Cilla

On the face of it the life of Cilla Black (née Priscilla White) might seem an unprepossessing subject for a biopic. After a brief period as a singing star in the mid-1960s, she gradually moved into more middle-of-the-road activities such as hosting her own television Show CILLA, acting in pantomime and subsequently becoming the host of BLIND DATE and SURPRISE SURPRISE. Her chief claim to fame in her early years seems to be her association with The Beatles at the beginning of their careers.

Nonetheless Paul Whittington's drama proves compelling viewing. This is chiefly due to a series of stellar performances - although Sheridan Smith bears little facial resemblance to the character she lays, she communicates Black's verbal and gestural nuances perfectly, that combination of sheer drive and homespun charm that helped Black to remain at the top of her profession for thirty-plus years. Smith also has a wonderful singing voice: at the end of each of the three parts, we are told that she sang everything live. This is quite the best characterization I have seen from this talented actress.

Smith is admirably complimented by Aneurin Barnard as her road manager (and later her husband) Bobby Willis. Initially he comes across as a bit of a lad, someone who willingly lies about his age and profession in order to pursue the girl of his dreams. As time passes, however, so he understands the depth of his attraction to Cilla; he even passes up the chance of a stellar career of his own in order to be with her. The love-scenes between the two are really touching, as we understand how they were simply made for one another. Especially in her early career, Cilla could not record without seeing Bobby out of the corner of her eye.

As Brian Epstein, Ed Stoppard has a difficult role to play as a stellar manager with a complicated - not to say disastrous - private life at a time when homosexuality was still a crime. We understand a lot about his contradictions; his brilliant flair for publicity and/or finding the right people to further Cilla's burgeoning career, allied to his desperate need for love, something that he can never find. Epstein was the rock upon which Cilla constructed her career - although never in love with him, she found she could seldom do without him. In a poignant sequence set in a hotel restaurant, she learns of his premature death through an overdose of sleeping-pills, and collapses into Bobby's arms.

Stylistically speaking CILLA's narrative comprises a series of intimate sequences that convincingly recreate the atmosphere of early Sixties Liverpool and London Director Whittington is also fond of the aerial shot that gives a panorama of the industrial landscapes in which Black grew up. While certain aspects of her life have been omitted - notably her stint as a server in a restaurant - Jeff Pope's script vividly recaptures her social background in which religion and morality played such a significant part. This three-part biopic is definitely worth watching, not only for its entertainment value but for its evocation of a long-vanished world of working-class life.

I was at school in the 1950's and 1960's and yes I also noticed a number of inaccuracies, but this was not the point of the programme. There are plenty of historical books and websites out there if that is what you want. The programme is all about capturing the hopes and dreams of young musicians during a very exciting period in popular music, and this it does perfectly. Any references to the Beatles are in the context of the story itself and are not intended to be an detailed account of their movements. If any of the inaccuracies had detracted from the storyline then I am sure that Cilla herself would have objected to it. So just sit back and enjoy the programme and avoid any unnecessary nitpicking.

Cilla Black is probably best-known in the UK for her family entertainer TV persona which started with her own variety show but eventually led to her massive success as the giggling genial hostess of awful but long-running TV shows like "Surprise Surprise" and "Blind Date". Originally though, she came to prominence as a singer in the early 60's as part of Brian Epstein's post-Beatles Merseybeat stable and this 3-part series covers just that period, I certainly wouldn't have tuned in if it had gone beyond that.

Miss Black is on record herself as saying her lifestyle even in the swinging 60's was hardly rock and roll even with her association with the Beatles who mentored her and wrote some of her hit songs. Thus you won't find too much excitement or danger in her rags to riches story, besides some religious tension between her Protestant family upbringing and that of her Catholic boyfriend and road manager, later her manager and husband Bobby Willis, the usual ups and downs of her relationship with Willis, some strain between her and a distracted Brian Epstein, plus of course her rise to fame from Cavern hat-check girl to appearing on the London Palladium and topping the charts.

Sheridan Smith, who does all her own singing too and Aneurin Bernard are personable in these two main roles although a lack of likeness in other key parts, such as the Beatles and Epstein weakens veracity a touch. Some licence is taken with the facts too, like Cilla being told her record has magically made it to number 1 as if from nowhere when in reality it took weeks to climb to the top. I could also have done with a little less concentration on the troubled Epstein's unconventional personal life which probably belongs in a bio-drama of its own.

Nevertheless this was pleasant and likable if slightly over-polite (well, Cilla is still alive and something of a national treasure, I guess you'd say) entertainment with some good songs and performances thrown in for good measure.

Sheridan Smith is British, she's sassy, she's - when required - very 1960s mod. Most noticeable 'flaw': she doesn't have the famous Cilla Black crooked front teeth... Sheridan can also sing, taking in account that it's not her profession. Still her vocals are the big problem in this TV biop. For me, and everyone else who is very familiar with Cilla Black's records, Smith's vocals are almost painful. The real Cilla had a clear and truly phenomenal voice. Soft and tender one moment, the next belting out like a fog horn. Her enemies called her a 'nasal screech', but it's for sure a voice no one can imitate easily.

The 'Alfie' recording session with Burt Bacharach almost admits it. It's true that Burt Bacharach was a perfectionist and probably demanded from all the singers he worked with to do take after take after take, but in this scene he seems to think "Cilla Who again? Give me Dionne and Dusty any time." Well, Cilla Black was more than up to her 1960's contemporaries. Listen to the authentic Alfie recording session as can be found on YouTube. It may have been her 3rd or 30th take, but she leaves you breathless. What a voice, what an emotion. (A question for the director or costumer, though. In the Alfie studio session scene, Sheridan sports Cilla Black's new hair style for 1966. Why not the quite iconic Mary Quant dress as well?)

It must be very difficult to find actors who look like famous people as they were in their younger days. I found Brian Epstein too handsome and well-mannered. George Martin and Ringo Star fared better, and the actor who played Cilla's boyfriend aka roadmanager and future husband Bobby Willis is the spitting image of the real one. But when I fail to recognize Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Pete Best at all, it's both confusing and distracting.

What leading lady Sheridan Smith lacks in vocal similarities, she more than makes up in looks and charisma. She is Cilla Black as I remember her from the 1964-1965 TV appearances. In fact, it's Sheridan who gloriously saves the 3-episode series 'Cilla' from being a major drag. And had the vocals been play-backed, I would have awarded this with a 10.

This is what I have been missing for a long time. Here we have a real drama that is totally down to earth English and something we can all relate to in one way or another.It is convincingly authentic in its atmosphere of post war Liverpool with the bomb sites and obvious lack of material things,but a feeling that things are about to get a lot better. A few dodgy accents does not detract from the work the producers and cast present us with.

Sheridan Smith is pure class AND She performs all the songs herself. This young lady has a great future ahead of her. This could well move on to Londons West End and be big success. Well done ITV for giving people what they want.