CAN Cilla Black make a spooky bid for the number one Christmas album slot, even from beyond the grave?

And could Cliff Richard help her along to a surprise-surprise festive hit in the single’s chart?

She’s certainly in the running, and that should come as no surprise-surprise, given that Warner Music released a new album of Cilla’s “most important and best-loved songs” only yesterday, November 16, and it features three newly recorded duets with Sir Cliff Richard, Sheridan Smith and Rebecca Ferguson.

No medium was required.

A spokesman said: “With new orchestral arrangements from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO), the project has been overseen by Robert Willis, Cilla’s son.

“Each song uses the original vocal recording from Cilla, which has been remastered and ‘cleaned up’ using modern sound production technology, and new the backing tracks from the RLPO were recorded in August at The Friary concert and recording facility in Liverpool.

The new duets include You’re My World with Cliff Richard. This was the single that cemented Cilla’s career, giving the young singer her second UK number 1, following Anyone Who Had A Heart in 1964.

The spokesman said: “This tender rendition was recorded on June 22 this year, with Sir Cliff singing alongside Cilla’s original 1964 take.

Cliff said: “Cilla was a huge TV success. She and her personality, literally, filled our screens year after year. But I will always remember her as a fabulous singer; that is how her career started, and I am so glad that once again, with the release of this CD, we will be reminded of just how good a singer she was.

“To be asked to sing with her on You’re My World was a privilege.”