Cilla Black to receive BAFTA Special Award

London: Actress-singer Cilla Black will receive the Special Award at the 2014 Arqiva BAFTA Television Awards. The 70-year-old presenter will be honoured for her outstanding contribution to television entertainment over the last 50 years, reportedly. Following a successful music career, Black made her television debut with `Cilla` in 1968, when she became the first woman to host a primetime chat show. She has since presented popular Saturday night shows like `Blind Date` and `Surprise Surprise`, and has become one of the most watched women in British television history. She has hosted more than 500 television shows, as well as making around 400 guest appearances on others. On hearing that she will receive the Special Award, Black said, "I am thrilled to be honoured with this Award. I am totally delighted. I`ve been very fortunate to have a long and full career in television and this means the world to me." Sheridan Smith will play Black in a forthcoming ITV biopic about her life, with The White Queen`s Aneurin Barnard as her husband Bobby. `Southcliffe` and `The IT Crowd` lead this year`s Arqiva BAFTA Television Awards nominations. This year`s Arqiva BAFTA Television Awards ceremony will be held in London on Sunday, May 18.