[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Cilla

  • TV Mini Series
  • 2014
  • 46m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Sheridan Smith in Cilla: Making of an Icon (2014)
Period DramaBiographyDramaMusic

The life and career of British singer and entertainer Cilla Black.The life and career of British singer and entertainer Cilla Black.The life and career of British singer and entertainer Cilla Black.

  • Stars
    • Sheridan Smith
    • Aneurin Barnard
    • John Henshaw
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Sheridan Smith
      • Aneurin Barnard
      • John Henshaw
    • 14User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards
      • 4 wins & 14 nominations total

    Episodes3

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season2014

    Photos39

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 35
    View Poster

    Top cast49

    Edit
    Sheridan Smith
    Sheridan Smith
    • Cilla
    • 2014
    Aneurin Barnard
    Aneurin Barnard
    • Bobby
    • 2014
    John Henshaw
    John Henshaw
    • John White
    • 2014
    Kent Riley
    • Kenny
    • 2014
    Melanie Hill
    Melanie Hill
    • Big Cilla
    • 2014
    Ed Stoppard
    Ed Stoppard
    • Brian Epstein
    • 2014
    Andrew Schofield
    Andrew Schofield
    • Robert Willis Snr…
    • 2014
    Debbie Brannan
    Debbie Brannan
    • Rose
    • 2014
    Tara Wells
    • Pat
    • 2014
    Daniel Boyarsky
    • Johnny 'Hutch' Hutchinson
    • 2014
    Jordan Luke Gage
    Jordan Luke Gage
    • Adrian Barber
    • 2014
    Tom Dunlea
    • Ringo Starr
    • 2014
    James Nelson-Joyce
    James Nelson-Joyce
    • Degsy
    • 2014
    Elliot Cowan
    Elliot Cowan
    • George Martin
    • 2014
    Jamie Muscato
    Jamie Muscato
    • Rory Storm
    • 2014
    Kevin Mains
    Kevin Mains
    • Paul McCartney
    • 2014
    Tommy McDonnell
    • Teddy
    • 2014
    Samantha Robinson
    • Jean
    • 2014
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    7.91.6K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    9terry-newman199

    Review of TV series Cilla.

    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.
    7dedeurs

    The Biop Curse

    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.
    6Lejink

    Whiter than Black

    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.
    WeldonHenley

    Would Like Some Data on Cilla's Background

    One reviewer wrote about Cilla's Protestant family. Wasn't she raised Roman Catholic? I believe she attended St. Anthony's School. I would appreciate clarification on this. The DVD is non USA formatted, so it cannot be played o most players in the U.S. at this time - Hopefully the series will appear on The BBC in America channel some time in the very near future. Also, I find it strange that no further installments detailing Cilla's further career are planned in view of the rave reviews for the series. Thanks for all of the reviews for this series, as I've found all of them informative and well- written. One of the reasons I am looking forward to seeing this series is that I've read about twelve reviews and all are positive ones.
    9stevequaltrough

    Required Viewing For 60s Music Fans

    I have left one point off as, being from Liverpool, I can spot a dud Liverpool accent a mile off, and while the lead actors accents were very good, some of the "cough and spit" actors did not get the sixties accent correctly. The accent seems to have become more rough around the edges than in those days when BBC English ruled the airwaves. Other than that the series was a joy. I loved hearing Sheridan Smith's versions of 60s classics. I especially enjoyed the revival of "Love of the Loved" as I liked this song on its first release and thought it should have been a much bigger hit. As an 11 year old I was glued to the TV screen whenever Merseybeat stars appeared. I remember Cilla Black being interviewed and saying that she was more excited about that song getting to number 35 than she did about her next release getting to number 1. Watching this I had to sympathise with Cilla as I enjoyed the scenes of her singing in the Liverpool clubs better than her later more middle of the road studio recording, but that is an ageing Liverpool music fan for you! I also enjoyed seeing the remnants of 60s Liverpool in this show, looking as dingy as I remembered the street back cracks of the time. And my, didn't the place look a treat when it was dressed up as New York using Civic Buildings also still around from that60s era. People I have chatted to have proudly told me that they were served hot-dogs and Coke by Cilla at the Cavern, so it seems to have tapped a wave of warm affection from older inhabitants of Modern Liverpooltowards Cilla. There is surely scope for a series two as there are several big Cilla hits from the late 60s and 70s such as "Surround Yourself With Sorrow" "Conversations" and the recently revived "Something tells me Something's going to Happen Tonight" still to come plus some emotionally charged episodes in the life of Cilla. But as it stands anyone who is still in thrall to the music of this period,with specific reference to lovers of Lennon and McCartney songs should watch this to get another take on the Beatles story as it delivers new information on Brian Epstein's managing abilities. I also loved hearing "Bad To me" by Billy J Kramer(One of the "lost" Beatles compositions like "Love of the Loved"? Well done to all concerned. It really,truly left me wanting more. A feature it shared with its subject, the legendary Cilla Black

    More like this

    Mrs Biggs
    7.6
    Mrs Biggs
    Cleaning Up
    6.3
    Cleaning Up
    Une femme de confiance
    7.4
    Une femme de confiance
    La remplaçante
    6.5
    La remplaçante
    Butterfly
    6.4
    Butterfly
    The Moorside
    7.2
    The Moorside
    Doctor Who: The Further Adventures of Lucie Miller
    6.7
    Doctor Who: The Further Adventures of Lucie Miller
    The C Word
    7.5
    The C Word
    Double Jeu
    6.7
    Double Jeu
    Funny Girl
    7.3
    Funny Girl
    Cilla
    Cilla
    Love Soup
    8.1
    Love Soup

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All Cilla's songs were sung by Sheridan Smith.
    • Goofs
      In the scene of the recording of "Anyone Who Had a Heart," clearly visible on top of the upright piano is a pair of DT100 headphones. These weren't introduced until 1969; the song was recorded in 1963.
    • Connections
      Edited into Some Other Guys: The Story of the Big Three (2017)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ18

    • How many seasons does Cilla have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 15, 2014 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 女伶希拉
    • Filming locations
      • Belgrave Pub, Bryanston Road, Aigburth, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK(interiors: White family's flat)
    • Production company
      • ITV Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Sheridan Smith in Cilla: Making of an Icon (2014)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Cilla (2014) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit pageAdd episode

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.