Cliff Richard: 'I thought I was going to die' over two-year police probe stress

Sir Cliff Richard has said he "thought he would die" after the last two years of his life were made hell by being publicly named as a sex crime suspect.

The singer said he was left physically and emotionally exhausted by the ordeal and was "unable to sleep for 22 months".

And he is now considering suing South Yorkshire Police and the BBC after a tip-off led to a raid on his Berkshire home being broadcast live on TV.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Sir Cliff said he was in Portugal, where he owns a farm and vineyard, when he saw the coverage on BBC News.

"That was my introduction to what they were doing," Sir Cliff told the paper.

"It was really terrifying, really horrible, and of course that's when I discovered what I was supposedly accused of."

The CPS found 'insufficient evidence' after a two-year investigation. Credit: Reuters

The following day, the veteran star revealed he collapsed at seeing the media outside his home.

"I didn't know how I could face the future or face my friends or face my family. I was in tears, I have to admit," he said.

"I was on my knees in tears in the kitchen. I was thinking: "How can I get out of this? How can I ever climb out of this hole?"

"Somebody got me to my feet and said: 'You've got to stand up, you are not guilty, hold your head up, you can do it.'"

The case against Sir Cliff was dropped earlier this month after a review of the evidence by the Crown Prosecution Service.

South Yorkshire Police have since apologised over their handling of the investigation, during which Sir Cliff said he felt like he was being used as "live bait" for accusers with spurious claims.

He called on the BBC to follow the police for what he described to the Daily Mail as "shameful" treatment.