Paul O’Grady breaks down in tears over death of Cilla Black
Entertainer Paul O’Grady has paid an emotional tribute to his late friend Cilla Black, as he broke down in tears during a radio appearance at the weekend.
O’Grady, who was a long-time friend of Black, who died last week aged 72, recalled memories of their friendship, as he dedicated the last hour his BBC Radio 2 show to the star.
After playing Black’s song from 1966, ‘Alfie’, O’Grady broke down in tears, saying: “That always does me in that one – completely finishes me off”.
Going on, O’Grady said he remembered being thrown out of a bar in New York City with Black, and that it was one of his best memories.
He said: “She said to me ‘I want singer on my headstone’, and I said, ‘Why do you want to be known for being a sewing machine?’
“She said ‘I’ll have you in a minute’.”
The star said he was glad his show from the week before was pre-recorded, suggesting he would not have been able to go on.
“I’m just grateful that last week’s show was pre-recorded before I found out the sad news about Cilla,” he said.
“There’s no more ‘what’s your name and where do you come from? There’s no more calling out for our Graham and certainly no more lorra, lorra laughs,” he said later.
“Now today, Cilla is back in the chart and she would be absolutely thrilled – she would be modest about it, but she would be thrilled.”
O’Grady has paid an emotional tribute to the entertainer Cilla Black on finding out the news of her death last week, – saying she was “like a sister”.
The Surprise Surprise and Blind Date host died last week at the age of 72, at her home in Spain.
