Cilla Black: I am 'absolutely positive' Cliff Richard is innocent

Sir Cliff Richard’s close friend Cilla Black said that she is shocked that her long-time friend is being investigated for sexual assault.

16:56 20 August 2014

Cilla Black has said that she is “absolutely positive” that her long-time friend, Sir Cliff Richards is innocent.

 

The singer added that she was shocked that an investigation has been launched against her friend to probe an alleged sexual assault on a boy under the age of 16 in 1985. She spoke out after Sir Cliff announced that he was cancelling a charity event because he did not “want the event to be overshadowed by the false allegation.”

 

Black, 71, said in a statement: "Cliff is a very close friend of mine and has been for a million years.

 

"I, like everyone else, was shocked to hear of these allegations and I am absolutely positive that they are without foundation."

 

Last Thursday, Sir Cliff’s Berkshire penthouse apartment was searched by the police for five hours. The singer, who was in Portugal at the time of search, has denied all allegations. 

 

Black and Sir Cliff have been friends since 1960s and they are often photographed watching the tennis at Wimbledon together.