Cilla Black told a friend she ‘she was going to see Bobby’

It has been reported that Cilla died at her Spanish home in Estepona, on the Costa del Sol.

Born Pricilla White in Liverpool in 1943, Black took her stage name in 1961 after it was mistakenly published that way in the first edition of music newspaper Mersey Beat.

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”.

TV presenter O’Grady, who in 2013 fronted an ITV tribute show to mark Black’s 50 years in showbiz, told the Liverpool Echo: “Please tell me this isn’t true?”

Alex and Sue Tatham appeared on the dating show in 1988 and tied the knot three years later, with Black and her husband Bobby Willis in attendance as special guests.

She could not believe the career she had, and admitted: “My life’s been a joke really”.

Aside from well-documented hearing problems and bouts of arthritis, the Liverpudlian star, who rose to fame in the 1960s alongside The Beatles, was not thought to have any other serious medical conditions.

She said: “As a young child I didn’t see her as being famous”. Cilla didn’t drive so I happily became her chauffeur, but refused to wear the cap!

“She was a wonderful friend. I will miss her dearly”. “I’m shocked, absolutely shocked”. Cilla hadn’t been here since past year. She was a national treasure.

Cilla was found dead around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 2 after her son broke down the door of her bedroom.

She said: “I don’t know why I’ve got so many gay friends”. She was someone who was a life force, she loved to laugh and loved to enjoy herself.

She said: “Seventy-five is a good age to go, I still think that way”.

The book, which was launched by Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Tony Concepcion, will be available for people to sign until 5pm on Friday. “The sky is far less bright without you Tara Chuck x”, he wrote. “Her family have asked for their privacy to be respected at this time”.

A handful of Cilla’s hits were also co-written by Paul and his former songwriting partner John Lennon, including “Step Inside Love“, one of her signature songs. “How very sad. RIP”. She was also a beloved TV personality, hosting “Cilla” which ran on BBC from 1968 to 1976.

“She was the total rags-to-riches story”.

He added: “Her mother went the same way”.