Cilla Black quotes:

Well it has been very exciting and very changing as well. Celebrating the 40th year and having the album out and the Channel 4 documentary and I resigned from Blind Date.

It's hard to watch your life unfold, and sad. Life changes.

I'm a 'never say never' girl. Frank Sinatra retired four times. He kept coming back. But there are people in our business who want to die on stage. Literally. I don't want to do that.

Blind Date' was my lifeline. It was 90 minutes when I could forget about everything, forget about the world.

After Fergie and Prince Andrew honeymooned at Le Touessrok in Mauritius, Bobby, my late husband, and I were first to stay in their suite. We enjoyed the benefits - all the spoils and the special luxuries. We practically had our own private beach, and it was most romantic.

I've had a blessed life. I've pulled back from trying to control my destiny and gone back to accepting whatever fate has in store for me. I live for today because I don't know what'll happen tomorrow.

It's no fun getting older. I might be wearing beautiful diamond earrings, but they can't take away the pain of losing my hearing.

T.V. found me. I was offered jobs. It came in handy when I started having babies. Just one night's work, and then I could go home. I loved 'Surprise Surprise', but it was hard work. 'Blind Date' was a doddle by comparison.

I've got a bike in the lounge that I watch Coronation Street on. I never had to watch my weight until I had the children, but with the bike, I'm fine.

Blind Date' was based on an Australian show called 'Perfect Match', which I first saw when I was on tour there. And I couldn't understand why it wasn't on British T.V.

I'm a Roman Catholic. Or was. I was brought up that way and used to say my prayers every night, but I don't pray to God any more. I might use the usual phrases I picked up from my parents, 'Oh, if God spares me next year...' or 'Please God...' but they're only phrases.

I loved everything about show business, meeting the stars, the whole ambience. I was living every young kid's dream. I was told a pop singer's life was three years, but I was still making money seven years later.

You see on 'Britain's Got Talent' and 'X Factor,' they all wear ear plugs. But I could not hear myself when I wore them. So that is where the strong voice came from.

It's a business, and I'm a product. Terrible, isn't it?

I'm apolitical. Where all that Conservative business came along from, I don't know.

I've got lots of great friends in show business, and that's all they are. Great friends. I'll never marry again - what's the point? I had the best. I've got friends all over the world, and that's enough for me.

I intend to grow old very disgracefully.

I like being in charge of the remote control.

I cannot do business. I cannot sit and say, 'How are you, the weather's great, how's your golf?' I'm like a bull in a china shop.

I would have loved to have cracked America. When I tried, I got homesick. Then, when I was in New York, my nanna died, and I just wanted to come home.

I just thank God when I wake up every day.

The first time I went to Abbey Road and put those headphones on, I discovered I had two voices. I no longer had to shout in the studio, but I can't knock the Cavern or the other clubs because they gave me my strong voice.

It was an unknown thing, a lot of people had very bad trips and I like to be in control.

I was so ordinary, critics couldn't understand it, but looking back, that was the reason for my success. What you see is what you get. People thought, 'I could do that.'

Who wouldn't fancy Brian Epstein? He was tall and handsome and had money and class.

When people ask me do I believe in feminism - well, I didn't even know I was a feminist. I was the top of the bill; I've always been the top of the bill. So I don't know what equality is.

My idea of baking is buying a ready-make cake mix and throwing in an egg.

Back when I was helping put the swing into the swinging '60s, I used to hang out with Cathy McGowan. We'd be doing 'Ready Steady Go!' on T.V., and Biba used to make our dresses. We'd be in the flat in Cromwell Road on Friday night, just before the live show, and they'd still be sewing.

I don't like the selfie because it's too close. There ain't no people with arms long enough to do a selfie of me.

When I go out, it's to have a good time, not to find a man.

I remember one day my son, our Robert, was looking at me on the settee and looking at me on the television, and then all of a sudden he said: 'Why don't you bring that pretty mummy home with you?' And I thought: 'Oh dear, I'm going to have to dress up at home now as well!'

I rarely stay in hotels because I have friends all over the world.

Anything which interferes with my social life is a no-no.

You couldn't give me any more confidence than when I was on T.V. because I was in control, but I wasn't in control in my private life.

I am falling apart. My hand is falling apart. I can't shake hands. I had arthritis, and I had an operation for it.

It's true what they say: 'You don't appreciate what you've got until it's gone.' I miss love. I miss being looked after.

I never did acid, I am just so high anyway.

The nicest thing about coming of age is that I can do whatever I like.

On girls night in we talk about dating; the ups and downs of the previous week. Our collective laughter is uncontrollable and tearful, even the most disappointing dates become meritorious on girls night in.

I humbly apologise for reality Television.

But reality television is here to stay.

When I was fifteen, I remember my mum taking me to the posh clothes shop on London Road to get my first grown-up coat. It was royal-blue and very adult, and I thought, Gosh, this is great! But when my mum said to the assistant, "What's the lowest price you'll take for this?" I nearly died of shame, and wanted to run away.

I'm quite subdued, believe it or not. I switch it on for the camera.

On my gravestone, I want 'Here lies the singer,' not 'Here lies the T.V. presenter'.

There's a whole generation out there who don't know that I was a pop singer in the early days.

I was reading about an age pill that has been developed which they claim will make you live longer. That is not for me.

I love books and the latest autobiographies. I'm a Gemini and love being with people, but then again, I love my own company, which is when I read most.

The difference with me is that I did inhale.

If I can't eat the meal in a restaurant, and the waiter asks, 'Is everything all right, Madam?', I tell them that I'm on a diet.

I love cookery programmes.

I wouldn't mind being a talent show judge if it didn't run for too long.

I never thought I'd be on T.V. For me as a kid in Liverpool, it was a more realistic option to be a singer.

I did smoke a joint once but I did not enjoy it.

Singer Cilla Black's introduction to homophobic bullying occurred during a visit from Billy, a dear childhood friend. Sharing a room with Ms Black's boyfriend, Billy Returning after having gone out by himself: collapsed by the bed and burst into floods of tears, his face bruised and splattered with blood. ... " I'm Gay," Billy said, "and I've just been beaten up and robbed by a guy who picked me up in a bar and took me back to his place."

Work is a four-letter word.

I love Simon Cowell, he's a dear friend.

I'm not, sexy, am I? God knows, I've tried

I do not miss ITV, God no! Have you seen ITV lately?

I didn't think before that I'd done enough to justify publishing an autobiography but after 40 years in show business I'm now ready to tell my story.

I had to do the book because there was an unauthorised biography which didn't tell it like it was.