What is Cliff Richard doing now?

Cliff Richard denies Christian rally sex offence allegation

15 August

Sir Cliff Richard was performing at a Christian rally at Sheffield's Bramall Lane football stadium on the day he was alleged to have molested a young boy in the 1980s.

The 73-year-old has described the allegation as "completely false", but said he will fully cooperate with police.

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According to The Independent, detectives are making arrangements to interview the singer, who is believed to be returning from his holiday home in Portugal to the UK.

Officers from South Yorkshire police yesterday spent five hours searching his Berkshire apartment, seizing a number of items for analysis.

The alleged sex offence was claimed to have taken place on 28 June 1985, when Sir Cliff was performing in front of tens of thousands people in Sheffield as a surprise guest of American evangelist Billy Graham, reports the Daily Telegraph. As a 44-year-old devout Christian, Sir Cliff was singing hymns as well as his own hits.

He also met the Bishop of Sheffield and other campaigners outside the stadium to address protests over his refusal to boycott apartheid-era South Africa.

"I go wherever Christians invite me to speak about Jesus. It's a platform I've been given by God," he told the Sheffield Morning Telegraph.

At some point during the day, he is alleged to have assaulted a boy who was under the age of 16. A quarter of a century later, the alleged victim has come forward to police. The allegation comes as victims of historic sexual abuse are being increasingly urged to report crimes in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

One source close to Sir Cliff told the Telegraph that the entertainer is "absolutely certain these allegations are false because throughout his life he has never been involved in impropriety of any kind".

The singer spends much of his time at his vineyard retreat in Portugal and at his villa in Barbados, where he has been granted citizenship.

Cliff Richard's house searched after sex offence allegation

14 Aug

Police are searching a house belonging to Sir Cliff Richard after a sex offence allegation dating back to the 1980s was brought to their attention.

Officers removed a number of items from the house in Sunningdale, Berkshire, for further investigation, but no arrests have been made, reports the BBC.

According to police, a search warrant was granted after officers received an allegation "of a sexual nature" involving a boy who was under the age of 16 at the time. The offence is alleged to have taken place

in the South Yorkshire area.

Police added that "the owner of the property was not present" during the search and that the search was not connected to Operation Yewtree, the police investigation into sex abuse allegations committed by Jimmy Savile and other media personalities. However, officers from Operation Yewtree have been notified.

Sir Cliff Richard, one of Britain's most successful musicians, has sold 21.5 million singles, with a top ten hit in six consecutive decades. He has twice represented the UK in the Eurovision song contest and last year released the 100th album of his career.

He was knighted in 1995 and performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2012.

In a statement, published by The Guardian, Sir Cliff said: "For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of historic impropriety which have been circulating online. The allegations are completely false.

"Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.

"However, the police attended my apartment in Berkshire today without notice, except it would appear to the press.

"I am not presently in the UK but it goes without saying that I will co-operate fully should the police wish to speak to me.

"Beyond stating that today's allegation is completely false it would not be appropriate to say anything further until the police investigation has concluded."