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Airdate: Cilla

Sheridan Smith stars as a young Cilla Black in this 3 part bio-drama.

2014-11-01_1824Later this month ABC will premiere Cilla, a three-part drama following the early career of singer Cilla Black.

It stars Sheridan Smith who won a BAFTA for her performance in Mrs. Biggs.

Cilla tells of her rocky rise to fame and will capture the essence of 1960s Liverpool, the atmosphere of promise and excitement as the Merseybeat music scene was on the verge of exploding in a blaze of tight‐fitting skirts, stiletto heels, and beehives. It’s 1960’s Liverpool.

Episode One
There’s a renewed energy and excitement across the city as the Merseybeat music scene takes hold. Priscilla White is a typist working in a stifling office environment.

She has an amazing singing voice, and yearns for a career in the limelight.

After frequenting iconic venues like the Cavern Club and The Iron Door, she is soon mesmerising crowds when invited to perform on stage with rising stars like The Beatles; The Big Three and Kingsize Taylor.

Childhood friend, Ringo Starr, invites her on tour with his band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, but Cilla’s protective Catholic father refuses to let her go.

Cilla is distraught, but her spirits are soon lifted when she is swept off her feet by Bobby Willis – a charming, “older” songwriter with a nice car and “successful” career in the music business.

Unbeknown to Cilla, Bobby is not all he professes to be. In truth, he is the same age as her, works in a bakery, and drives around in hired cars to impress the ladies. When Cilla discovers this, she confronts him and vows never to see him again.

Cilla, backed by her friends, The Beatles, lands an audition with legendary impresario, Brian Epstein. However, Cilla blows her big chance to impress Epstein when an attack of nerves gets the better of her. Devastated by this, she faces up to a future with no singing career, no Bobby and no way out of the typing pool.

Sunday, November 16 at 8.35pm on ABC

7 Responses

  1. Thanks David, i was away when it was posted.
    @Brekkie whenever I play Cilla Black on my radio show the switchboard lights up with people wanting more of this fantastic entertainer.

  2. I’m so happy this is being shown in Australia. It’s a great 3 parter which has a brilliant Liverpool retro 60’s feel (unlike the faux 60’s of Love Child) which anyone can enjoy. Sheridan Smith absolutely shines as Cilla.

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