The singer and presenter whose career spanned more than 50 years, who fronted TV programmes Blind Date and Surprise Surprise, has died at the age of 72. A Spanish police spokeswoman confirmed on Sunday 2 August that Cilla had died at her Spanish home in Estepona on the Costa del Sol.

She said: "I can confirm the death of British national Priscilla White, aged 72. We are still awaiting autopsy results but everything at this stage is pointing towards her death being the result of natural causes."

Police sources said they thought the death had occurred overnight and they believed the entertainer, who suffered from hearing problems and arthritis, had flown to Spain a few days ago with one of her three sons.

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TV presenter Cilla Black poses for photographers with her Order of the British Empire medal which she received form the Queen during an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace Reuters
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Cilla Black and good friend Cliff Richard in the royal box at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship Getty
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Cilla Black (L) and Cliff Richard attend the funeral of television presenter Caron Keating in Kent, southern England Reuters
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Cilla Black attends the Arqiva British Academy Television Awards Getty
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British television presenter Cilla Black (R) arrives behind her husband's coffin for his funeral at Saint Mary's Church in Denham November 1. Black's husband, Bobby Willis died after a long battle against cancer. Reuters
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Singer and television presenter Cilla Black and actor Colin Firth sit on Centre Court at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships Reuters
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Cilla Black walks down the catwalk during Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief 2008 charity fashion show as part of London Fashion Week Reuters
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Queen Elizabeth (L) meets TV presenters Cilla Black (2R), Floella Benjamin (2L) and Director General of the BBC, Greg Dyke at a reception for the British broadcasting industry at Buckingham Palace Reuters