Cilla Black has died, aged 72 12:52PM

In its citation, BAFTA said she had hosted more than 500 television shows and made about 400 guest appearances on others, regularly drawing audiences of 18 million people. Surprise!, described Black as a “national treasure” adding that she will “always be with me”.

He wrote: “I was writing the second paragraph and realised I couldn’t remember Cilla’s surname”.

Gina Robertson, from St Julians, told the Argus she had many fond memories of her aunt. “She will be greatly missed by all”.

“She was so welcoming and there was Champagne in her dressing room for everyone and she used to buy fish and chips for the cast”.

The 1964 track Anyone Who Had a Heart took her to number one and on the musical road to fame. In 1997 she was awarded an OBE and in 2005 came the release of her autobiography What’s It All About?, which went on to become a UK best seller. I saw her floating around at the back here, doing the gardening.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney called her a “lovely girl who infected everyone with her great spirit” and called it “a privilege to know and love her”. “She was a good friend – we will all miss her. Peace to Cilla, peace and love to the family R&B xxx”. She had a string of hit singles during the following decade, before slowly making the transition world of TV.

Liam Rudden, Evening News entertainment editor, said: “Cilla was one of a rare breed in that she made the transition from pop star to TV celebrity effortlessly”.

Tonight, April 4, at 9pm, there will be a chance to watch The One and Only Cilla Black, which first aired 2-years ago to mark her landmark 50th year in showbiz.

“It’s hard believe that she has gone at such a young age”. The last time I was up at her place was when they put the fence up when her husband was alive.

Holly Willoughby has led tributes to the woman who ruled the TV airwaves in the 1980s as host of Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out, although early indications suggest Black – who suffered from hearing problems and arthritis – died of natural causes. It says The Cavern Club is “sad to announce the passing of its famous cloakroom girl and performer Cilla Black“.

A Spanish police spokeswoman confirmed Cilla, who was born Priscilla White, had died at her home at her home in Estepona on the Costa del Sol.