Sheridan Smith paid tribute to the late Cilla Black at the TV Choice Awards last night (07.09.15).
Sheridan Smith with her TV Choice award
The 34-year-old actress was presented with the Best Actress award for her portrayal of the 'Blind Date' host in ITV's 'Cilla' at the annual awards ceremony at London's Hilton on Park Lane and took the opportunity to praise her as an "amazing lady".
She said: "Obviously it's tinged with sadness but we have Cilla's son Robert here.
"It's an absolute honour and privilege to play such an amazing lady. Thank you, Cilla."
Sheridan also won the Best Actress accolade at the National Television Awards earlier this year for her portrayal of the 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' singer.
However, Cilla sadly passed away last month after she suffered a "traumatic head injury" when she fell on the sun terrace at her holiday home in Marbella, Spain.
And her life story is now being turned into a West End show as before her tragic death she'd "given her blessing" to the project.
Her representative Nick Fiveash said previously: "Following recent reports in the media this is to confirm that prior to her untimely death Cilla Black had given her blessing to a West End stage production based on her life. Cilla was thrilled and excited at the idea, and was looking forward to its development.
"Her manager, son Robert Willis, had been in continuous talks with a West End producer regarding early stages of planning, but obviously these are now on hold for the time being."
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