It’ll be the first time he’s visited NZ since 2012
He attributes his enduring success to luck and choosing the right tracks, with 14 number one hits.
Christmas crooner Sir Cliff Richard tells the Herald more about his 2025 tour, his thoughts on the music industry today, and how he stays fit enough to keep touring well into his 80s.
What can Kiwis expect from your November 2025 shows?
My band and I have chosen thecorrect songs to sing for them, so they take away good memories. Fans have written to me from previous NZ tours and said they had a fantastic time, so we will do our best to make them feel that age doesn’t do anything and time means even less.
Well, we did lose two years over the Covid pandemic chaos in the world. There are so many countries that took up a lot of my time, not just the UK, and it’s impossible to get everywhere!
I have thought more recently about how long I can tour, so just in case, if I had to stop, I thought I’d really like to go back to Australia and New Zealand. It was always a dream to get back at some point – and okay, it’s been years, but they’ve gone past in a flash.
Sir Cliff Richard performing at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith London in November 2023.
I couldn’t answer that, I don’t want to upset anyone by not mentioning somewhere. The reason for coming back is that we have loved it before. I’ve loved all the cities I’ve played before. I do remember one place in the South Island where we went up this mountain which was all frozen and we’d taken drinks with us, but I didn’t drink them. There were these bowl shapes in the ice, with blue water. I spent the time drinking that pure, blue water! That was special, but it wasn’t a particular town or the audience. For me, the only way I can answer a question like this is that the audiences in New Zealand have always welcomed and hugged us and we hope that this time we will have the same rapport as before.
Performer Cliff Richard arrives at Napier Airport for the 2003 Mission Concert. Photo / NZME
What do you do to keep yourself energetic, fit and healthy so you can keep touring in your 80s?
Ageing is never a pleasant thought. I realised I did have to be more careful as I aged that I didn’t damage my throat too much. Being 80 is a surprise to me. It’s not difficult to deal with because I’ve been fortunate with good health – I’ve had to deal with almost nothing over the years. There’s no secret to being active, you can be active just by walking. I continue to move – playing tennis is a wonderful workout of jumping, running, chasing a ball, and that’s what I used to do to keep fit. Now, I play less tennis, but it’s amazing how you can just walk in your own home. I’m fortunate to be able to walk in the garden every day – I tell myself I must keep moving. Just walking up and down the stairs a few times each day is better than being sedentary.
You’ve sold more than 250 million records worldwide – what do you think is the secret to your enduring success?
I don’t really know – if only I could put my finger on what has made me successful. Luck – choosing the right tracks – not all were No 1 hits (14 of them were), but 19 were top 4 and if that happens, that’s the reason – but I can’t tell you why it would be true for me and not everyone else. You do your best, and if you’re lucky, people recognise it as your best. I’ve wanted to please them, and I’ve succeeded.
Cliff Richard in the 1960s, a decade in which he had "a mind-blowing spiritual experience". Photo / Supplied
What are your thoughts on the music scene today? What artists do you like/dislike?
I don’t like rap, I never did from when I first heard it. Newer artists, like Harry Styles or Ed Sheeran, seem to be like the old approach to music – they think of a storyline and produce a melodic record. Those are the two I like the most – thank goodness there are still artists that still make records like from way back.
What was the last new album you listened to and loved?
I don’t play the whole album of any of the newer artists. I hear songs that I do like, I appreciate artists’ voices in all genres, but perhaps Harry and Ed are the two that stand out to me, and to a younger audience. When I’m dead and gone, let’s hope people are still listening to Harry and Ed, which would give them the longevity that I have been blessed with.
Which modern artist would you most like to collaborate with?
Having mentioned Ed Sheeran, I loved the duet he did with Elton a few years ago – if he asked me, I’d jump at the opportunity.
Ed Sheeran is one of Sir Cliff Richard's favourite current musical artists and the person he'd love to collaborate with, given the chance.
What was the best decade for music?
No doubt, the 50s and 60s was when the tsunami of pop rock music hit the world, the most incredible period. Every artist should listen to that music, because it launched many careers. We should pay homage to the music [we make] and wind it back to see where the influences came from.
What was the best year of your life?
1995. Firstly, I got a knighthood which I never expected - the first pop star to be awarded one. Secondly, I became a member at the Wimbledon All England Tennis Club – I never believed that would happen! It was absolutely never on my radar.
You must have seen many changes in the world in your lifetime. How do you feel about the world we’re living in these days?
Sometimes it’s a little frightening – political upheaval is rife all over the world. All humans are born babies – exactly the same – somehow the world separates us and makes us think in different ways, we should simply all get together and say we love each other. There is nothing that I can change other than my music, we’ve just got to go along with it and hope it will find its way.
Cliff Richard's Christmas hit Misteltoe and Wine was first released more than 35 years ago.
The Young Ones gave you a whole new set of fans in the early 80s. What TV show would you like to attach a song to today?
Actually, I think one of my favourite TV shows was Friends. That would have been a great show to collaborate with. The Young Ones was fabulous because in one section I saw, they had a bit where they were listening to a band and one of the guys got up and said “oi, can you play Summer Holiday” and the singer said, “you sing it and I’ll smash your face in!” Ha – I feel honoured that they actually mentioned me, and my song, and it was very funny what they did. That was a thrill for me!
Mistletoe and Wine is still a Christmas classic, more than 35 years since it was first released. When you recorded it, did you know it would be a timeless hit?
No, I didn’t think that. When we go into the studio to make a record, you may have a tingle of hope that this could be a hit – I’ve never said this is a No 1. No one other than the audience decides that. So, when Mistletoe and Wine came out I did think this could be really good – and then, blow me down, it was!
Over a million-selling (perhaps more) track. It was Peter Gormley, my manager, who heard it first. He listened all the time to tracks, and he could choose a potential hit. I feel very grateful that I was lucky enough to be able to sing it.
How do you spend your Christmas holidays?
I used to spend Christmas with my youngest sister Joan and her family – they used to come to me and we’d have Christmas together over and over again through the years. You know what happens, the children get married, and they in turn have children. Suddenly we found the nieces and nephews wanted to go to their in-laws. So I said to my sister, Christmas is not just for children, it’s for the adults too. She came along, I had learned how to prep oysters and a glass of champagne, and she didn’t mention the children once!
Sir Cliff Richard has sold more than 250 million records over his career, with 14 number one hits. Photo / Michelle Kloboucnik
What are your must-haves on your Christmas dinner plate?
Turkey! One of the best Christmases I had was when I’d been to my butcher and asked them to prepare a turkey stuffed with a goose. Joan, my sister, said “oh, the children won’t like goose”. I said, “it doesn’t matter, I like it, they can have the turkey”. Would you believe it, I had one slice of goose, the kids ate the rest of it! Turkey has to be there – I love veges, so all that stuff. I make the gravy of course!
If you could invite five guests for Christmas dinner, who would they be?
Tom Jones, Mother Teresa, Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John and Tony Blair.
Other than Mistletoe and Wine, what’s your favourite Christmas song?
Of mine, Saviour’s Day – a great rocky hard-hitting but religious song.
I must admit, White Christmas always comes up with me. It ties me back to a period before Elvis and me – Bing Crosby – this record sold 50 million copies, I don’t think anyone has done that!
Sir Cliff Richard’s 2025 tour takes him to Auckland on November 14, Wellington on November 17, and Christchurch on November 19.
