TV Home Forum

Blind Date

Cilla May Leave?!?!? (January 2003)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
JE
Jez Founding member
Tom Hourigan posted:
Then why put as the subheading for the topic "Cilla may leave"?

I heard what she said - it's definite it's her last series; probably given the push as ITV to get rid of the show, along with Millionaire.


I put a sub heading down tom cos Its not 100% confirmed that she is leaving the show - it may still be a false alarm
TH
Tom Hourigan
Erm, after her big thank-you speech at the end of tonight's show, saying after 18 years, she would be doing no further editions of Blind Date, don't you think it would be a tad silly to say, "Oh no, I'm not leaving, I've changed my mind?"

It's more than 100% definite, my friend.
HA
harshy Founding member
Well I hope so, IMHO, Blind Date should have been axed in tht late 90's!
DJ
DJGM
Article on BBC News website . . .
Cilla Quits Blind Date . . .

I was going to post a topic about this, and include a poll as to whether ITV should
finally get rid of this pathetic program. Trouble is, this thread already exists, so any
additional thread about the same subject would end up deleted with or without a poll.
CH
chrisb
From ITV.com/news:

Quote:


http://www.itv.com/news/images/cilla_black_sm.jpg

Cilla Black has announced on TV that she is quitting her dating show Blind Date after almost 18 years.

The Liverpool-born former pop star, whose husband and agent Bobby Willis died from cancer two years ago, said she is considering several "new and exciting" TV projects for 2003.

ITV's Blind Date was launched in 1985 and Cilla said the current series - the 18th - will be her last.

She admitted that the show had become more like work than fun and that she wanted to leave before it became a "chore".

The 59-year-old presenter, who will this year celebrate her 40th year in showbusiness, said she wanted to finish the show on a "high".

"Over New Year I thought a lot about what I wanted to do in 2003, and decided that it was the right time to move on from Blind Date," added Cilla.

The show became the most successful British light entertainment show ever, with Black being the most viewed person in British television history.

Black was successful in pairing off six contestants during the show's history; Anna Azonwanna and Paul Pratt married in 1998, Lillian Morris and David Fenson tied the knot in 1994 and Sue Middleton and Alex Tatham married in 1991.

Black is planning to commemorate her 40th year in showbusiness by writing her autobiography, Cilla, What's It All About?, as well as staging a charity gala at the London Palladium.

Speaking live on tonight's programme, Black told viewers: "I have had great fun for 18 years and would like to thank everyone involved in the show."


They had better axe this, and not replace her with Trisha Flamin' Goddard!
KE
kevlar85
According to the BBC News article there will be a 19th series so maybe they will get Trisha to do it? I never liked the show (mostly due to inheriting my mum's dislike of Cilla Black) but the contestants always seemed to me to have such huge overinflated egos with so very little to be egotistical about! Then when they met they'd go on their holiday and come back and bitch about each other.

EDIT: There's a topic about Without Prejudice so I've moved my comments about it there.
JE
Jez Founding member
Tom Hourigan posted:
Erm, after her big thank-you speech at the end of tonight's show, saying after 18 years, she would be doing no further editions of Blind Date, don't you think it would be a tad silly to say, "Oh no, I'm not leaving, I've changed my mind?"

It's more than 100% definite, my friend.


Duh Tom - I made that post 10 mins BEFORE the end of the show when Cilla made that speech - I dont know why you are making an issue of what I put in the thread title! Confused:
LS
Larry Scutta
So that would explain why the programme was live.... it all makes sense now
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
Jez posted:
Well Cilla said that this was the last series that she was presenting - maybe they will get some slapper in to present the next series?


To hell with that, get Jerry Springer in.

JS: So Kerry, why do you want to date number 2?

K: Because I'm sad and patethic and need a date.

*audience: Woof woof woof*

JS: Well, let's bring out number 2.

*door rolls back to immature sounding screaming and booing from the audience*

*K and Contestant 2 smooch in that "I wouldn't date you if you were the last person on earth" type way*

JS: so Kerry, let's find out where you're going on a holiday. *opens envelope* You have a trip for two to Florida, sponsored by Ryanair.com, for three nights.

K: Whoo! *audience boos*

Con 2: I don't wanna go to f**king Florida, I wanted Barbados. *throws chair at Jerry and storms out followed by "Steve"*

JS: Well, that's all for today. Look after yourselves, and each other.

Much better Very Happy
ST
STV
kevlar85 posted:
According to the BBC News article there will be a 19th series so maybe they will get Trisha to do it? I never liked the show (mostly due to inheriting my mum's dislike of Cilla Black) but the contestants always seemed to me to have such huge overinflated egos with so very little to be egotistical about! Then when they met they'd go on their holiday and come back and bitch about each other.

EDIT: There's a topic about Without Prejudice so I've moved my comments about it there.
Of course there has to be another series after all how are ITV going to ruin a once great game show.
TH
Tom Hourigan
Well, if they bring Trisha in, what next for Blind Date? Lie detectors to show if the contestants really enjoyed their dates, and DNA tests to show if Contestant Number Three really did run off with the Greek barman by the pool and have his child?
SE
Square Eyes Founding member
I gather the Blind Date producers were "gobsmacked" by Cilla's announcement. How silly of them really, I bet Cilla saw the live show as her perfect opportunity to make her announcement. From what I gather, Granada had been approaching others to take over her role anyway, hence the Trisha rumours.

So good on her, they've treat their star very badly, and she'll now probably defect to the BBC. Why Granada are stupidly saying they will make another series on the night Cilla makes her announcement is beyond me. Why don't they actually just sit down and take stock of the situation and even surely then they must realise that another series is just pointless. It's been done to death.

In 2003, it's time for ITV1 to give up on the likes of Blind Date, Millionaire etc. and give us some fresh new entertainment. Roll on Nigel Pickard and quick.

Newer posts