Celebrities from all corners of the world of showbiz have flocked to social media to pay tribute to Cilla Black after hearing the sad news of her death.
The legendary singer and television personality passed away overnight at her Spanish home on the Costa del Sol.
She had recently flown out to Spain with her son and it is understood she passed away in her sleep from “natural causes”.
Upon hearing the news, a shocked Paul O’Grady, who was good friends with the star, told the Liverpool Echo: “Please tell me this isn’t true? We’ve been friends for nearly 20 years. She’s like my sister.
“Apart from her hearing, she was alright. We had a week together in Barbados at the beginning of the year and I saw her on my birthday. I thought she was well. I can’t believe it to tell you the truth.”
He added: “I kept telling her she’d outlive us all. She’s such a strong lady. It was difficult because she couldn’t hear, so it became texting, but then we’d manage to get her.”
Many other stars took to Twitter to pay tribute, with Emma Bunton writing: “So sad, what a woman, national treasure. #CillaBlack.”
The Only Way Is Essex star Ferne McCann wrote: “An Iconic British Legend! So sad. Rip Cilla.”
Mark Wright tweeted:
Ronan Keating wrote:
Steven Mulhern posted:
Kym Marsh wrote:
Peter Andre tweeted:
Arlene Phillips wrote:
Martine McCutcheon tweeted:
And Natasha Hamilton wrote:
Diana Vickers shared:
Gareth Gates tweeted:
Former Pop Idol judge Nicki Chapman wrote:
And Blue's Anthony Costa tweeted:
Caroline Flack wrote:
Gogglebox's Scarlett Moffatt wrote:
Geordie Shore's Jay wrote:
Cilla leaves behind her three sons Robert, Ben and Jack as well as her two grandchildren.
She was born Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool in 1943.