Cliff Richard: A Celebration Book

We all think we know Cliff Richard, that safest of British institutions. So one of the joys of this glossy Celebration of Cliff's remarkable 40-year success is the chance to return to those moody rocker days when the Daily Mirror asked, in all seriousness: "Is the boy too sexy for television?" Aided by Kate Shaw, Cliff talks us through his career highs ("Summer Holiday", "Devil Woman") and lows (two Eurovision Song Contests, a mundane BBC series with Una Stubbs) and the not-so-familiar moments--who now remembers Cliff and the Shadows in panto at Stockton, or his legitimate theatre debut in Peter Shaffer's Five Finger Exercise? But this celebration is more than a roll-call of awards and gold albums. Following his father's death in 1961, Cliff found Christ, and his account of his subsequent career is firmly bound up with his spiritual journey. En route, he puts the record straight on the perennially vexed question of his sexuality, a public teaser for the last 30 years. Not that it matters. While Cliff's public credibility may dip and soar like the Pepsi Max, his grassroots audience remains wondrously faithful. This well-documented book will appeal to them, but it's also an intriguing insight into the mind of one of Britain's most enduring stars.--Alan StewartRead More