Cilla Black is thrilled Holly Willoughby was chosen to host 'Surprise Surprise'.
The TV icon - who hosted the primetime show from 1998 to 2001 - insists the blonde beauty was the best person to front the series because of her bubbly personality and glowing looks.
Speaking on ITV's 'Loose Women', Cilla said: "If I could have chosen anybody, it would have been Holly Willoughby because she's got everything. She's got the looks, the personality."
Cilla is over the moon the programme - which surprises members of the public by fulfilling long-held wishes - was revived last year after a 10-year hiatus because it's a credit to her.
She explained: "I was so impressed that they brought the thing ['Surprise Surprise'] back because it was a great honour to me."
The 70-year-old star is set to return to 'Blind Date' - which she fronted for almost 20 years - with Paul O'Grady for a one-off special to mark her 50 years in showbiz this autumn, but admits she's slightly concerned by what Paul has up his sleeve.
She said: "We're recording it next week and I've not really had a proper production meeting yet. Paul is calling it the obituary show because they don't make shows like this when anybody's alive. They do it all when we're dead.
"It will be great but I don't know with Paul, I don't know what to expect."
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