Cilla Black has dropped her strongest hint yet she will cut back on her TV work for the first time in two decades to allow her more time to write her memoirs and go back to her roots as a singer.
She is planning to launch a nationwide tour and go back to the studios to record an album for the first time in 10 years.
The veteran Blind Date host, who is approaching her 60th birthday, said she was planning to be "more selective" in her work commitments after celebrating her 40th anniversary in showbiz next year.
Her decision to ease off on TV comes after an 18-year stint as the queen of ITV's weekend entertainment.
Blind Date has been going since 1984 but it is no longer the linchpin of the Saturday night schedule - this year it will go out at 6pm for its first two months because Popstars: the Rivals is considered a bigger ratings earner.
Her contract runs out with LWT at the end of this year and the star, who earns around £2m a year, has still not signed a new deal. She admitted today her future had still to be decided.
"It's a very big year next year, and when you reach the big 60, which I do next year, then it's time for your bus pass," she quipped.
"It's a very big year next year; I'm also going to be writing my autobiography.
"All last year I was moaning that my work was interfering with my social life. Even my mates said to me, 'don't say you are going to retire?'. I am not. I said I was going to retire at 50 and look what happened then.
"But maybe I could become more selective."
She insisted: "There will be a new contract if I want there to be one but I have not really decided."
Her comments will fuel speculation that she will quit after the current series of Blind Date - the 19th - but will continue with ITV for other specials and events.
Earlier this month, her fellow ITV presenter ,Trisha Goddard, claimed she had been approached by ITV bosses to take over presenting duties on Blind Date. But Ms Goddard said it was a "poisoned chalice".
But Black said today the daytime presenter had written to her denying the conversation ever took place.
"I had a letter from Trisha and she was totally embarrassed by the whole thing. I believe she was at a TV awards and it was just one of those things that journalists would ask and it was taken entirely out of context.
"She also sent me a lovely card. I won't go into detail but she said it was a load of rubbish."
She insisted she was happy with the slot for Blind Date and said it was anticipated it would move to a later slot when Popstars comes to an end in the new year.
And she refused to contemplate the idea that the show could continue without her.
"Replace me? I don't think so. Alan Boyd [chief executive of Blind Date producer Thames TV] said there are three sacred cows in Blind Date - the three stools, the screen - and Cilla Black."
Black will mark her 40th year in showbusiness with a one-off variety show and a fly-on-the wall documentary on ITV.
She is also returning to the recording studio and will release a new album next year, as well as a nationwide tour culminating in a 40th anniversary bash at the Palladium or the Royal Albert Hall.
She has piloted a new show for ITV, called Sing With a Star, in which wannabe stars get to sing with their pop and classical music idols. She will also write her autobiography with the working title, Cilla, What's It All About?.
