Cliff At Christmas

[Bazile]

On BBC2

I thought the BBC had fallen out with Cliff Richard and was not playing his songs on the network

[Barsel]

TTT he was called the poor mans Elvis.
Out of the British singers we had at the time, he was probably more popular, but when Elvis became known in this country, British stars couldn't hold a candle to him, imo.

[Barsel]

I also think Cliff lost a lot of fans when he discovered religion and he brought out a lot of religious songs like this Christmas one.

[ToraToraTora]

Barsel, my mind is suspicious!

[choux]

For a start, CR has undoubted impressive sales in his long career - according to Wiki "some 21.5 million singles in the United Kingdom and is the third-top-selling artist in UK Singles Chart history, behind the Beatles and Elvis Presley". His longevity is surprising too. He is older than McCartney!

I have never bought any of his records nor seen him perform live.
Not really my cup of coffee. However, I did have some sympathy for him over his privacy case against the BBC, whose actions were "poor" to say the very least. I remember well seeing the news shot from overhead when his home was raided by the police, incredulous of the sight before me. It seemed so shabby, what happened to his privacy and who tipped off the broadcaster? For all of the time he was under investigation he said his last thought every night and first thought every morning were about his predicament. That must have taken a hell of a toll on him. In the end he won his court case against the BBC and they paid in the region of £2m for his legal costs. CR stated in court he had paid £3m to clear his name.

CR was neither arrested nor charged with any offence.

It must have taken a monumental effort for him to return to his profession after all that happened. He never did me any harm and I wish him well.

Bearing in mind CR is now 82 I did notice he looked decidedly aged in recent photos/videos. I even described him to OH as having the "embalmed look".

Apparently, his wine is of a very palatable quality :)

[andy-hughes]

TTT - To be clear, I don't 'hate' anyone, and certainly not as a music journalist.