Cilla Black was “willing herself to die”

Spanish police said Sunday that the singer, who had a home in Estepona, southern Spain, died Saturday, August 1, 2015.

Black, who died aged 72 at home in Spain’s Costa Del Sol, made the comments to long-time friend Terry McCann, said the BBC.

The death was disovered overnight and appeared to be due to natural causes, but this had not yet been confirmed, police said.

She became a British television fixture as the cheeky, cheery host of 1983 game show Blind Date and heartwarming-reunion program Surprise Surprise (between 1984 and 2001).

Last year, her early career was portrayed in the British miniseries Cilla, starring Sheridan Smith.

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”.

Speaking about the award she told the Mirror newspaper: “I am thrilled to be honoured with this award – I am totally delighted. Her family have asked for their privacy to be respected at this time”.

In 2013 Cilla celebrated 50 years in showbusiness.

“She was a very special person, and I have lost a very wonderful friend, I will miss her dearly”. She had a bit of arthritis but the painkillers were working.

In a joint statement her three sons Robert, Ben and Jack said: “We are devastated by the sad loss of our mother, but have been deeply touched by all the kind messages of support from her friends, fans, the public and media”.

He added that Black had a fine distinctive voice and was it was a privilege to know and love the late singer, who began her music career at Liverpool’s famous Cavern Club.

She said: “Cilla was lovely and I have lots of fond memories of her”.

Born in Liverpool in 1943, Cilla said she grew up in a family that loved music passionately.

“She didn’t just stay with one or two of what I would call “the posh people” she spoke to everyone who would come up to her”, he said.

Known passionately as “Cilla” to actually descendants of Britons, Black…

He writes, “Cilla was one of my dearest friends… a force of nature, but honest, gritty and always, well, Cilla!…”

The star often spoke about her desire to die before she got to the age where illness would take over and she would lose the ability to enjoy life.