Cilla Black died of stroke after fall in Spain

TV icon Cilla Black. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

The singing and TV star was sunbathing at her villa on the Costa del Sol, when she lost her balance, fell and hit her head which knocked her unconscious.

A post-mortem examination has revealed that she subsequently died of a stroke, a statement from her publicist said. She would not have suffered, it added.

In a joint statement her three sons Robert, Ben and Jack said: “We are devastated by the sad loss of our mother, but have been deeply touched by all the kind messages of support from her friends, fans, the public and media.

“We would like to thank everyone, especially the people of Liverpool. The tributes and condolences have really helped us through these difficult times.

“The Spanish authorities have now told us we are able to bring mum home, which we hope to do as quickly as possible.

“We would also like to thank all those involved for their assistance with this matter. We respectfully request for our continued privacy to grieve.”

No funeral details have yet been released.

Tributes have continued to pour in for the Surprise Surprise star, 72, led by close friends including Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Paul McCartney and Christopher Biggins.

Sir Cliff revealed he was due to visit her in Spain next week.

“Her passing away is a particular shock because despite the aches and pains we all suffer, she was always so upbeat,” he wrote.

Childhood friend Terry McCann said he “wasn’t surprised” to find out Black had died, and said that the last thing she had said to him was she was going blind and had arthritis.

Mr McCann, a close friend, said: “She willed herself to die. She said, ‘Bobby’s waiting for me’.

“Her mother went the same way. I don’t know what her mother died of but it seemed she associated it with her mother’s death and she just knew it was going to happen.

“She just said, ‘Look at me, I’m a wreck’. I was trying to cheer her up. She knew something we didn’t.”

Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr both remembered her fondly. McCartney said she had a “fun-loving dignity” and was a “great pleasure to be around”. Starr said she was a “good friend” who would be missed.

Her famous single, Anyone Who Had A Heart, and her album, The Very Best Of Cilla Black, are both featuring in the mid-week Official Chart ratings. ITV confirmed they will be airing an adapted version of The One and Only Cilla Black this evening.

Born Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool, she became one of the nation’s favourite entertainers after transforming herself from a successful singer in the 1960s to presenter on TV shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.

She scored two number ones in 1964 as well as enjoying many other hits, before going on to concentrate on a TV career.

Black went on to host more than 500 editions of her programmes.