Cilla takes gamble with TV comeback

Cilla Black is to return to our screens as part of the National Lottery's 10th birthday bonanza.

17:55 29 October 2004

Cilla Black is to return to our screens as part of the National Lottery's 10th birthday bonanza.

Making her first primetime TV appearance since leaving Blind Date last year, the veteran singer and entertainer will be co-hosting the show with Blue's Duncan James.

The two songsters apparently became good friends after Duncan appeared on Celebrity Blind Date.

Entitled Helping Hands, the show will be a mixture of awards ceremony and celebrity get-together.

The Sun reports Cilla, speaking about the show, saying: "I'm sure it'll be an uplifting and emotional evening."

The star-studded event will be held at London's Tate Modern gallery and will honour the UK's favourite Lotto-funded projects.

Such celebs as the boxer Amir Khan, It girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and other Blue members will be dishing out the awards.

Highlights will then be shown on a Lottery special next Saturday night. Pop diva Anastasia will perform before a special 10million draw.