Gloria: BBC made Cliff a broken man
GLORIA Hunniford told a court Sir Cliff Richard seemed a “broken” man after the BBC named him as a suspected paedophile.
The TV presenter, a close friend of the 77-year-old singer, said he was “utterly distraught” after a police search of his home was aired around the world.
Ms Hunniford, 78, said she saw a lunchtime news report of the raid in 2014.
In a written witness statement to the High Court, she said: “I could not believe what I was seeing.
“He is a gentle and kind soul and I was extremely worried about how he would be reacting. He seemed utterly distraught that the search and allegations against him had been broadcast so widely.” He went from a “positive and upbeat” man to one who seemed “broken and extremely confused”. She said: “He cannot stop talking about how violated and betrayed he feels.” The court heard how BBC reporter Dan Johnson texted the South Yorkshire Police head of press after the raid talking about a “bonkers but brilliant” day. Sir Cliff is suing the BBC over its coverage of the police search, which was staged after a sex assault allegation, and wants damages at the “top end” of the scale. The BBC disputes his claim, saying its coverage was accurate and in good faith. The case continues.