WITH a career spanning over 60 years, Sir Cliff Richard is revered the world over as one of the finest performers to ever grace the music industry.

In October, the 77 year old, who was originally born in British India, is set to embark on a nationwide tour to celebrate his six decades in music.

With a mind-boggling 103 albums released, a record breaking 123 single hits and time in the UK charts which adds up to the equivalent of 20 years, it’s fair to say that Cliff has done more than enough to cement himself as a legend of British music.

However, it is testament to the man himself that he wants to continue touring.

We in Sussex will be lucky enough to have the show come to us at the Brighton Centre, but Cliff has also set out a measure to ensure that as many people across the country can see the show as possible.

Cliff Richard Live: 60th Anniversary Tour will be shown in over 700 cinemas in the UK and Ireland.

The Manchester Bridgewater Hall is the venue that will host the historic event, on October 12, as Cliff’s show will be broadcast live across the nation as he performs.

We heard from the pop icon about the tour...

This tour marks your 60th anniversary – how has your live performance changed over the years?

In my first concerts I had no catalogue of my own and so I sang many songs recorded by my contemporaries of that time. Now I am lucky to have a massive catalogue, and everything changes when you have hits of your own!

123 singles to date is a staggering achievement, but which is your favourite to perform?

“Miss You Nights”.... “Devil Women”....“Ocean Deep”....”We Don’t Talk Anymore” are among my favourites. All the number ones are great to sing knowing that they are now wrapped up in people’s memories. There are a number of songs on my new CD that I can’t wait to sing live...I am a very lucky guy!

What can the audience in the cinema expect on the night? Any surprises?

A lot of the above and as to surprises. I think it would be a shame to give them away.

The encore screening is on your birthday! What’s your biggest wish for your 78th year?

I wish for another year of the good health that God has provided me with and, as always, I hope I don’t disappoint my fans in any way and that this tour will bring pleasure, fun, and a little bit of something new into their lives.

What were the reasons for doing the cinema event this year? Could you have imagined that when you first started out that technology will make this possible?

Presenting my concert in a “cinema” format is something that in those early years was an impossibility. Way back, to be seen in a cinema meant we had to perform live in a cinema, so this screening is going to be a great thrill for me and my band.

What are your favourite memories from 60 years in the music industry?

Even after all these years, it is still exciting to remember those 14 No 1’s...those 34 top 4 records and all the top 20 entries I had....I find it hard to think that it actually happened to me.

What can fans expect from your new album releasing in November this year?

In the last 15 years I have not recorded any brand new songs, so the fans will probably not be expecting them. This CD however, is full of them.

Warner Music decided that I should make the move back to, how, in those early heady days I would walk into a studio with a bunch of brand new material.

I feel that I have been “reborn”... in that this new album takes me back to where I started, bringing fresh songs to an audience.

Cliff Richard hits the Brighton Centre on Thursday, October 18