Cliff Richard has given fans a glimpse of his brand new calendar, and it includes a sweet tribute to his dear friend, Cilla Black. The singer, who has been known to beat Taylor Swift and Harry Styles in calendar sales, revealed that the 2027 edition is officially available for pre-order.
Calendar showcases favourite pastimes
“My favourite pastimes are travelling and spending quality time with friends and the pictures in the 2027 calendar are a small snapshot of some wonderful times in May and June this year in various locations,” he said in a statement. “I am delighted to be sharing these with you in my 2027 calendar, of which, I am so proud. It might be a bit early but a happy 2027 to you all.”
Among his latest snaps, Cliff, 85, can be seen enjoying a series of sun-soaked trips and relaxing at home. The photo that truly stands out, however, shows the pop icon standing on a boat named 'Cilla'.
Friendship spanning over 50 years
Close friends for over 50 years, Cliff and Cilla, who passed away in 2015, met in the 60s after he appeared on her namesake BBC variety show, sparking a decade-spanning friendship. According to Cliff, it wasn't until the pair became neighbours in Barbados that they truly became close friends.
“We became friends but only managed to meet up from time to time. When we did meet up we simply took up from where we left off,” he explained. “Our friendship really developed when we became neighbours in Barbados. Cilla didn't drive so I happily became her chauffeur, but I refused to wear the cap!”
Professional collaborations and heartfelt tribute
Frequent collaborators, Cliff and Cilla often teamed up professionally, too, performing live duets and recording studio tracks together. Following the news of Cilla's death in 2015, Cliff released a heartfelt statement.
“I feel really privileged that I met her and got to know her as a friend. The one thing that hit me originally was that she was a woman of commitment and dedication. Our industry sometimes doesn't have that. That's probably why people come and go so fast. She had the determination and above all she had the gift - she was able to do what she set out to do,” he said.
“My memories of Cilla are going to be very happy ones. I have faith and therefore I don't think anything happens by accident. I know there's something else. I know all our souls will be united together. Cilla, this is just a hiccup in our relationship, and we will see you again and I'm looking forward to that time.”
