Alan Titchmarsh shows off topless image of Cliff Richard in 2010
The Mistletoe and Wine crooner celebrated his 80th birthday this year and admitted it might be his final topless calendar. Sir Cliff is due to appear on Titchmarsh’s ITV show Love Your Weekend alongside Beverley Knight tomorrow. The popular pair have shared a number of banterous exchanges over the years, including one where Titchmarsh claimed the singer’s physique put him “to shame”.
The photograph was unveiled after the TV presenter, 71, quizzed Sir Cliff about his plans to “retire” – a word the singer previously stated was “not in my vocabulary”.
The now-octogenarian rejected any calls to step aside because he felt he was already living a ‘semi-retired’ existence.
Sir Cliff said: “Retirement is where you stop what you’re doing, it doesn’t mean that you stop doing anything.
“Some people go and try some other things, do something they always wish they had done and that’s always open to me.
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“But I can’t see any point of actually stopping when in fact, what I could do is what I’m practically doing now.”
The singer listed several achievements, including performing at the Royal Albert Hall, in London and releasing albums, when Titchmarsh reached over to the table.
He announced: “I’ve been looking at the calendar as well – just to make them scream even more.”
Titchmarsh prediction was correct, as yells and screams erupted from the studio audience.
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He lifted one of the month’s photographs up to the camera to reveal Sir Cliff bare-chest and pecs as he appeared to be strolling along a beach.
Titchmarsh turned the calendar so it was face-down on the table, as he quipped: “Shame on you!”
He continued: “You make those of us who are younger feel very embarrassed.”
Sir Cliff laughed and then leaned across, as he quizzed: “Why did you turn it over?”
Sir Cliff turned the calendar face-up so that his hairy chest and trim physique could be seen by the audience.
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Titchmash, who was left a little red-faced by the exchange, said: “I should wear it on my front while I do the questions, I should!”
The TV host held the topless photograph over his body and cheekily beamed at the camera.
The pair’s banterous exchange happened during an episode of The Alan Titchmarsh Show, which first aired on ITV in 2010.
This year, Sir Cliff admitted that he was ready to stop making calendars after the 2021 edition was released.
He said: “I suspect I have done my final topless photo… I suspect it’s time to gracefully exit the Chippendales’ market.”
Sir Cliff has produced 42 calendars, including this recent one, which have sold 1.5 million copies over the years.
In his new book, The Dreamer, Sir Cliff explained: “When I did my last one, Chris Evans said on the radio that it ‘couldn’t be my body’.
“‘They must have superimposed my head onto somebody else!’ – that made me laugh.”
Alan Titchmarsh’s ITV show Love Your Weekend, which will feature Cliff Richard and Beverley Knight, is due to air at 10am on Sunday.
Cliff Richard: The Dreamer was published by Ebury Press in October and is available here.
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