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Cilla Black 'gave blessing' to stage musical which may be in the pipeline
Cilla Black gave permission for her life to be turned into a West End musical before she died, meaning a production about the legendary entertainer – who passed away earlier this month aged 72 – could be in the pipeline.
A source to The Sun: "Cilla had a meeting with producers interested in turning her life story into a musical. She had actually granted them permission but it wasn't the right time.
"Now people are swarming around the rights. It seems the perfect time to bring her fairytale story to the stage."
Her representative Nick Fiveash confirmed the reports: "…Prior to her untimely death Cilla Black had given her blessing to a West End stage production based on her life. Cilla was thrilled and excited at the idea, and was looking forward to its development.
"Her manager, son Robert Willis, had been in continuous talks with a West End producer regarding early stages of planning, but obviously these are now on hold for the time being."
It has been suggested Sheridan Smith, who played the singer in ITV drama Cilla and was nominated for a BAFTA for her role, could assume the on-stage role.
Cilla, who hosted hit entertainment shows Blind Date and Surprise Surprise, sadly passed away two weeks ago in her Spanish home near Marbella. She died of a stroke after falling and hitting her head at her villa.
Her funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon at St Mary’s Church in Woolton before she will be laid to rest next to her parents in a private ceremony.
The church where the service will take place is also where Cilla married her beloved husband Bobby on 6 March, 1969. The couple had three sons together, Robert, Ben and Jack. Bobby sadly died of lung cancer in 1999, leaving their eldest son to take on the role of Cilla's manager.