Singer Cliff Richard's case against BBC begins in High Court

British singer Cliff Richard arrives at the Rolls Building in London, where a High Court judge prepares to analyse evidence in a legal battle between singer Cliff Richard and the BBC. Photo / Supplied

Sir Cliff Richard broke down in court as he blamed the BBC for the way his name had been "forever tainted".

The 77-year-old singer was giving evidence in his legal action against the corporation for its coverage of the police search at his home after an alleged sex offence involving a minor.

He said the BBC's decision to identify him in August 2014 had turned his life upside down, portraying him as a "serious criminal".

"I know I didn't do it, he [the accuser] knows I didn't do it, God knows I didn't do it but unfortunately for me, it's lasted a lot longer than I could have thought."

Sir Cliff, pictured, told Mr Justice Mann at the High Court: "It changed everything for me, everything. It felt like my life had stopped. I found it really disturbing. It was obvious for moments, if not days, I was not seen as a human being.

"Everything I had lived for seemed to come to nothing."

Sir Cliff was visibly nervous and often struggling to hear the questions of Gavin Millar, the BBC's barrister, at one point admitting: "Rock and roll has not been good for my ears."

When Sir Cliff had finished his evidence, he stepped off the stand straight into the arms of his close friend Gloria Hunniford and broke down in tears.

He revealed that the legal action had cost him more than £3.4 million ($6.58m) up to the end of February. Sir Cliff sobbed as he said he believed South Yorkshire Police were "just doing their job" and had apologised to him.

He said: "The BBC, doing what they did that day, did not just name me here ... but everywhere I have ever been. I felt my name was smeared.

"It felt like torture, sustained over a period of almost two years."

If he wins the case, he will seek $538,391 for legal costs, $209,930 for PR fees and an undisclosed sum for the "substantial non-recoverable advance" agreed for My Life, My Way, his autobiography, due to have been published in 2015 but then shelved.