ITV Orders Three-Part Drama 'Cilla', Sheridan Smith To Star – TVWise

ITV has ordered Cilla, a three-part biopic about Cilla Black which hails from Jeff Pope and has Mrs Biggs alum Sheridan Smith attached to star, TVWise has learned.
Penned by Pope, who was behind a number of other ITV dramas including The Widower and Lucan, Cilla tells the story of Cilla Black’s (Sheridan Smith) rise to fame. Beginning with a young Cilla working as a typist, the drama follows her life through key moments, including her friendship with The Beatles, which ultimately led to her meeting Brian Epstein & producer George Martin, both of whom helped launch her career. ITV Studios is producing the three-parter with Kwadjo Dajan serving as the series producer and Jeff Pope serving as the executive producer. Paul Whittington is attached to direct. Production is set to commence next month on location in Liverpool.
“I am thrilled to be playing Cilla, as she is a British icon. In the 60s, as a young girl from Liverpool, she had numerous number ones and sang with The Beatles, her life story is fascinating,” said Sheridan Smith. “I’m so excited and can’t wait to start filming. Golden Globe nominated Jeff Pope has written it and Paul Whittington, who directed Mrs Biggs is directing. Add to that Kwadjo Dajan producing and Lesley Brennan doing the make up and I am working with an absolute dream team. So thrilled to be back at ITV for such an exciting project and to hopefully show a younger audience what a star Cilla has always been and for the older generation they can re-live those swinging 60s! What an era! I can’t wait to get up to Liverpool (my favourite city) and start filming. I’m really honoured and just hope I do her story justice.”