Sheridan Smith to play Cilla Black in a new ITV drama

OHMYGOSSIP — Sheridan Smith will play Cilla Black in a new three-part ITV drama, ‘Cilla’. The ‘Mrs. Biggs’ actress is set to portray the legendary British entertainer in a new three-part series titled ‘Cilla’.

The drama will follow Cilla’s rise to fame in 1960s Liverpool, including her friendship with The Beatles after catching the attention of their manager Brian Epstein, who would go on to turn her into a recording artist.

The series will also depict Cilla’s early on/off relationship with her former husband Bobby Willis, a baker who struggled with the star’s determination to succeed as a singer.

Sheridan said: “I am thrilled to be playing Cilla, as she is a British icon. In the ’60s, as a young girl from Liverpool, she had numerous number ones and sang with The Beatles, her life story is fascinating.”

The series was written by Oscar-nominated writer Jeff Pope and will be directed by Paul Whittington, who also directed ‘Mrs. Biggs’.

ITV’s director of drama Steve November said: “Jeff’s scripts offer an extraordinary insight into Cilla’s humble beginnings and meteoric rise to chart success. He captures Liverpool life back in the ’60s through her eyes and it’s fascinating to thinking of her hanging out back stage at the Cavern Club with The Beatles.”

The series will begin shooting in Liverpool next month.

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