Let’s get physical! Olivia gives her old pal Cliff a special 75th birthday hug
WHEN you’re celebrating a big birthday, i t’s nice to have a f ew friends around.
And if you’re Sir Cliff Richard that means a host of celebrities and an audience of thousands.
The singer, who turned 75 on Wednesday, was joined on stage by his old friend, Australian singer Olivia Newton-John at the Royal Albert Hall. She brought out a cake, led the crowd with a chorus of Happy Birthday and gave him the warmest of hugs.
Tributes from Sir Elton John, Queen guitarist Brian May and comedian Jimmy Tarbuck were broadcast on a screen, with many praising Sir Cliff’s longevity and huge chart success in a career which has now spanned six decades.
Sir Cliff has been friends with Miss Newton-John, 67, for many years.
He even helped launch her career in the UK when he invited her on to his TV show, It’s Cliff Richard, in the 1970s. And in 1980 they released a duet of the song Suddenly from the film Xanadu.
Sir Cliff has told how he was dazzled by Miss Newton-John, whose hits range from Physical to I Honestly Love You. She will also be forever known as Sandy in the classic hit movie Grease. ‘At the time, when I and many of us were in love with Olivia, she was engaged to someone else,’ he has said. ‘I’m afraid I lost the chance.’
Sir Cliff once declared he wanted to play tennis on his 100th birthday. And if his energetic performance at his 75th birthday show was any indication, he seems to have a good chance of achieving it.
In a sparkling silver jacket he belted out a string of his classic hits, including Move It, Summer Holiday and Living Doll, much to the delight of the audience, many of whom were also in their 70s.