Star opens her heart in frankest ever interview since hubby Bobby's death
Cilla: I want to wed again
By Nadia Cohen
CILLA Black says she's ready to marry again five years after the death of her beloved hubby, Bobby.
CILLA Black says she's ready to marry again five years after the death of her beloved hubby, Bobby.
Now dating and looking better than ever, TV's most famous matchmaker happily admits she's looking for love.
But potential suitors had better beware—Cilla's showbiz pals have the final say!
The star revealed: "I never imagined I'd feel like this, but I could consider remarrying.
"I'm dating now and there are a few men I've been seeing for a little while, although there's no one I'm seeing every night.
"One or two fellas have even got to the stage of meeting my friends. None of them passed the test but they're a very protective lot, my friends, and no man has yet reached their high standards."
Giving her most honest interview to date, it's hard to believe that just eight months ago Cilla was so immersed in grief that the idea of a new marriage was intolerable.
Bobby Willis was not only her husband of 30 years but her best friend and when he lost his fight with liver cancer the mum-of-three was inconsolable.
Romance
But while Cilla admits she remains "totally in love" with Bobby, she accepts she has turned a corner and is ready to move on.
"I took so much for granted when Bobby was here. I had this wonderful, faithful man," she said.
"He was my soulmate, my best friend in the world, my life. I lost that and it can never be replaced. I will always be heartbroken. When Bobby died, I was lost—he did everything for me.
"But I've had the most wonderful support from my friends. I know Bobby would be proud of me.
"He'll be up there, saying, ‘Good on you, girl'."
Cilla's sons, Robert, Benjamin and Jack, are also keen for her to find a new fella.
She said: "They're fab with me dating now. They were very pro-tective in the early days but as the years have gone by they want me to be happy.
"If it ever got serious with a man, initially they'd be put out, but they've realised I've only got one life to live."
Despite Cilla's new optimistic approach to romance, her friends are more cautious.
Dale Winton and Lily Savage comic Paul O'Grady have been there for Cilla every painful step of the way as she adjusted to life without Bobby. Now they're fiercely critical of any new boyfriends.
Cilla laughed: "I took one fella out for dinner with Dale Winton and as soon as we got in the car Dale said, ‘I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!' So that was that.
"I love men but I see good in everyone and that's the way I am when I meet a new man.
"I just like getting to know them—I don't even notice their appearance. Luckily my friends do."
Cilla is bombarded with offers from eager admirers and her pockets bulge with their business cards, but she hasn't found Mr Right yet.
"My ideal man would be Jack Nicholson," she said. "I loved him in Something's Gotta Give and I bet he'd be that funny in real life. So, it's him... or Robert Redford."
But there's one thing Cilla won't do for love—go on a blind date.
Shrieking with laughter, she said: "I'd never go on one. My friends try to set me up all the time and I went a couple of times but it was such a disaster. I felt so awkward and self-conscious. Anyway, I'm the queen of matchmaking—and nobody can do my job for me."
Cilla will be 61 next month but, with her size 8 figure, she still radiates youthful confidence. But, unlike other big-name stars, she'd have no qualms about going under the knife one day.
Sipping champagne, she laughed: "I'd have my eyes done if I had the time because my make-up artist is having to lift the skin on my lids to apply eyeshadow these days. I'm not against facelifts. I've seen a picture of Anne Robinson since she had hers and she looks great."
Cilla first shot to fame in the 1960s with Top Ten hits such as Anyone Who Had A Heart. But it was Blind Date—the show she hosted for 18 years— that made her a national favourite and TV's hottest property.
The show spawned the reality TV generation, but that's something Cilla has mixed feelings about. She explained: "On Blind Date we were the first to have members of the public making people laugh, or making people hate them, so it was the first reality TV and I'm proud of that. But today's shows are more like Cruelty TV.
"The only ones I like are I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! and Hell's Kitchen because I love seeing celebrities humiliated.
"They know what they're getting into and I've no sympathy for them. I was actually asked to be on Hell's Kitchen but I said, ‘No way!'
"As for Big Brother...I liked Jade when she was in it, but it's not my cup of tea. I'd rather watch Corrie."
Cilla insists she has no plans for a Blind Date comeback but adds: "Showbiz is in my blood. I'm not the retiring type. If another TV series jumps out at me I'll do it but I have to be excited by it. The people who devised Who Wants To Be A Millionaire want me for something but I haven't seen any ideas yet.
"I also did a pilot for a new show but it wasn't for me. They wanted me to insult my friends with jokes about Dale Winton's suntan or Vanessa Feltz's weight. I wouldn't."
Song
Other potential Cilla ventures include opening a club, acting in a radio drama penned by her pal Lynda La Plante and a stint on Broadway.
She revealed: "I met Andrew Lloyd Webber in Barbados and he suggested New York. I love the idea of winning over the Americans. That would be a challenge. He even offered to write a song for me."
In another twist, Cilla's life is soon to be immortalised on the big screen. Jude Law will star as Brian Epstein, the Beatles manager—and the man who discovered Cilla.
She said: "Jude is gorgeous and a huge talent. I still don't know who will play me but Scarlett Johansson is about the right age and I think she looks a bit like me."
Despite being able to pick and choose offers, there's one role even Cilla can't resist—that of grandma. Her son Robert becomes a dad in August. Just don't call her granny!
"That's not for me," she said. "But Bubba Black has a nice ring to it."
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