Brian Conley has revealed he used to have a crush on Cilla Black.

The TV actor and presenter admitted he had a soft spot for Cilla’s eponymous variety show, which ran on the BBC between 1968 and 1976.

Cilla Black
Cilla Black (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

“I did have a real crush on Cilla when I was younger,” the 53-year-old confessed.

He told the well-loved Liverpudlian about it, when he eventually got to meet her, adding: “I think she was quite taken by that!”

Brian hosts BBC One’s new show The TV That Made Me, which will see guests such as Sandi Toksvig, Linford Christie, Gok Wan and Pam Ayres reliving their favourite programmes past and present.

“It’s a bit like Desert Island Discs but for television,” he explained.

Brian Conley and Basil Brush
Brian Conley and Basil Brush (BBC)

“As well as sort of finding out information about those programmes and their reaction to watching them again, it really did open it up and make interesting conversation.”

For the past 40 years, Brian has been kept busy hosting chat shows, sketch shows and West End shows, and even taking part in reality shows, with a stint as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2012.

“I think the fact I’ve survived for all these years is my high point,” he said. “Professional since the age of 12, I’ve done eight Royal Variety Shows, my own television show, game shows, my own chat show… I’ve done it all.

“I’m just amazed that I’m still plodding along, to be honest,” he continued. “I always say there are lots of famous people, but not so many famous people can do anything.”

TV That Made Me starts on BBC One on August 3.