SURPRISE SURPRISE YOUR PALS AS TV ICON'S DRESSES UP FOR SALE

FANCY owning a piece of TV history? For the price of a sparkly Christmas frock, you can now help yourself to the glamorous wardrobe of none other than Cilla Black. Fans can bid on the showbiz icon's clothing and accessories - yes, you can even buy a new hat - in an online auction. It's all for a good cause, with the profits going to children's charity Variety. Here JULIA KUTTNER speaks to Cilla's son Robert Willis about selling off his mum's vast collection...

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CILLA Black was one of Britain's biggest stars, regularly drawing TV audiences of more than 20million - figures modern shows like Strictly Come Dancing can only dream of.

From singing alongside The Beatles in 1960s Liverpool to fronting TV's Surprise, Surprise and Blind Date, she defined an era of family entertainment. And her eye-catching wardrobe became as much a part of her appeal as her warmth and wit.

Now, a decade after she died aged 72 in August 2015, her family is parting with hundreds of her outfits in a special charity auction.

"Obviously my brothers and I took some outfits that meant something to us sentimentally," says son Robert.

"And my daughter well, her shoe collection has grown exponentially!"

The sale includes pieces Cilla wore on stage, on television and at glitzy showbiz events many handmade by designers at a time when custom tailoring was the norm.

"Some of the things in the collection were handmade," Robert explains. "Nowadays we're used to factory-made clothes, but certain key pieces were really beautifully made and they've held up incredibly well."