Cliff: I will never get over false abuse claims

SIR CLIFF RICHARD has revealed that he will ‘never get over’ the false allegation that he abused a teenage boy in the 1980s.

The singer, 81, said: ‘I’m past it but I don’t think I’ll ever be over it. You can’t press the delete button in the brain. It’s just always there.’

In a candid interview to be broadcast on Wednesday, the devout Christian admits to having had feelings of

‘hate’ and ‘violent thoughts’ towards his accuser. But not knowing the identity of the man, who was in his 40s at the time of the bogus allegation, helped him rebuild his life.

Sir Cliff, left, said: ‘They tried to tell me but I said, “Please, I’m living my life now because he’s not real to me so I don’t have anyone to hate.” I hate the idea that people can do this to another innocent human.’

The singer speaks out about his ordeal in a Channel 4 documentary to mark the ten-year anniversary of the launch of Operation Yewtree, the police investigation into allegations of historic sex abuse established in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

It expanded to include some of the biggest names in UK entertainment.

Sir Cliff was dragged into it in 2014 when it emerged he had been accused of assaulting a schoolboy during a Christian rally in Sheffield.

The case against him collapsed and he sued the BBC over its coverage, receiving £210,000 in damages. He also got a £400,000 settlement from South Yorkshire Police, which investigated the original allegation.

The Accused: National Treasures On Trial will be broadcast by

Channel 4 on Wednesday at 9pm.