Sir Cliff Richard was "elated" after being told he would not be prosecuted over historic sex abuse allegations, his friend Gloria Hunniford has revealed.
Cliff, 75, was told on Thursday (16.06.16) that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had dropped its case against him over claims he sexually assaulted a teenage boy decades ago.
The ‘Devil Woman’ singer always denied the claims and insisted he was innocent and although he was overjoyed to be free of police investigation his long-time friend Gloria, 76, has revealed the ordeal had affected him "mentally and physically".
During an appearance on ITV show ‘Good Morning Britain’, she said: "I only spoke to him for a short while but he was just so elated. He said it was just an emotional moment when he heard the news. "During the terrible turmoil of the last couple of years, he would say it’s the last thing he thought of at night and the first thing he thought of in the morning. I know his thought process this morning will be one of elation, at least of relief. I mean his body must be thinking, ‘Thank goodness,’ and I must say I couldn’t be more happy for him."
When asked by hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard whether she had seen a change in the singer over the last two years, Gloria said: "Mentally and physically. I mean I think mentally, it’s been horrific for him, I mean how could it not be because you’re being accused of something you know you haven’t done. I think physically, Cliff was never overweight but on the other hand I do think he’s dropped weight."
Gloria – who has been friends with Cliff for 45 years – also revealed that the music star wants the CPS to clarify to people that he is "innocent" of the allegations made against him.
The ‘Loose Women’ panellist said: "Cliff, I know, is looking for the word innocent, which he hasn’t yet received in terms of the CPS because as he rightly says, ‘If you haven’t done anything, there is no evidence to collect in that sense,’ so he hasn’t got the word innocent yet and he would love that word of course because that’s how he feels."
Cliff Richard was ‘elated’ after being cleared of sexual assault claims
