Cilla (miniseries) nerves singing for Brian Epstein. A drama this good, with Smith in sparkling form, knows it can take its time to flourish." The Guardian wrote: "The third, and best, reason why Cilla is so watchable is Sheridan Smith. It's one of those extraordinary performances, like Julie Walters as Mo Mowlam, when an actress does more than play a real character; she becomes her, to the extent that it's hard for the viewer not to forget they're not actually watching a young Cilla Black. She sounds like her, too. I'd be interested to know what someone more qualified to judge (an
Cilla (miniseries) she loses ground to her rival, Beryl Marsden. Three years later, Cilla's confidence returns after her disastrous audition. Bobby urges her to give singing another go, and Brian Epstein gives Cilla another chance to audition by inviting her into the studio to record what would become her debut single, "Love of the Loved". The song fails to break the Top 30, but Brian then insists that Cilla change direction and take a gamble on a cover of a Dionne Warwick ballad entitled "Anyone Who Had a Heart". The gamble pays off and "Anyone Who Had a Heart" shoots straight to