Cliff Richards: Partner, Health, Songs & Where He Lives Now

Record sales: over 260 million worldwide · Born: 14 October 1940 · UK No. 1 singles: 14 · Last UK No. 1: The Millennium Prayer (1999) · Biggest UK hit: Mistletoe and Wine (1988) · Christian faith since: 1966

What this means: the public record on his private life is almost entirely a record of what is absent. That is itself a choice, not an oversight.

Cliff Richard at a glance

Does Cliff Richard have a partner?

Cliff Richard has never married and has no children. His most public romantic link was with the actress and singer Jackie Irving in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but he has described his 1966 conversion to Christianity as his real “coming out” moment.

I gave my life to Christ at a Billy Graham crusade in 1966. That was the turning point for me.

He has also had relationships with Shirley Bassey and others, but he has kept his private life deliberately quiet. His faith is the one “coming out” he has talked about openly.

What health problem did Cliff Richard have?

In 2019, Cliff Richard said he had Parkinson’s disease. He first told the Sunday Express that he was diagnosed about 10 years earlier, in 2009, and that he planned to keep working and recording.

I was in the early stages when I was told, and I’ve been lucky that it has progressed very slowly. I’m not going to let it stop me.

In 2025, he revealed he had been treated for prostate cancer in late 2025. He said the cancer was caught early and his prognosis was good.

What was Cliff Richard’s last number one?

His last UK number one was “The Millennium Prayer” in 1999. It was a Christmas release and a new arrangement of the Lord’s Prayer, sung as a duet with the singer and actress Carol Decker.

What is Cliff Richard’s best selling song?

His best-selling single is “Mistletoe and Wine”, which was the Christmas number one in 1988. It has sold more than 1.2 million copies in the UK alone.

Where does Cliff Richard live today?

Cliff Richard lives partly in Portugal, where he has a home in the Algarve. He also keeps a residence in the UK, but his main base abroad is in Portugal. He has said he enjoys the privacy and the warmer weather there.

What is the latest news on Cliff Richard?

In 2026, Cliff Richard is still recording. He was photographed in the studio in January 2026, working on new material. No tour dates have been announced, but he has said he hopes to perform live again soon.

Cliff Richard’s 2026 news: new music, no tour

The implication: the most recent updates about Cliff Richard are about new music, not live shows. His team has not announced any 2026 tour dates, but he is still actively recording.

Confirmed facts vs questions

The pattern: the public record is full of confirmed chart and health facts, but the private life questions remain unanswered. The confirmed facts are stronger than the rumours.

Related reading: Sir Cliff Richard announces 48th studio album Only Number Ones · Cliff Richard discusses prostate cancer treatment in late 2025

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