His hits may no longer fill the airwaves and prime ministers may no longer flock to his villa in Barbados, but Sir Cliff Richard proved yesterday that he still has the capacity to captivate the British public as he spoke for the first time about his “close friendship” with a former Roman Catholic priest.

Sir Cliff, 67, who has refused to answer questions about his sexuality for decades, reveals in his newly published autobiography that Father John McElynn, with whom he lives, is his “companion”.

Writing in My Life, My Way, the committed Christian, who has sold more than 250 million records, says that he believes the Church should approve same-sex marriages, although he has no plans to enter into one.

Sir Cliff writes that he met Mr McElynn, a former missionary, seven years ago, while visiting New York. “He hadn’t had any thought at the beginning of giving up the priesthood, but when it became clear he was thinking of the possibility, I suggested he might help me with some charitable projects,” he said.

“That was seven years ago and our arrangement has worked out really well. John now spends most of his time looking after my properties, which means I don’t have to. John and I have over time struck up a close friendship. He has also become a companion, which is great because I don’t like living alone, even now.

“People often make the mistake of thinking that only marriage equals happiness. I may suddenly meet someone and feel differently, but right now I am not sure marriage would enhance my happiness.”

The pop star, an Anglican whose published religious works include a collection of 50 Bible stories, insists that he does not think his Christian fans will be perturbed by his announcement. He writes: “As for my sexuality I am sick to death of the media’s speculation about it. What business is it of anyone else’s what any of us are as individuals? I don’t think my fans would care either way.”

He adds that he believes that the legal recognition of civil partnerships between homosexuals reflects modernisation, and that the Church must embrace them.

“Same-sex marriages are perhaps a modern example of how things have changed,” he writes. “I think the Church must come round and see people as they are now. Gone are the days when we assumed loving relationships would be solely between men and women.

“In the end, I believe, people are going to be judged for what they are. It seems to me that commitment is the issue, and if anyone comes to me and says, ‘This is my partner – we are committed to each other’, then I don’t care what their sexuality is. I’m not going to judge – I’ll leave that to God.”

Despite revealing that his current partner is male, Sir Cliff also writes in his book that he twice nearly married a woman. “One was Jackie Irving, a dancer whom I met in Blackpool,” he said. “She was utterly beautiful and for a while we were inseparable.”

The second was Sue Barker, the BBC sports presenter and former tennis star, whom Sir Cliff met in 1982. “I seriously contemplated asking her to marry me,” he said. “But in the end I realised that I didn’t love her quite enough to commit the rest of my life to her. There were no broken hearts. Both of them subsequently got married.” The singer also writes of how he was seduced by Carol Costa, who was at the time the estranged wife of Jet Harris, who played in Sir Cliff’s backing group, the Shadows. He said: “I was surprised but not unhappy to be seduced.”

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