Anecdotes

He is the only singer in the history of music to have a #1 hit in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

He announced his conversion to Christianity in 1966. He has never married and claims to have observed a celibate lifestyle since then.

He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 1980 for his services to music. He was knighted for services to charity in 1995, becoming the first of several UK pop stars to be knighted.

He is the third artist after Elvis Presley and The Beatles (joint 17) with the highest number of #1 hits in the UK.

He had 14 #1 hits between 1958 and 1999 - including his single "The Millenium Prayer" which reached #1 in November 1999.

He figures prominently in Brendan O'Carroll's hilarious comic novel, "The Mammy" in which Agnes Browne, the main character, fulfills her life-long dream of "a dance with Cliff Richard on Christmas Eve" at the end of the novel. In the film Agnès Browne (1999) (The Mammy), he was replaced by Tom Jones, who plays himself.

He has more Top 10 hits than any other artist - 65 at the last count (including 14 no.1s).

"We Don't Talk Anymore" (1979) is his best-selling single with almost five million copies sold worldwide. "Private Collection" (1988) is his best-selling album with almost two million copies sold.

His sisters are Jacqueline Ann (born 21 November 1947), Joan (born 1950) and Donella "Donna" (born 1943).

On 11 November 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture.

In 1989 he became the first British Recording Artist to release 100 Singles, with "The Best Of Me" (1989).

Won Favourite Male Singer Award in 1982.

He sparked rumors of a retirement on December 1999 after several radio stations play-listed his single "The Millennium Prayer" that month.

He was spoofed in an episode of the BBC television series Doomwatch (1970), Sex and Violence (2016), which has never been transmitted due to fears Richard would take legal action.

In 1971 a film entitled Xanadu was scheduled to be filmed in the North East starring Cliff but for some reason it didn't happen.

His home was searched by police following an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. The search was televised by the BBC. Richard was questioned but not arrested. The allegation was subsequently dropped.

He represented the United Kingdom in 18ème Concours Eurovision de la chanson 1973 (1973) (Concours Eurovision de la chanson) in 1968 - "Congratulations" & 1973 - "Power to all our friends".

He was estimated in 2006 to have sold 250 million albums during his career.

He was the winner of the British Record Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1977. He was the winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1982. He was the winner of the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution in 1989.

He got gold discs for Living Free and The Young Ones.

Began his entertainment career as an office assistant for Disc publisher Charlie Buchan.