British Singer and TV personality , Cilla Black died

Legendary British singer and television presenter Cilla Black passed away at age 72 while in Spain, the BBC learned.

Although the cause of the death was not disclosed, Spanish police confirmed on Sunday that Black had died at her home in Estepona. “You thought that she’d be there forever”.

In this June 2, 2009 file photo, Cilla Black arrives for the opening night of the musical “Sister Act” at the Palladium Theatre, in London.

He added: “All three sons are in the house”.

Black – born Priscilla White – made her name as singer in the 1960s and went on to become a popular TV personality on such shows as Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.

MCCartney, who worked with Black in the early days of her career and helped to pen her debut single Love of the Loved with his Beatles bandmate John Lennon in 1963, issued a statement, which reads: “Such a shock to hear about Cilla’s passing”.

Black had a 50-year music and television career.

Tributes from around the world poured in on social media for the star.

EastEnders star and her good friend, Barbara Windsor, described her death as “awful”.

In the August of that year Cilla spent her summer in a rented house in the town overlooking Beachy Head while starring in a summer show at the Congress Theatre.

“She captured the hearts of the whole country I think she was everybody’s best friend”, he told hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford. “British to her very core”. “God bless her”. A Lorra Lorra love & gratitude Cilla.

“One of the all time greats in showbiz”. Very few artistes taste success on radio, TV & pop charts. I don’t know what her mother died of but it seemed she associated it with her mother’s death and she just knew it was going to happen.

There has been an outpouring of condolences and public tributes to the star – with TV host Paul O’Grady speaking about his deep connection with his Merseyside “sister”.

He shared: “Please tell me this isn’t true?”

The family have been given permission to take her body home.

Black – who suffered from hearing problems and arthritis – reportedly died overnight after flying to Spain with her son Robert. “I will miss her dearly”.

“She was a wonderful lady and I performed with her many times with Tommy as Cannon and Ball”.