CLIFF RICHARD: GAY RUMOURS DON’T MATTER

British pop legend Sir Cliff Richard has asked if “it would make any difference” if he is gay.

The 73-year-old singer and one-time heartthrob spoke about marriage and his sexuality in an interview with Australia’s A Current Affair.

Richard, who has sold an estimated 250 million records worldwide, said that he never got married because it was too much responsibility.

“I never felt that it was the right time. I can do the things I want to do. I can go and meet my fans all over the world.

“I don’t have a responsibility because I always felt that marriage would be the major responsibility of your life, and if a child came along, a multi-major responsibility. No getting out of that one,” he said.

When asked if the decades-long rumours that he is gay or asexual have bothered him, he replied: “No. It did when I was young. It hurt my family a lot, of course. But who cares?

“It doesn’t really matter to me anymore. I have got gay friends. Most people have gay friends. If I was gay would it make any difference? Would you not come to my concerts because I was gay? I hope not,” Richard said.

The star, who supports same-sex marriage rights, has been linked to some women, including singer Olivia Newton John, over the years but has never settled down with any of them. He has also repeatedly denied that he is gay.

In 2008, he wrote in his autobiography that he had become close with a former American missionary John McElynn who became his “companion,” living with him and looking after his estate and charities.