We reported earlier this week that Cilla Black was making her comeback to ITV as a judge on the celebrity talent show Soapstar Superstar.

Speaking at the launch of the show in Manchester Cilla has said she is delighted to be back.

She said: “I’m really looking forward to it, I’m very excited. The reason I’m looking forward to it is because I haven’t worked with professional people in a long, long time, The people I have worked with recently have all been punters, members of the general public. This time they’re stars in their own right.”

She added: “It all came about after I went to several celebrations for ITV’s 50th birthday and they gave me my own star in Covent Garden which was really nice.

“It’s like going home, like I’ve not left, and I haven’t been there for nearly years since Blind Date. They just made me feel so welcome, so when the opportunity came up to do this show I thought it would be a nice way of easing myself back into television.

“If I don’t enjoy myself I won’t do any more, but let’s just see how it goes. I think it’ll be great.”

She has admitted to being slightly biased towards a few contestants saying

“I don’t have any favourites but god, have you seen the boys? They’re so good.

“Michael Greco I think is lovely, he’s really very lovely. I also have a soft spot for Wendi Peters.”

She added: “When I’m judging I can only be me, I can only be Cilla, I can’t be Mrs Nasty. I’m going to be constructive rather than destructive.

“I have two guys on either side of me. I’ll be having more goes at them than the artists themselves.”

Sounds a bit like Sharon Osbourne then!