Sir Cliff Richard tells ITV: Sex abuse suspects need anonymity
Sir Cliff Richard has called for a change in the law to ensure anonymity for people accused of sex abuse until there is a charge.
In an exclusive interview with ITV's Good Morning Britain, Sir Cliff said he still felt "tarnished" despite prosecutors saying last week that he would face no charges over allegations of historic sexual abuse.
Footage of the police raid on his house in 2014 was broadcast live on BBC television.
The effect of the allegations
When asked whether the allegations had changed the way he trusted people, Sir Cliff said:
Anonymity for sex abuse suspects before charge
Having been under suspicion since the raid on his house in 2014, Sir Cliff said he believes the names of those accused of sex abuse "should never be out there" until there is a charge.
"The Leveson report, he wrote that there as a guideline for how the police should behave and it's very simple, it says, ’except in exceptional circumstances, people should never be named unless they are charged’," he said.
"In the case of people like myself or anybody that is not charged with, this is sexual molestation, the name should never be out there, unless you have been charged, and here I am 22 months and a week later and no charge.
"I don't like the idea of being collateral damage, and that's what I’ve been for 22 months."
'Illegal collusion' behind police raid
Sir Cliff Richard said there "must have been illegal collusion" behind events that culminated in a police raid of his home being broadcast live on BBC News.
The singer said he was considering taking legal action for the "gross intrusion" into his privacy.
He was at his Portugal vineyard in August 2014 when he discovered that footage of detectives searching his Berkshire home was being broadcast live on television.
The BBC said it is "very sorry" for the "distress" caused by broadcasting the raid live on television, but added that it "stands by" the decision to report the investigation by South Yorkshire Police.
"The BBC at every stage reported Sir Cliff's full denial of the allegations," the corporation said.
South Yorkshire Police, meanwhile, said it apologises "wholeheartedly" for the "additional anxiety" caused by its handling of "media interest in the case".
'Euphoric' over CPS decision
In a separate interview on ITV's Loose Women, Sir Cliff said he was "euphoric" when he found out that he will not face charges from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and "hasn't stopped smiling" since.
The 75-year-old told Gloria Hunniford that he is "confused" how he ever came to be investigated, and said the people who made the allegations against him "must really hate me for some reason".
"I haven't stopped smiling since that time a couple of days back and all I've drunk is champagne," he said.
"I cannot actually explain how bad it was for me. Unless you've been through something like this when that cloud got lifted. The last five minutes waiting for that good news was the toughest part.
"My whole life is hanging in five minutes and it was so disastrous the feeling that something might go wrong at this late stage.
"I'm kind of confused how this ever happened to me. I've always been the nice boy of pop and yet the people who've made allegations against me must really hate me for some reason, they have to hate me. I have no idea what I've done.
"I haven't slept well for 22 months and two days and still I can't sleep. I think it's going to take quite a while because what's not going to change for me is what I've been through and it has been horrible."