in Spain in August 2015.

The show, which will debut at the Liverpool Empire in September before moving around the country, is based on Jeff Pope's ITV mini-series retelling her early life and the story of her rocky rise to stardom.

Auditions will take place on the following dates:

  • May 2 - Liverpool Empire

  • May 8 - Edinburgh Playhouse

  • May 9 - Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre

  • May 12 - London Dominion Theatre

A statue of Cilla now resides outside The Cavern in Liverpool, where she first took to the stage Credit: PA Images

Interested actresses can sign up for a spot at www.cillathemusical.com