Sir Cliff Richard is hoping a reggae version of Psalm 23, 'The Lord Is My Shepherd', will give him his fifth Christmas number one, at the age of 86.
The singer, one of Britain’s best-known artists, who has always been open about his Christian faith, has teamed up with songwriter Chris Eaton, who wrote his 1990 Christmas chart-topper 'Saviour’s Day'.
Sir Cliff told fans at an evening of conversation and songs at the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames on Sunday that he had never sung reggae before saying: “I can’t sing it yet as I’ve not learnt it.”
Sir Cliff became a Christian in 1964 and made appearances with evangelical US preacher Billy Graham. He has had 14 number one singles, four of them at Christmas. Several carry a Christian message, none more so than 'Saviour’s Day' and his last chart-topper, 'The Millennium Prayer' in 1999, which set the words of the Lord’s Prayer to the tune of Auld Lang Syne.
'Millennium Prayer' received a radio snub from the BBC and other mainstream stations kept it off their playlists too claiming it didn't have broad appeal. But Premier Christian Radio played it every hour and it reached number one.
He hopes to land his eighth number one album with his 48th studio release, Only Number Ones, out on 27 November.