TV

Cilla Black was laid to rest at St. Mary's Church in Woolton, Liverpool this afternoon (20.08.15).
The showbiz legend - who sadly passed away at her holiday home in Spain earlier this month - was remembered by friends and family with a Requiem Mass at the church where she married her late husband Bobby Willis in 1969.
Cilla and Bobby's eldest son Robert was one of a number of those close to her to pay touching tributes to the late 'Blind Date' host and he spoke of his joy at knowing his parents had been reunited in heaven.
He said: "They were two working class kids who grew up together, and achieved the impossible. When he died, life for her, was never really as sweet. He was her soulmate, and now they are together forever. Today she has returned home. Now, the circle is complete."
Robert, 45 - who was his mother's manager before she died - also spoke of her "fearless" and "natural" ability as an entertainer.
He said: "She was a natural, who loved to entertain. Her god-given talent and determination made her a trailblazer in the world of music and television.
"The minute she was on stage in front of an audience, she was fearless."
Cilla's funeral - which was organised by Robert and his younger brothers Ben, 41, and Jack, 35 - began at 1pm following a procession that saw hundreds of fans line the streets in her hometown to pay their respects.
Ben also took to the stand to speak of his memories of his mother.
He said: "Even though mum was a star for over 50 years, she was always more than happy to have a good laugh at herself. Looking good and staying young were important to mum. A few years back I was doing a lot of yoga and she asked me if meditation would help keep her young. I told her, even if it didn't stop her from getting older, hopefully it would help her realise the most important thing was her inner divine essence rather than her external appearance. She reflected on this for a moment and I felt reconnected. You're right, she said, 'I don't need to wear high heels, as long as I still look great in a pair of jeans, I'm okay'."
Ben also admitted he takes comfort in knowing that she died in one of her favourite places, doing one of her favourite things.
He added: "Mum's death was such a shock to everyone, but I for one take some solace at least knowing it happened in one of her favourite places in the world, her sun terrace in Spain, doing one of her favourite things, sunbathing and listening to music."
A number of Cilla's close friends and fellow celebrities also made touching tributes including Sir Cliff Richard - who performed a rendition of his song 'Faithful One' - Paul O'Grady, Christopher Biggins and Jimmy Tarbuck.
Sir Tom Jones, Carol Vorderman, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Les Dennis also attended the service, which saw a number of Cilla's songs including 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' played in the church.
Cilla - whose real name was Priscilla White - will be buried alongside her parents, John and Priscilla White, at the nearby Allerton Cemetry.

Paul O'Grady says the "light has gone off" since Cilla Black passed away.
The television personality has admitted things haven't been the same for him since the showbiz legend passed away at the age of 72 earlier this month.
Speaking at her funeral in Liverpool today (20.08.15), he shared: "I love this lady dearly, you have no idea. She was one of my closest friends and even if I hadn't spoken to her for some time, we always picked up where we left off when we got together ...
"I don't know what I'm going to do really; the light went off a couple of weeks ago and it hasn't come back on yet. I'm just going to miss her so much. So Cilla, I'd just like to say - thanks for all the fun, thanks for all the laughs."
In the laugh-filled tribute, Paul spoke of his "indestructible" friend, admitting he thought his funeral would be first.
He added: "I firmly believed that Cilla was indestructible and that I'd most definitely go first, the state of my heart.
"In fact, we discussed my funeral at length and she had a major role in it that involved a mantilla and lilies so I'm going to have to rethink that now, aren't I?"
Throughout his glowing tribute, Paul recounted a number of anecdotes about the late 'Blind Date' host, joking that he once introduced her to the "finer things" in New York.
He shared: "I met her on Michael Parkinson's chat show and we just clicked; we were soulmates. And after Bobby [her husband] died, I went for dinner at the house and we sat up 'til five o'clock in the morning and decided to stay with Peter Brown in New York, which we did.
"I introduced her to the finer things in New York like bars, burlesque shows and nightclubs with such a reputation, taxi drivers were always reticent to drop us off. I always use to say to her, 'Give us your jewellery, Cilla'. I had the necklace, the rings, all in my pocket and I permanently had my hand in my pocket, terrified incase I lost it."
Paul also admitted he would always remember Cilla for her "laughter" and the trouble they got into together.
He told the congregation: "But she loved life. If you asked me, 'what do you think about Cilla?', one word - laughter, because that's all we did. We got into a lot of trouble, I'll admit but we laughed whilst we were doing it."

Sir Tom Jones has paid tribute to the "always happy" Cilla Black.
The showbiz legend is being laid to rest today (20.08.15) in her hometown of Liverpool, following her tragic death at her Spanish villa earlier this month, and the 'Delilah' hitmaker has praised her "common touch".
He told Sky News: "She was always happy and she always had the common touch, which I feel I've got as well.
"We come from working class people and she never forgot it. It was always the same; showbusiness never affected her and I liked that."
A number of showbiz stars have been seen arriving at St Mary's Church over the past hour or so, including Sir Cliff Richard, Jimmy Tarbuck, Carol Vorderman, Christopher Biggins and Paul O'Grady.
The cortege was driven a short trip through Woolton, where fans paid their respects to the late singer and television presenter.
Some reached out to touch the car carrying the hearse as it passed them whilst others sobbed and placed flowers on the bonnet.
One fan tied a scarf belonging to the Liverpool football club onto the wing mirror of the car, remembering Cilla's affinity to the city where she found her fame.

Jimmy Tarbuck believes Cilla Black and her husband Bobby Willis are in "eternal peace".
The 75-year-old comedian - who had been close friends with the late singer and TV presenter for over five decades before her tragic death earlier this month - paid tribute to her as he arrived at her funeral in Liverpool this afternoon (20.08.15).
Asked what he thought Cilla would be saying to her late husband in heaven, Jimmy said: "She's saying, 'Oh hey Bobby' ... He will be getting a rollicking, and they will be together with the little girl they lost. They will be in eternal peace."
Cilla - whose daughter Ellen lived for just two hours after being born prematurely in 1975 - sadly passed away aged 72 on August 1 after suffering a head injury in a fall at her holiday home in Spain.
Speaking about her untimely death, Jimmy told ITV's 'This Morning': "It's just sad, she's far too young to have left us. All I remember Cil for is laughter ... I've known her since we were kids, from about 14."
Cilla and Bobby's three sons Robert, Jack and Ben were joined by a host of Cilla's celebrity friends including Jimmy, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Tom Jones, Paul O'Grady and Christopher Biggins at the service at St. Mary's Church in Woolton.

Victoria Derbyshire has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The 46-year-old journalist took to her Twitter account yesterday (19.08.15) to reveal she is set to undergo a mastectomy in the near future after being diagnosed with the disease.
She wrote: "Hi, have been diagnosed with breast cancer & am having a mastectomy in a few wks. Family, friends, work & NHS staff are being brilliant (sic)."
The occasional 'Newsnight' presenter - whose self-titled current affairs show is broadcast on BBC Two and the BBC News channel - admitted she will continue to host the show as often as she can while she receives treatment.
She added: "Will be doing the programme as much as possible during treatment in the months ahead (sic)."
Victoria was a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live for 16 years, departing in 2014 and previously hosted the Channel 4 sports chat show 'Sports Talk'.
A BBC spokesman said: "We wish Victoria a full and speedy recovery and look forward to having her back full-time on the programme as soon as possible."

Craig Charles says his brother's death made him want to quit 'Coronation Street'.
The 51-year-old actor plays Lloyd Mullaney in the ITV soap and will exit the show in a live broadcast aired next month, but he admitted it was the untimely passing of his brother Dylan that inspired him to reassess his career options and pursue the dreams he had been putting on hold.
Craig said: "It's really quite sad, actually, but my brother died last year. He was 52 - I'm 51. When he died I thought, 'There's things that I've got to do. I've got to do some things before it's my time'. There's so many things that, because Coronation Street is such a big part of your life, you don't get to do.
"So I've just signed a deal with Sony Records and we're bringing out an album on September 18 - a compilation of funk and soul. It's some of the best records ever committed to plastic - 3 CDs on that."
Craig - whose brother sadly passed away while he was appearing on 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!' last year - also insisted he won't be returning to the ITV reality show later this year.
He told ITV's 'This Morning': "Then of course mid-November we start making Red Dwarf. We do two series of Red Dwarf back-to-back, which will take me all the way up until March. Then in March I'll sit down and go, 'I wish I was back on 'Coronation Street'!"

Christopher Biggins has promised to give Cilla Black a "good send off" at her funeral today (20.08.15).
The 66-year-old actor and close friend of the late 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' singer - who tragically died on August 1 - said it's going to be a "tough" day, but hopes it can also be a "joyous" occasion.
Speaking about coming to terms with her death, he said: "You think she's going to ring and say, 'Shall we go to the Ivy?' Or you're going to turn up somewhere and she's going to be there. The reality is that she's not but we're going to give her a good send off today, a really good send off."
"It's going to be a tough day I think but also a joyous day, saying goodbye to our dear friend Cilla and I think this is absolutely the right place for her to return to. It's like Cinderella has returned to Liverpool... If Cilla were here, she'd love it."
The 'Porridge' star will give an emotional speech at the service at St. Mary's Church in Woolton, along with tributes from comedians Paul O'Grady and Jimmy Tarbuck and singer Sir Cliff Richard.
Asked what the 'Blind Date' host would've thought of the service, he told ITV's 'Good Morning Britain': "I think she would love it, I think she's up there with a glass of champagne and [her late husband] Bobby [Willis] having a laugh and looking to see who's coming, who's not here, why aren't they here, and just having a good time.
"It's just wonderful for the family and for Cilla. It's fantastic this tribute that Liverpool is paying to her."
Christopher also revealed Cilla and Bobby's sons Robert, Jack and Ben are doing "amazingly well" following their mother's shock death.
He told ITV's 'Good Morning Britain': "We had a little party last night in the hotel and the boys are doing amazingly well, I don't know how they're doing it but they are and Robert and Ben are speaking today and it's extraordinary.
"I think that, you know, they've had so much to do, so much to organise, I think given a few days it will really sink in."

Jimmy Tarbuck will mention Cilla Black's late husband and daughter at her funeral today (20.08.15).
The 75-year-old comedian - who had been friends with the showbiz legend for over 50 years before her tragic death earlier this month - will read Prayers of the Faithful which will reference Cilla's husband Bobby Willis and their baby girl Ellen.
Bobby died from lung cancer in 1999 while their daughter sadly passed away in 1975 after being born prematurely and suffering lung complications, living for only two hours.
According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Jimmy will say: "She may now be admitted to the company of the saints with Bobby, and their daughter Ellen."
Cilla died from a "traumatic head injury due to a fall" while staying at her holiday home in Marbella, Spain but will be buried in her hometown of Liverpool.
Speaking shortly after her death Jimmy said: "Liverpool has lost its Cinderella.
"She always said to me, 'I'm going to be a star you know?' We all believed it because of her energy, her personality."
Cilla's funeral - which has been organised by her and Bobby's sons Robert, Ben and Jack - is being held at St. Mary's Church in Woolton, where she married Bobby in 1969, at 1pm.

Nicola Stephenson has joined the cast of 'Emmerdale'.
The 44-year-old actress - who played Margaret Clemence in 'Brookside' from 1990 to 1993 and most recently starred in the ITV drama 'Safe House' - is to play a new character named Tess in the ITV soap.
She said: "I'm thrilled to be joining the cast of 'Emmerdale'. It's a British institution and I'm very excited about the storylines that they have planned for my character."
Nicola's character is described as a warm, assured person with a great heart, who is dedicated to her role as a teaching assistant.
However, her life will take an unexpected turn when she meets 'Emmerdale's long serving vet Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt).
'Emmerdale' series producer Kate Oates said: "I am delighted to welcome an actress of Nicola's calibre to the show. We are keeping the exact details of Tess' storyline under wraps but it is safe to say she will mix things up in the village."
In addition to 'Brookside' and 'Safe House', Nicola has also starred in series including 'Waterloo Road', 'The Chase' and 'Clocking Off'.
She will begin filming later this month with her first scenes set to air on ITV in the autumn.