Everything is forgiven! Sir Cliff Richard will host the BBC’s celebratory TV special three years after it was sued in a £2million court battle
- The 82-year-old singer took action against the BBC and the police after filming his house search
- He was accused of molesting a boy in the 1980s
- Sir Cliff’s work with the BBC has been minimal since he sued the company
Sir Cliff Richard has signed on to host a TV special with the BBC three years after suing the company for invasion of privacy.
Earlier this year, the 82-year-old singer admitted he was almost too patriotic to take the company to court over the shooting of the raid on his home.
However, everything seems to be fine between Beeb and Sir Cliff as he is set to appear on BBC Two and iPlayer during the festive season for Cliff at Christmas – a one-off show in which he will perform some of his Christmas classics, new songs and much more popular ones hits
The artist will also join Sara Cox at the legendary Abbey Road Studios to discuss his 64-year career as one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
U-turn: Sir Cliff Richard has signed on to host a TV special on the BBC three years after suing the company for invasion of privacy
Speaking of the forthcoming show, Sir Cliff said: “I remember as if it were yesterday the three series (13 shows each) I did for the BBC in the ’70s. I loved every moment of them!
“Now I’m really looking forward to the Christmas show they asked me to present this December 2022 with the help of some friends.
“My Christmas wish? That you will enjoy our show. Merry Christmas to you all.”
Kate Phillips, BBC’s Director of Unscripted Content, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sir Cliff Richard to the BBC this Christmas.
King of Christmas: Sir Cliff will be on BBC Two and iPlayer during the festive season for Cliff at Christmas – a one-off show in which he will perform some of his Christmas classics
Sir Cliff’s work with the BBC has been minimal since he sued the company, although he did appear on BBC One’s Britain’s Favorite Carol in 2020.
He previously criticized the “heartbreaking” BBC News report that used a helicopter to record a police raid on his Berkshire home in 2014.
Sir Cliff then took action against both the BBC and South Yorkshire Police. He apologized and paid him compensation.
The BBC apologized – but refused to pay out, only for the case to be ruled in his favour, with the corporation being asked to pay him £210,000 plus £850,000 of his legal fees.
After deciding to appear on a BBC show in 2020, a source told The Chron’s Sebastian Shakespeare: “Cliff explained that he holds no grudges and that the only way in life is to move on and move forward. In his view everything is fine again.”
Earlier this year Sir Cliff admitted he was almost too patriotic to sue the BBC after they filmed a police raid on his home as it was like suing Britain.
Despite feeling bad about suing the national broadcaster, the 81-year-old singer won against allegations that he molested a boy in the 1980s.
‘I felt bad about it,’ I said to the lawyers, ‘how can I sue the BBC? It’s like suing Britain,” he says.
“But I figured these people need to learn that I mean it, that was a very serious, nasty, harmful thing to be said about me.”
He has also revealed that he prayed nightly for the truth to be known while battling allegations of abuse.
Sir Cliff spoke about his two-year ordeal in the documentary The Accused: National Treasures On Trial: “I prayed every night. You can’t stop thinking about it…how could anyone [his accuser] do that?’
Raid: Earlier this year the 82-year-old singer admitted he was almost too patriotic to take the company to court for filming the raid on his home in August 2014 (Image: BBC coverage)