The Young Ones

1961 saw the release of the first of Cliff’s classic film musicals, tailored specifically around him to showcase his music and talents.

“The Young Ones”, which sees Cliff and his pals putting on a show to save their youth club, features The Shadows along with Richard O’Sullivan and Melvyn Hayes, both of whom would go on to appear in further films with Cliff.

The film inspired the title and theme music of the anarchic BBC sit-com of the same name, starring Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, and Christopher Ryan, who would go on to appear with Cliff in a single and sketch in aid of Comic Relief.

“The Young Ones” was hugely successful in cinemas and the soundtrack album topped the charts in 1961.

Taking place in London at the Royal Albert Hall following Sandie Shaw‘s win the previous year, 1968 saw the European Song Contest broadcast in colour for the first time.

Cliff Richard represented the United Kingdom for the first time and finished in second place with the enduring song “Congratulations”.

The contest was won by Spain’s entry Massiel with the catchy uplifting song “La, La, La“.

Cliff would go on to take part in the 1973 contest with “Power to All Our Friends”.

As well as performing twice at the song contest, Cliff’s TV show helped select the United Kingdom’s 1970 entry. Welsh singer Mary Hopkin‘s song was selected via “It’s Cliff Richard!” where she performed six different numbers until the winning song, “Knock Knock, Who’s There?”, was voted for by the public via a postal vote.

Originally created to bring the nations of Europe together after the Second World War, the contest has produced singers and groups who endure to this day, as well as creating its own brand of Euro-Speak song titles which transcend language barriers.