Sir Cliff Richard’s days of flashing the flesh are over.
The star, who turned 80 last month, has declared he’s past the age of stripping down – having gained hearthrob status earlier in his career with his shirtless escapades.
Appearing on Wednesday morning’s Lorraine, he said he was considering one more calendar – having been known for his saucy annual offerings in the past.
Sir Cliff Richard’s days of flashing the flesh are over
‘I’ve been talking about doing one more… but I’m not stripping off my shirt anymore, it’s too late!’ he told Lorraine Kelly.
He also revealed that the 2020 lockdowns have seen him put his pinny on at home.
‘I learned how to clean toilets, I’ve learnt to vacuum floors, I can now make beds,’ he shared. ‘I know how to use the washing machine and dishwasher. I even make a mean scramble egg on the stove.
‘If my career ended tomorrow, I could be your housekeeper!’
![Grrrr! The star, who turned 80 last month, has declared he's past the age of stripping down - having gained hearthrob status earlier in his career with his shirtless escapades [pictured in his 1968 musical special as Tarzan]](https://i0.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/12/02/11/36350122-9009565-image-m-179_1606908276401.jpg?resize=634%2C973&ssl=1)
Grrrr! The star, who turned 80 last month, has declared he’s past the age of stripping down – having gained hearthrob status earlier in his career with his shirtless escapades [pictured in his 1968 musical special as Tarzan]
Clothes on: Appearing on Wednesday morning’s Lorraine, he said he was considering one more calendar – having been known for his saucy annual offerings in the past
‘Lovely, you have an open invite,’ Lorraine replied.
Speaking about emotional past events, he confessed: ‘Gloria Hunniford said to me, when [her daughter] Karen died, she obviously had the most horrific time. To lose a child is really outrageously bad and wrong, it’s the wrong way round.
‘She said, “In the end, you know what, I will get past it but I don’t think I will ever get over it”. I have been saying the same for me. I don’t think I’m ever going to forget what happened to me during those horrible four years.’
Cliff was referring to when he was linked to the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Yewtree, which was set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
In August 2014, in response to a complaint, his apartment in Berkshire was searched. He was not arrested, and strongly denied the allegations, and eventually cleared.
Heartthrob: Cliff Richard is pictured with Olivia Newton John in 1971
Coy: ‘I’ve been talking about doing one more… but I’m not stripping off my shirt anymore, it’s too late!’ he told Lorraine Kelly
He took legal action against the BBC for covering the search on the news.
‘From the time that false accusation came to the end of the court case with the BBC. I will never forget those years, ever it will be stuck with me forever but I am past it,’ Cliff told Lorraine.
‘After the paparazzi had left the farm, I was staying at my house in Portugal, once they had gone, I took a walk out and looked down the drive and I thought someone has painted the gates, gold bits.
‘I went down and there they weren’t paint, they were yellow, gold ribbons tied around with messages saying, “We don’t believe a word of it, we love you, we will always love you”. I was standing at the gate with tears in my eyes.’
On celebrating his 80th birthday, he joked: ‘I was planning to have 20,0000 people over four days at the Albert hall and then the rule came out that I had to cut it down. So I got it down to… six!’
He said his faith had helped him during those times. ‘I leaned on my faith,’ he explained.
He added he would wake up at 3:15AM every morning but he started to pray and focus on others and this ultimately helped him.
On celebrating his 80th birthday, he joked: ‘I was planning to have 20,0000 people over four days at the Albert hall and then the rule came out that I had to cut it down. So I got it down to… six!’
Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV from 9AM.