Congratulations and celebrations

Sir Cliff said he sees no point in giving up his singing career

Sir Cliff Richard, still wowing the fans after five decades, insists he has no intention of retiring.

The perennial prince of pop chose Belfast's Odyssey Arena for the final concert in a tour celebrating 50 years in show business.

Speaking on BBC's Radio Ulster, Sir Cliff said the anniversary tour had "been momentous".

"Fifty years is nothing to be sneezed at and it's just nice to know that, for me anyway, I can still do it," he said.

"After all these years you don't expect any kind of accolades anymore, you just pick up what you can, but the reviews have been fantastic.

"The mail, the emails and stuff that we've seen from fans... they're convinced it's the best stuff I've done.

"Of course that's what I want them to think and I hope the Belfast people will agree."

Sir Cliff said that even after a lifetime in the music industry, he still liked to "pull out the plugs" and gave a top performance every time.

"It's not just a concert, it's a bit of my soul in there and it is, hopefully, 100% entertaining and I like doing that sort of thing.

"It's visually very attractive. In fact, some of my friends have had to come four or five times because they said there's just too much to look at in one go."

He said the secret of his success was as much a mystery to him as it was to everyone else.

Cliff Richard and The Shadows had their first hit, Move It, in 1958.

"I don't know if anybody knows why they make it, because I've always been surprised that so many singers that I thought are so much better than I am, haven't survived, so there's no real reason why I'm here other than I've worked hard," he said.

"I've always remained true to my roots, I'm still basically a rock and roll singer.

"Everyone thinks I'm not, but what I am? I'm not jazz, I'm not opera, of course I'm a rock and roll singer.

"I've just played my part where I knew I was useful and I've stuck to it over the years."

He said that perhaps people "just knew" they could be sure of a good show when they came to his concerts.

Even after a half-century of entertaining, Sir Cliff admitted to being excited about the public's reaction to his forthcoming reunion tour with his former backing group, the Shadows next year.

Three concerts are planned for the O2 arena in London and tickets for venues in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham sold out within 24 hours.

"It's nice to feel that I can still compete. It's one of those things that keeps you going, as long as you are still in the competition, it's nice to do it," he said.

Asked if he intended carrying on performing, he said he could not see any point in stopping.

"Hearing about what the Shadows and I are doing and what I've just done on my tour - I'm going to play to in excess to 140,000 people - why would I want to stop?

"If people are willing to come out, then why should I want to stop? It seems pointless, really, and if I've still got a voice, then why not just use it?"

His career, he said, had simply meant "me on stage and an audience and it's fantastic that we've actually shared it together".

"Whether I've been in Birmingham or Belfast, it's the same for me and the audience," he said.