Three star

Poor old Cliff! If only he had shaved his head and fathered Sue Barker's lovechild he'd be so much more popular.

As it is he's regarded as a cross between Julie Andrews, Bonnie Langford and the Archbishop of Canterbury, and his genuine musical talent ignored and ridiculed.

At the same time as he found Jesus, many cynical souls found the need to start criticising him. Frankly, with his sugar-drenched take on Christmas hits in recent years, I've not blamed them. He hasn't been doing himself any favours with his cloying tinsel tunes and obsession with non-sagging facial muscles.

It is a delight then to hear Cliff singing like he used to. He has gathered together 13 songs he would have loved to have sung first, His 'wanted' list contains such diverse numbers as Somewhere Over the Rainbow, And I Love Her and Love Me Tender.

Although his 'wanted' list is not quite mine, I'm glad he took off his Christmas hat, and reminded us who Cliff Richard used to be.

SCC