Biographie

He is the only singer in the history of music to have a #1 hit in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

He announced his conversion to Christianity in 1966. He has never married and claims to have observed a celibate lifestyle since then.

He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 1980 for his services to music. He was knighted for services to charity in 1995, becoming the first of several UK pop stars to be knighted.

He is the third artist after Elvis Presley and The Beatles (joint 17) with the highest number of #1 hits in the UK.

He figures prominently in Brendan O'Carroll's hilarious comic novel, "The Mammy" in which Agnes Browne, the main character, fulfills her life-long dream of "a dance with Cliff Richard on Christmas Eve" at the end of the novel. In the film Agnès Browne (1999) (The Mammy), he was replaced by Tom Jones, who plays himself.

If I'm in the middle of hitting a most fantastic cross-court backhand top spin and someone says, "Can you stop now and have sex? I'll say, "No, thanks!:

In the political climate, this whole political correctness thing bugs me like mad. I was so upset when they said they were going to call the lights in London winter lights. I'm saying, "Hello, I've got friends who are Asian, I wish them Happy Diwali, they wish me Happy Christmas". In fact, they enjoy Christmas. And when I've been there and there's Diwali going on I've enjoyed that, too, to be honest with you. I'm not so sure why they're so upset about the sensitivity of other religions who actually don't mind that we celebrate Christmas. Even in schools now I keep reading about how Christianity isn't necessarily taught anymore. I'm thinking, "Wait a minute. If I went to live in another country and it had a different faith and philosophy and I joined in there . . . If I was a kid and went to school, I would have to learn what they learn as well".

[on Elvis Presley] Elvis was my idol from the beginning and even today when I'm alone I'll often put on the "King Creole" album. He's produced the most exciting pop music sounds of all time.

I'm aware of the rumors but I am not gay.

Rock'n'roll can manage without the sex and drugs.