Sir Cliff Richard, 78, tells Jonathan Ross how he wept as BBC broadcast live ‘sex abuse’ raid on his home
The Beeb broadcast a live police raid on Cliff's Berkshire home in 2014, using a helicopter to film the drama
SIR Cliff Richard has opened up on the "horrific" emotional aftermath of a highly publicised police raid on his home.
Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, the pop star said the BBC's coverage of claims of historical sexual assault left him emotionally drained.
The Beeb broadcast a live police raid on Cliff's Berkshire home in 2014, using a helicopter to film the drama.
He said he dropped to the floor and wept watching it, and the heartbreaking coverage left him feeling helpless.
The corporation has had to pay more than £1.5million after it was found to have breached the privacy of the singer who was never arrested or charged with a crime.
The 78-year-old told Jonathan: "I've had four terrible years and it was horrific.
"My best quote is that I can say that I would never wish that on my worst enemy. It was tumultuous, horrific, emotionally draining, traumatic.
"It felt like I was in thick mud, I can't describe it any better - a hole - and I didn't know how to get out. I didn't know what to do. Thank God for friends and thank God for God."
The singer was in Portugal at the time and was phoned by his management to alert him to the raid.
He remembered watching the coverage from circling helicopters after the search.
Sir Cliff said it was "unfair" to be judged the way he was, without any arrest being made or charges brought.
He told Ross he was not guilty and the media should have behaved accordingly.
He said: "I saw all that later, the helicopters. It was very intrusive and it's hard to explain to people what it feels like.
"In the end it was just heartbreaking for me that anyone would even think it possible for that accusation to be true. There was no substance to it and that's what makes it so ugly for me."
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He sued the BBC over the coverage and in July, Mr Justice Mann ruled in Sir Cliff's favour, concluding the coverage was a very serious privacy invasion and awarding him £210,000 damages.
Cliff appears on the show alongside Hollywood star Jeff Goldblum and comedian Katherine Ryan.
The full interview can be seen on The Jonathan Ross Show on Saturday November 17 at 9.40pm.
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