Cilla Black was "very much there" at her funeral.
Carol Vorderman
The showbiz legend was laid to rest in Liverpool today (20.08.15) and her friend Carol Vorderman has revealed she felt the late singer's presence throughout the service.
She said: "She was very much there [at the funeral]. Paul O'Grady was hilarious, particularly nodding to the bishop every now and again."
Paying tribute to the 'Blind Date' host, she added: "But really, when you went for lunch with her, two things were certain - champagne and laughing. Everything was just kind of being on the edge of outrageous and she was just on the edge and we'd get together and she'd just push it over the edge every now and again.
"She was a fantastic lady and a hard worker and a trailblazer."
And Carol also admitted the news of her death "shocked" her as she thought the star was doing well.
She added: "I was really shocked, really shocked because we were going to meet up.
"And I know those who were very close to her, they were really surprised. It's a state of disbelief really."
Andrew Lloyd Webber also paid tribute to the "extraordinary performer", who passed away whilst at her holiday villa in Estepona, Spain earlier this month.
He told Sky News: "She was an extraordinary performer. Yet, course she had this other side to her and I have to say looking at some of the clips of her performing songs recently; it blew my mind.
"She's an incredibly good actress through music and a tremendous interpreter of lyrics."