Sir Cliff Richard has enjoyed a music career spanning almost seven decades, and the singer credits his energy down to staying healthy.
Offering a rare glimpse into his health and fitness regime in his later years, Sir Richard, who was knighted in 1995, admitted that his successful career has surprised him as much as anyone else.
In a previous interview, the Summer Holiday singer confessed: “I never thought I’d get to be 50 years old, let alone have a 62-year career.”
The 84-year-old went on to share his secrets to longevity, stating that ageing isn’t an issue as long as he is “lucky enough” to maintain good health.
Despite past health scares including a “dangerous” bout of shingles and warnings from doctors about his rising cholesterol levels, he credits his enduring youthfulness to staying physically active.
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“I always say to people, you know, just keep moving. If you can run, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. Just keep everything moving and I think that’s helped me a great deal,” he has previously disclosed.
“Some people just don’t age well, but you can still age and be happy. I don’t even know what I look like now, but you don’t have to look 20 to have fun.”
“You can still have fun within your age group within your standard of tennis playing, or whatever sport you choose to do. That’s what I do. I still keep active,” he continued, before highlighting the importance of diet alongside exercise.
He concluded: “The thing is to try and keep healthy and sometimes that means giving up food that you shouldn’t eat and want to.”
Fitness enthusiast Richard, known for his trim figure, has frequently been spotted on the tennis courts and is a regular at the gym.
Mourning the death of his mother Dorothy Webb at 87 after her prolonged battle with dementia, Richard is resolved to reach the century mark himself.
Cliff Richard is now 84-years-old (Image: Getty)
Sharing his philosophies on longevity, he remarked: “I’ve just been reading a book I bought, hundreds of ways of getting to 100. It mentions apples and celery juice and things like that.”
He also expressed his lifelong adherence to his beliefs: “I’ve been true to what I believe in and it’s held me in good stead,” and humorously added, “They should start treating me like an old man.”
The National Institute on Aging underlines various influences on “healthy ageing” highlighting both uncontrollable genetic factors and lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet, and mental health awareness.
Sir Cliff also previously credit his success in the industry was down to “giving up things I loved”.
Cliff Richard at Wimbledon (Image: Getty)
Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, he said: “I only eat what I’m supposed to eat. I have to give up certain things that I loved before, but there are so many vegetables and different things I can eat that I do.”
Discussing his diet with Boom Radio in 2022, he admitted he follows a Blood Type diet, which is an eating plan depending on what blood type you are.
He has also said that he has had to give up some things he loved, such as red meat, crustaceans, mangoes, papayas, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, and aubergine.
Sir Cliff, who is blood type A, explained: “There are 10 things [I can’t have].
“I can’t have dairy or wheat. No red meat. No crustaceans. No mangoes, papayas or bananas. No potatoes, tomatoes. No aubergine.
“And you know, when you look at a list of foods that exist, giving up 10 of them is not that difficult.”
He added: “Tomatoes are probably the thing I miss most because some of the great curries I made with tomato puree. Some of the great pastas have tomatoes in them, but there’s so many different ways of having pasta.
While he misses some of the things he has cut from his diet, he says he looks forward to having a treat now and then.
“I have to be careful when I’m choosing Indian food. But you know, I’m allowed to have a treat now and then,” he added.
“But if I’m gonna have a treat, it’ll be a steak about four times a year, that’s all. But I look forward to the day. You have to plan your sin.”