Sir Cliff Richard once addressed ongoing speculation about his sexuality with a simple yet powerful question: “If I were gay, would it make any difference?” He emphasized that his personal life is exactly that—personal—and that his worth should be judged by his music, values, and the way he treats others. Cliff expressed frustration at the way public curiosity often overshadows an artist’s work, noting that love and respect should transcend labels. His words served as a reminder that a person’s character, not their private life, is what truly defines them in the eyes of those who matter.

And yet despite his teen idol image, he remained dogged by the rumours, which were further fuelled by his friendship with John McElynn, a former Catholic priest who looks after the singer’s homes in Britain, Barbados and Portugal and who lived with him.

The singer has had relationships with women, including 1976 French Open winner tennis star Sue Barker, who he even came close to marrying.

In an interview with the Daily Mail in 2008, he is reported as saying: “Of all the women I’ve known, there were only two that I’ve come close to marrying. One was Jackie Irving, a dancer whom I met in Blackpool. She was utterly beautiful and for a while we were inseparable. The other girl I came close to asking was Sue Barker, whom I met in 1982.

“I seriously contemplated asking her to marry me, but in the end I realised that I didn’t love her quite enough to commit the rest of my life to her. There were no broken hearts,” he added.

Now, he says on reflection, that a successful music career was not conducive to the responsibility that comes with having a wife and family.

“I just didn’t get married. I never felt that it was the right time. I can do the things I want to do. I can go and meet my fans all over the world.

“I don’t have a responsibility because I always felt that marriage would be the major responsibility of your life, and if a child came along, a multi-major responsibility. No getting out of that one.”

Richards also responded to suggestions that he was once in love with Australian singer Grease star Olive Newton John. “Let’s face it, we all loved Olivia. She had that effect,” he said. “When she came on to do my TV show, we invited her [to appear] for one week, but she was there for about eight.”

Richards, whose youthful looks have earned him the title the Peter Pan of pop, added that he has never undergone plastic surgery, attributing his age defying looks to good genes.

“Plastic? Well, I think it’s due. When people say to me, have you had anything done, I say yes, I had these lines put in because I wanted to look older.

“I did try Botox but that didn’t really work for me. I’ve seen people with Botox – they look fantastic. If it works for you, I don’t see what’s wrong with doing it. Why not? Women wear make-up.”

The singer was recently confirmed to join Morrissey on his US tour, along with Tom Jones