Fijivillage
NEWS SPORTS IN DEPTH
3 April, 2026, 12:24 am
Central - 25°C Rain
3 April, 2026, 12:24 am Central - 25°C Rain

Charity nets £40k from Cilla Black outfit sale

Charity nets £40k from Cilla Black outfit sale

By David Hua
04/12/2025
The sale of designer clothes worn by Cilla Black during her long showbusiness career has made more than £40,000 for a charity.

The collection included bespoke gowns, high-end fashion pieces and vintage Biba creations worn by the Surprise Surprise and Blind Date presenter, who died in 2015.

John Cameron, of Nesbits Fine Art and Antique Auctions in Portsmouth, said he was "very delighted" by the outcome of the sale.

All proceeds from the auction of the 246 outfits are going to Variety, the Children's Charity, which the Liverpudlian star was a supporter of.

Garments up for auction included a turquoise dress with sleeves trimmed with ostrich feathers that Black wore at the Royal Variety Performance in 1969, the first broadcast in full colour.

A turquoise Thea Porter dress, which she wore while singing Bring me Sunshine on the Morecambe & Wise Show in 1971, went for £800.

A red jumpsuit worn on Surprise Surprise in the mid-80s had an estimate price of £100 to £200 but sold for £540.

Mr Cameron said: "We were very delighted with the sale, nothing went unsold.

"Surprise Surprise, there was a lot of interest in the pantomime costumes, and some of the very stylish 60s and 70s pieces did well."

Speaking before before the auction, the late singer's son Robert Willis said his family decided to donate the collection to mark the 10th anniversary of his mother's death at the age of 72.

"The clothes and outfits presented in this collection represent a life well lived on the stage and in front of the TV cameras," he said.

"It's fair to say that almost every item in this collection was either worn on stage or appeared on TV."

Source : BBC Fashion 
FEATURE NEWS
GCC wants 'Fijian' name to be reserved for iTaukei and GCC to be appointing authority for President and VP
The Great Council of Chiefs has made a number of recommendations in its submission to amend the 2013 Constitution which includes that the GCC is to b...
6 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
JSC exploring options regarding FICAC Commissioner position
As the Judicial Services Commission’s recommendation to the President regarding the FICAC Commissioner position is still on hold until it considers ...
6 hours ago

Whippy remanded for alleged trespassing at Govt Building
Justin Whippy, who is charged with one count of trespassing at the Government Building, has been remanded in custody. He appeared before Magistrate ...
7 hours ago

Suva Grammar students urged to lead fight against waste as recycling programme rolls out
Students at Suva Grammar School are being urged to take responsibility for keeping their school and environment clean as part of efforts to address ...
8 hours ago

Rishikul Sanatan College donates $1,350 for children living with cancer
Rishikul Sanatan College has donated $1,350 to support the Communications Fiji Foundation appeal for children living with cancer.In an interview with ...
8 hours ago

Temporary traffic disruptions expected in Sigatoka Town due to FRA works
Vehicles travelling through Sigatoka Town are being advised to expect temporary disruptions as the Fiji Roads Authority carries out scheduled road ...
8 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH

Fiji Sports Council Saga: Minister ready to repay business class air fare for wife as concerns grow about Sports Council deals
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
27 days ago

TOP