Cilla Black’s son Robert encouraged Paul O’Grady to present the new series of ‘Blind Date’.
The 62-year-old television presenter rejected the offer to host the iconic dating show, which the late singer – who tragically died in 2015 aged 72 – helmed for almost 20 years, but it wasn’t until the ‘You’re My World’ hitmaker’s 47-year-old son urged him to take the opportunity that Paul accepted the job.
Speaking about his latest venture on ‘The One Show’ on Friday (16.06.17), the funny man said: "At first I said no because it’s so synonymous with Cilla. I thought nobody else can do it. I’m not your suitable Cupid me, I’m quite cynical.
"I’ve told them if there’s any weddings don’t invite me because I can’t stand them. These days they’re like three day affairs, they go on forever.
"I spoke to Robert, her son, and he said do it."
And the ‘The Paul O’Grady Show’ host has admitted he feels like a "phoney" for taking over from Cilla, and be on the show he used to enjoy watching whilst he carried out his domestic chores.
He explained: "It was very hard because I kept expecting Cilla at the top of the stairs saying ‘what are you doing?’ I’ll constantly refer to her if there’s a bit of a mess up.
"I felt like a phoney – ‘what am I doing here?’ How did this happen, I used to iron my jeans while watching this."
Paul – who is also known for his alter-ego Lily Savage – has revealed the Channel 5 programme will see pairings with the same sex on the show, as well as "cougars".
Speaking about the show, he said: "We’ve got cougars, and they were hoot. We’ve got gay guys, lesbians, 70-year-olds and people with their dogs, you name it.
"There’s been a couple where they’ve got on quite well on the date. We’ve had lady mechanics and engineers you wouldn’t want to mess with."
Cilla Black’s son Robert told Paul O’Grady to present Blind Date
