Cliff Richard’s Enigmatic Love Life – From Famous Romances to Heartbreaking Break-Ups
Sir Cliff Richard may have built his career singing about love and heartbreak, but when it comes to his own romantic history, the 83-year-old music legend has remained something of a mystery. Despite decades in the spotlight, the long-time bachelor has never married, saying his dedication to music left little room for the demands of married life. “I’ve been in love,” he told BBC News in 2003, “but marriage is a big commitment, and being an artist consumes a great deal of time.”
Over the years, there have been a few notable romances — and just as many “what ifs.” Perhaps his most public relationship was with tennis star and television presenter Sue Barker. The pair met at a tennis tournament in 1981, bonding over their shared love of sport and Christian faith.
At the time, Cliff was 41 and Sue was 25, and although they enjoyed each other’s company, Sue reportedly had concerns about the age gap and the constant media attention. Their relationship lasted less than a year, ending when Cliff — rather than break the news himself — asked a friend to end things on his behalf. The two briefly reconnected after Cliff admitted he missed her, but Sue concluded they were better suited as friends.
Cliff has spoken fondly of Sue in the decades since, admitting in 2008 that he had considered proposing but ultimately “didn’t love her quite enough” to make that lifelong commitment. While the pair remain on good terms, Sue has expressed frustration over Cliff’s tendency to revisit their romance publicly. In her 2022 autobiography, Calling the Shots, she urged him to “have some respect” for her marriage to Lance Tankard and stop mentioning their brief relationship — one she insists was never more than a friendship.
Before Sue Barker, Cliff was romantically linked to dancer Jackie Irving, whom he met in the 1960s during a summer season in Blackpool. Describing Jackie as “extremely beautiful” and “a great person to go dancing with,” Cliff once considered proposing to her. However, his manager warned that marriage could cost him up to 30% of his fanbase. Faced with the potential career impact, Cliff ended the relationship. Speaking to Piers Morgan in 2020, he defended the decision, insisting it showed he wasn’t truly in love, rather than being “ruthless.”
Despite these high-profile connections, Cliff Richard has chosen a life outside of marriage, prioritising his music, faith, and career longevity over settling down. Yet the glimpses into his romantic past — from the glamorous tennis champion to the vibrant young dancer — reveal a man who has known affection, faced difficult choices, and remains, even now, an enigma when it comes to matters of the heart.