Paul O’Grady tearfully dedicates final hour of Radio 2 show to best friend Cilla Black

Tribute: Paul O'Grady dedicated the final hour of his Radio 2 show to Cilla Black
Rex Features
Jennifer Ruby10 August 2015
The Weekender

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Paul O’Grady paid tribute to his late friend Cilla Black during the final hour of his Radio 2 show on Sunday.

The DJ sounded tearful as he made a dedication to the star, who died after suffering a stroke at her Spanish villa earlier this month.

As well as playing a number of her iconic hit records, O’Grady, 60, regaled listeners with personal memories and anecdotes.

Cilla Black (1943-2015)

1/17

He said: “We lost the queen of showbiz herself and I lost a very good friend."

After playing Black’s much-loved song Alfie, O’Grady sounded chocked up, telling listeners:

“That always does me in that one - completely finishes me off.”

O’Grady also told listeners that his friend would have been ‘thrilled’ by the fact that anyone Who had A Heart was now climbing the charts again.

He said: “She'd be thrilled. She'd be very modest, but she'd be thrilled."

Clearly upset, the DJ added: “Cilla you'll be missed. Not just by me, but by all your legions of fans as well."

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