BBC should pay £600k, says Sir Cliff

SIR CLIFF Richard is seeking around £600,000 from the BBC if his landmark privacy action succeeds, the High Court heard yesterday.

The singer, 77, is suing the BBC over its coverage of a police raid on his home in August 2014 and wants damages at the ‘top end’ of the scale for a ‘very serious invasion’ of his privacy.

The BBC disputes his claim, saying coverage of the search of the apartment in Sunningdale, Berkshire, by police investigating a historical child sex abuse allegation, was accurate and in good faith. Sir Cliff denied the allegation and in June 2016 prosecutors announced he would face no charges.

Yesterday his lawyer, asked to put a figure on the damages being sought, said between £175,000 and £250,000 – in addition to £278,000 in legal costs and £108,000 in PR fees that Sir Cliff is seeking to recoup. The trial, in London, is due to end today, with a judgment later.