Painting the town purple, Cliff ’s back in the pink
SWINGING on a lamppost and beaming broadly, Sir Cliff Richard looks like he’s rediscovered his youthful zest for life.
It is the first time he has been pictured enjoying himself during what has been a troubled year.
Rolling back the years, Sir Cliff, 74, playfully struck a pose similar to one from his 1963 film Summer Holiday, in which his character Don hangs off the back of a London bus.
Wearing a snazzy purple suit and red tie after eating with friends at The Ivy restaurant in the West End on Wednesday, the entertainer – who is fighting sex abuse claims – looked far more relaxed than the last time he was seen in public.
Sir Cliff, who has spent much of his time at his Portuguese estate since the allegations emerged, looked weary at Stansted airport in May – a month after he was seen at Heathrow looking equally haggard.
The keen tennis fan even missed Wimbledon for the first time in two decades.
His life was turned upside down in August when police raided his £3.5million Berkshire home – as the BBC broadcast l i ve f ootage. Officers acted after a man claimed the singer had abused him at a Christian rally in Sheffield in 1985.
Last month police told another accuser they would not pursue his allegations, reportedly over lack of evi- dence. A third man is said to have contacted police, but South Yorkshire Police will only confirm there is more than one allegation.
Sir Cliff, who was interviewed under caution by police in August, denies the allegations. Earlier this year, he said: ‘I have never assaulted anyone.’
Yesterday, South Yorkshire Police said: ‘ The investigation is ongoing.’