Introduction
Sir Cliff Richard appeared calm, even offering a faint smile, as he entered the courtroom this afternoon accompanied by close friend and television presenter Gloria Hunniford, who stood firmly by his side throughout the proceedings.
Although he was not at his Berkshire residence on August 14, 2014, when police carried out their highly publicized search, Sir Cliff explained to the court that he witnessed every moment unfold on television while he was in Portugal. He described watching live footage showing officers’ cars, camera crews, and individuals going through drawers and personal belongings.
He told the judge that during those moments—and for days afterward—he felt stripped of his humanity, as if everything he had worked for across his entire life had simply collapsed. Despite never being arrested, questioned under caution, or charged over the allegation of historical sexual assault, Sir Cliff insists the BBC’s coverage inflicted permanent harm on his reputation.
Throughout his long career, Sir Cliff became known for his wholesome, clean-cut image. His early music leaned heavily into rock-and-roll, but his public identity shifted even further in the 1960s after he embraced Christianity. He spent decades supporting charities and taking part in philanthropic work both in the UK and around the world, all while maintaining a hugely successful music career—achieving two Christmas number-one singles, selling over 250 million records globally, and releasing The 100th Thousand in 2014.
The controversy intensified when it became clear that the BBC had been tipped off in advance about the police raid by South Yorkshire Police. The force, which has already paid damages to Sir Cliff, is now asking the judge to order the BBC to cover a significant portion of those costs.
The police force’s barrister argued that South Yorkshire Police had no intention of publicly naming Sir Cliff and that it was the BBC’s unilateral decision to identify him, broadcast live footage, and even capture aerial shots of the raid using a helicopter. According to the barrister, it was that broadcast—not the investigation itself—that caused Sir Cliff emotional harm and severe financial loss.
The BBC is contesting Sir Cliff’s claim for further damages, maintaining that its reporting was in the public interest and denying that the coverage was sensationalist or overly intrusive.