THE DIARY

Sir Cliff Richard has something to get off his chest. And no, this is not a wind-up.

He reveals he follows a strict eating plan on tour – to stop him belching on stage.

Cliff, 78, admits: “I can’t eat during the day. If I eat during the day I spend the whole time on stage burping – it’s absolutely fatal for me.”

Not so great for the front row either, Cliff.

The veteran’s special diet – on which he keeps portions tiny and sticks to light food ahead of a gig – is actually based on his type A blood group and “has worked for me for 15 years now”.

He adds: “I can eat three meals a day if I want to. I can’t eat certain foods, which I just leave out.” And despite having cut out red meat and dairy, he admits: “Once every three months I treat myself to a steak.” He might like to do that on November 23, to celebrate his album Rise Up – his 104th UK release – hitting the shops.