Sir Cliff Richard announces BBC Christmas special after suing broadcaster in sexual allegation reporting row-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Sir Cliff will perform festive classic (Picture: BBC)

Sir Cliff Richard appears to have had a change of heart with the BBC after previously suing the broadcaster for invasion of privacy.

The We Don’t Talk Anymore crooner and the Beeb are teaming up for a one-hour Christmas special, which will see the 82-year-old perform his classic festive hits.

The programme comes four years after the Congratulations hitmaker won his court case against the public service broadcaster and was awarded more than £2 million in damages and legal costs.

The judge ruled that the BBC had breached the Holiday performer’s privacy during the reporting of the South Yorkshire Police raid in 2014 on his Sunningdale home in Berkshire, which was part of an investigation into historical child sex allegations.

Sir Cliff had been investigated but cleared as part of Operation Yewtree and one of its subsequent investigations, which were launched 10 years ago in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

The veteran singer denied the allegations, was never arrested and in June 2016 prosecutors announced that he would face no charges.

Now, Sir Cliff has had a major u-turn with the BBC with Cliff at Christmas on the BBC, which is set to be broadcast this festive season.

Sir Cliff has fronted Xmas specials before (Picture: TV Times/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Sir Cliff has been performing for more than half a century (Picture: Redferns)

As well as performing, Sir Cliff will chat to Sara Cox at the iconic Abbey Road Studios about his 64-year career.

Sir Cliff said: ‘I remember, as though it was yesterday, the three series (each containing 13 shows) that I did for the BBC in the 70’s. I loved every moment of them!

Sir Cliff has a number of Christmas hits (Credits: Sipa/REX/Shutterstock)

‘Now I’m really looking forward to the Christmas show that they have asked me to present, with the aid of some friends, this December 2022.

‘My Christmas wish? That you will enjoy our show. Christmas greetings to you all.

Sir Cliff sued the BBC for invasion of privacy (Picture: Shutterstock)

Kate Phillips, BBC’s Director Unscripted Content, added:  ‘We are enormously excited to welcome Sir Cliff Richard to the BBC this Christmas, with his inimitable voice and charm there’s no one better to get everyone into the Christmas spirit.’

In further Christmas and Sir Cliff news, the national treasure is gearing up to release his first dedicated Christmas album in nearly two decades on November 25.

More: Trending

Titled Christmas With Cliff, it will feature 13 tracks comprising Christmas classics and new festive songs.

Cliff at Christmas on the BBC comes to BBC Two and iPlayer later this year.

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