Surprise, surprise as Cilla wins women's award

TV star Cilla Black received a Lifetime Achievement award today to mark more than 40 years in the world of showbusiness.

The singer, presenter and entertainer, was presented with the prestigious honour at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Park Lane Hilton hotel.

The event – Women In Film and Television awards – recognises the achievements of outstanding individuals both behind and in front of the camera.

The Liverpool-born former pop star will receive the Working Title Films Lifetime Achievements award in recognition of her extensive career in entertainment.

Jane Cussons, chief executive of the awards organisation, said: “The longevity and diversity of Cilla’s career is what makes her so unique. From her early days as a singing sensation to becoming the undisputed First Lady of television, Cilla has remained a true British icon and we are delighted to be honouring her today for this award.”

Last month the 61-year-old celebrity revealed that after gentle persuasion from her close friend Cliff Richard she is going back to her roots and starring in a new show after a year-long break.

Millions of viewers were stunned when the veteran presenter announced she was leaving Blind Date on live television last year after 18 years fronting the programme.

Cilla will be appearing in a two-hour live studio based Christmas Special on cable and satellite channel “Living TV” which will echo the original Surprise Surprise show where she made her name.

Also being honoured at the ceremony will be Judy Finnigan, one half of the husband and wife television presenting duo Richard and Judy who will receive the ITV Television Award.

The Five Awards for Creative Originality will go to comedienne actress and writer, Caroline Aherne who has starred in the comedy shows The Royle Family, and Mrs Merton.

Among those who attended the awards ceremony were EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy, who plays long-suffering Sonia Fowler, film star and comedian Steve Coogan, Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes.

Cilla, asked how she felt about receiving the Lifetime Achievement honour, replied: “Well, yippee. It’s really, really great. 41 years in showbusiness and I’m still picking up awards, I’m just so grateful and I’m thrilled.”

Born Priscilla White to a mother who worked as a market stall seller and a father who was a docker, she had a burning desire to sing.

Whilst working as a typist in the early ’60s she spent her lunch hours working as a hat girl in Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club, where the Beatles famously played.

But she soon became a singer at the venue and later secured a recording contract and in 1964 hit the number one spot with the release Anyone Who Had a Heart.

She went on to release more than 30 singles and more than a dozen albums but in the 1970s changed direction and began to establish herself as a TV presenter.

In 1984 she presented the show Surprise Surprise, which made people’s dreams come true and made her a household name to millions of viewers. Later in the decade became the host of the hugely-popular Blind Date.

Talking about her early career, Cilla said: “If you got three years out of being a pop singer you really did well and surprise surprise I’m still here.”

The entertainer joked that 2004 was supposed to be a gap year but things had turned out differently.

She added: “I’m doing a very big special, it’s two hours long, it’s live television, which is very exciting. I started in live TV – in black and white – now being colour.”

Asked what was her favourite Saturday night viewing on television, she replied: “Do you know what I like? It’s Strictly Come Dancing. They asked me twice to do it, the only thing is it’s bloody hard work.

“I just enjoy dancing around my own handbag in my house,” she joked.