Beeb could be forced to pay out millions

SIR Cliff is fighting for damages from the BBC at the ‘very top end of the scale’, the High Court was told yesterday.

While no precise figure was given, it seems overwhelmingly likely that if he is victorious his award will soar into the millions.

South Yorkshire Police have already agreed to pay Sir Cliff – who is worth an estimated £40million – £400,000 after settling the claim he brought against them, Mr Justice Mann heard.

That sum does not include the force’s contribution to the singer’s massive legal bill.

Sir Cliff’s pursuit of the BBC is even larger. His legal team want the BBC to recompense him for the £279,261 he spent on legal fees in the aftermath of the report.

He also wants back the £108, 00 he spent on PR and crisis management, and claims he also lost a ‘substantial non-recoverable advance’ on an updated version of his autobiography.

On top of this, he is demanding interest and his expenditure of the litigation – which had reached £1.1million by last summer, when the case was still at a relatively early stage. Mr Justice Mann has asked for precise information accounting for how the costs were accrued.