Cilla Black Funeral: Jimmy Tarbuck And Christopher Biggins Pay Tribute To 'Liverpool's Cinderella' (PICS) | HuffPost

Christopher Biggins And Jimmy Tarbuck Remember 'Liverpool's Cinderella'

Daniel Welsh— The Huffington Post UK

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Christopher Biggins and Jimmy Tarbuck paid their own respects to Cilla Black, at her funeral on Thursday afternoon.

READ MORE:

Thousands Of Fans Join Showbiz Stars To Say Goodbye To Liverpool Legend Cilla

Robert Willis Pays Tribute to His Mother

Sir Cliff Richard Performs 'Faithful One' At Cilla Black's Funeral

Why Cilla Black Held A Unique Place In British Entertainment

The Liverpudlian actor, a friend of Cilla’s for 60 years, offered his own tribute to “Liverpool’s Cinderella”, when he got up to lead the congregation in prayers.

Visibly emotional, Jimmy introduced the prayers by explaining: “I would usually start by saying how nice it is to be here, but today that is not the case. It’s a sad day, and I’m sorry to be here, for obvious reasons.”

Jimmy Tarbuck

He then offered prayers for Cilla’s “beloved sons”, “for those whose lives our Cilla has touched”, and “for the people of Liverpool, who took this girl into our hearts”.

Addressing the congregation, compiled of Cilla’s family and some of her cherished famous friends, he added: “Remember Cilla, our mum, our nan, certainly our treasured friend, Liverpool’s Cinderella. She was the first lady of showbusiness. To be born a lady is an accident, to die one is an achievement.”

Christopher Biggins

Cilla’s close friend, Christopher Biggins, was also among those paying tribute, closing his reading by simply saying: “We will always love you, Cilla.”

Cliff Richard, who had a holiday home near Cilla in Barbados, opened the service by recalling some of the good times they had shared together, before performing a musical tribute to his close friend, singing his song ‘Faithful One’.

Cilla died of a stroke earlier this month, aged 72, at her holiday home in Spain.

Cilla Black's Life In Pictures

Britain Cilla Black(01 of108)

Liverpool born singer Cilla Black hugs the award that names her as Britain's Best Female Singer in a poll organised by a pop music newspaper, at the Cafe Royal in London, England on Feb. 13, 1970. (AP Photo/Robert Dear) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Britain Princess Diana Cilla Black(02 of108)

The Princess of Wales and Cilla Black pictured at the Ideal Home Exhibition in London, England on March 11, 1992. (AP Photo/Dave Caulkin/Pool) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Award Winners 1970(03 of108)

Showing off their awards after the presentation at the CafÃ© Royal are, left to right: Liverpool-born singer Cilla Black, voted Top British Female Singer; Cliff Richard, voted Mr. Valentine, and the Best Dressed Male Star; and Lulu, who was voted Miss Valentine, in London, Feb. 13, 1970. (AP Photo/Bob Dear) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Britain Cilla Black Wed(04 of108)

British pop singer Cilla Black and husband Bobby Willis, her personal manager, after their wedding at Marylebone Registry Office in London, England on Jan. 25, 1969. The couple have known each other for six years. (AP Photo/Leslie Priest) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

London Cilla Black Weds(05 of108)

British pop singer Cilla Black with her personal manager, Bobby Willis, after they were married in Marylebone Registery Office, London, on Jan. 25, 1969. (AP Photo/Staff/Priest) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

London Cilla Black(06 of108)

British pop singer Cilla Balck with her fiance Bobby Willis, in Mayfair, London, on Jan. 4, 1969. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Britain Cilla Black(07 of108)

British Pop singer Cilla Black holds a Christmas present from beneath her Personality Christmas Tree at an exhibition of similar trees for different entertainment stars at Harrods department store in London, England on Dec. 16, 1968. Cilla designed the tree herself to reflect the record industry. (AP Photo/Robert Rider-Rider) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Britain Cilla Black Cliff Richard(08 of108)

Pop singers Cilla Black and Cliff Richard throw postcards into the air as they take a break from counting votes for Britain's Song For Europe at Kensington House in Shepherd's Bush, London on March 8, 1968. Television viewers were asked to choose the song to represent Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest after Cliff had sung the six possibilities on Cilla's show earlier this week. Cliff will sing the winning song again on Cilla's show before singing it at the Royal Albert Hall on April 6th, when he bids to win the trophy won last year by Sandie Shaw with Puppets on a String. (AP Photo/Worth) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Britain Obit Cilla Black(09 of108)

FILE - In this March 8, 1968 file photo, singer Cilla Black counts votes with singer Cliff Richard for Britain's "Song For Europe", in Shepherd's Bush, London. Spanish police said Sunday that the singer, who had a home in Estepona, southern Spain, died Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015. Born Priscilla White, Black worked as a teenager in the cloakroom of Liverpoolâs Cavern Club, where her musical talent was spotted by The Beatles. (AP Photo, File) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Cliff Richard with Cilla Black(10 of108)

Pop singer Cilla Black and singer Cliff Richard throw up votes which they are counting for Britain's "Song For Europe", in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, March 8, 1968. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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