The news that Cilla Black had died in August at the age of 72 triggered an outpouring of love and a wave of sadness that spread around the world. Her infectious personality and her common touch made her one of Britain's best loved entertainers.
Known to one generation for a string of number-one hits like 'Anyone Who Had a Heart' and 'You're My World', and loved by another for hosting the classic ITV show Blind Date, Cilla came a long way from hanging coats in Liverpool's Cavern Club for five bob an hour.
In Cilla: 1943-2015, Douglas Thompson traces her rise to the top, her heartwarming marriage to Bobby Willis and the profound effect his death had on her. This affectionate biography is a fitting tribute to our Cilla, a huge talent who became a national treasure.