Cilla seeks advice of dead husband

Cilla Black contacted her late husband through a psychic before quitting her Blind Date show after nearly 18 years, it was reported today.

The Liverpool-born former pop star told a newspaper she contacted the London clairvoyant because she wanted “reassurance” that she was doing the “right thing” from her husband Bobby Willis, who died from cancer two years ago.

Black told The Sun newspaper: “I walked into her room and before I had even sat down she said, ‘You are frightened and excited. Bobby says that is OK – you are doing the right thing.’

“I hadn’t given her any idea of why I wanted to see her.”

The revelation follows Black’s live announcement on last night’s show that the current series – the 18th – would be her last.

The presenter said she had not even told her closest friends about her choice to leave the popular Saturday night ITV dating show.

She admitted that it was a “big decision” to quit but said she had been “unhappy” about some of the recent decisions made about the show.

“I’m not against changes for the good,” she said. “But my view has always been, ‘If something ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.”

The 59-year-old presenter, who will celebrate her 40th year in showbusiness this year, reassured viewers they had not seen the last of her and added that she had “exciting” new challenges in the pipeline.

Black said: “My future is so bright that I’m going to have to wear sunglasses.”

The former pop star has already made a one-off series, Making the Grade, which will be screened on ITV later this year.

Black has also made an anniversary programme of Surprise, Surprise which will be shown on ITV.

She is also planning to commemorate her 40th year in showbusiness by writing her autobiography, Cilla, What’s It All About?, as well as staging a charity gala at the London Palladium.

A spokeswoman from Granada said that Blind Date would continue without Black and added that a 19th series would be made later this year.