Cilla makes comeback on dating show

chris

Cilla Black is making her return to TV with a new dating show.

Black, 65, hosted ITV's Blind Date, which was watched by 17 million viewers at the height of its popularity in the 1980s, for 18 years. The hit series ended five years ago when Black stunned bosses by announcing on the first live Blind Date that she was quitting the show.

Producers have billed Loveland as a dating show with a 21st century twist. Hopefuls will hide behind real-time animated characters instead of the famous Blind Date screen in the studio-based show.

Contestants will select their date after interacting with the animated characters, before they meet the person they have chosen for real. The winning couple's date will be designed to test whether their relationship is meant to last.

The 10-part series will be broadcast on Sky One next year.

Loveland comes as ITV is mooted to be lining up a new dating show, with X Factor star Simon Cowell said to have bought a share of the rights to Blind Date.

Black, who had to buy three hats for Blind Date weddings, said: "Loveland captivated me with its modern-day twist on the dating format, bringing something new and exciting to the genre."

She joked: "(The) unique animation may help couples find love and me the perfect hat."

Sky One said: "Who knows what's lurking behind the cartoon. Will they pick a real-life Jessica Rabbit or will they choose something more akin to the infamous Tasmanian Devil?"

Former singer Black became TV's highest paid female star, with the power to influence scheduling, thanks to the success of Blind Date. Names like Davina McCall, actress Claire Sweeney and Paul O'Grady were named as possible successors when Black left, but the show was axed.



Source:The Press Association.