Ten facts about Cilla Black

Cilla Black was one of TV's best-loved presenters fronting Blind Date and Surprise Surprise in the 1980s and 90s.

Here are ten facts about the woman who gave us a "lorra, lorra laughs" during her long career.

• 1. Cilla was actually born Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool on 27 May 1943.
• 2. Her stage name was "Swinging Cilla".
• 3. Many of her first performances were at Liverpool's Cavern Club, which she blamed for her hearing loss.
• 4. She often sang with The Beatles and in 1963 was the first female artists to be signed by their manager Brian Epstein.
• 5. Her first number 1 was Anyone Who Had A Heart, which stayed at the top spot for 3 weeks in February 1963.
• 6.The song went on to sell over 1 million copies worldwide as did her second UK number 1, You're My World.
• 7. Cilla never managed to break the US but Elvis Presley had a copy of You're My World on his Graceland jukebox.
• 8. She was married to her manager Bobby Willis for more than 30 years until he died of lung cancer in October 1999.
• 9. The couple had three sons together; Robert, Ben and Jack. They also had a daughter, Ellen, in 1975 but sadly she only lived for 2 hours.
• 10. Last year Cilla was awarded a BAFTA 'Special Award' for her contribution to entertainment in a career which has lasted over 50 years.

• Read: TV legend Cilla Black has reportedly died in Spain