BBC fears cost of Sir Cliff appeal

THE BBC will not appeal against the Sir Cliff Richard privacy ruling because of fears it would be criticised over the cost if it were to lose, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.

The corporation is already facing an estimated legal bill of more than £1.8million after losing the case. It was also ordered to pay the singer almost £145,000 in damages, including £20,000 in aggravated damages, over its reporting of a raid on Sir Cliff ’s home in August 2014.

Sources confirmed that it had decided not spend more in a legal challenge direct to the Court of Appeal. If it were to lose, it would face further legal costs of around £200,000. The High

Court ruled last month that it had breached Sir Cliff ’s privacy by broadcasting a police search of his home while he was being investigated over a historical child sexual assault claim.

Sir Cliff was never arrested and Mr Justice Mann said the corporation had infringed the singer’s privacy rights.

The BBC said the ruling represented a serious blow to press freedom and initially suggested it would appeal.

Fran Unsworth, director of news, said: “This judgement creates new case law and represents a dramatic shift against press freedom.”

Newspaper editors warned it was akin to new legislation while Theresa May said giving suspects anonymity would hamper police investigations.

But Sir Cliff said that he would “fight to the death” against what he described as the “abuse of the freedom of speech”.

The BBC is understood to have taken independent legal advice before deciding not to pursue the case. A BBC spokesman said: “We are still deciding whether to appeal or not.”