TV and Film | Cilla, on ITV | Episode 1 Review

(Sorry for the capitals. Might have got a bit ahead of myself there.) But it's true. I spent one l o n g  university semester studying a lot about the Beatles, which served to bring me one of my greatest achievements to date, and now they seem to be following me everywhere. My brother, a budding musician, has started playing their music (at increasingly loud decibels, may I add); they pop up in a question on every single quiz show and now they're springing up on ITV1s Cilla.

 

Now I have nothing against the Beatles per se, so don't shoot me. I'm just not one of their many super fans. Their music is catchy at times but my opinion on them is not too dissimilar to that of Wuthering Heights. I will say, however, that I feel qualified enough to say that the actors chosen to portray the band are pretty bloody beautiful. And that always helps.

 

Not that much else is needed to keep me tuning in. Sheridan Smith oozes everything I have come known about the real Cilla - charm, charisma and confidence - whilst also illuminating me to what happened in her early years. As the introduction to this post might have insinuated, I was not aware for instance how close Black and the Beatles really were. The scene where Cilla falters on the stage in front of Brian Epstein followed by the shot of her back at her office job is one all arts people can relate to. The eternal dilemma between dreaming it and doing it.

 

I love the failing hair styling, I love the ever-hopeful portrayal of Bobby and I can't wait to see what happens next week.