Pop star writes of friendship with ex-priest

Pop star Cliff Richard has written about his relationship with a former Roman Catholic priest in an autobiography excerpted in a British newspaper on Thursday.

Richard, who has had more No. 1 songs in Britain than the Beatles or Elvis Presley, shares his home with John McElynn, identified in media reports as a native of New York City. That was not news; the relationship has not been secret.

However, the 67-year-old singer comments on the relationship in his new autobiography titled, "My Life, My Way," but also insists that his sexuality - a topic of enduring interest to some - is no one's business.

Excerpts from the book were carried in Thursday's edition of the Daily Express newspaper.

In the book, Richard says that McElynn looks after the singer's properties. "He has also become a companion, which is great because I don't like living alone, even now," Richard said.

He added: "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."

Richard, the first rock star to gain a knighthood, has been Sir Cliff since 1995.

He formed his own backup group, first known as The Planets and then the Drifters before settling on The Shadows. His first hit, "Move It," made it to No. 2 on the British chart in 1958.

He scored 14 No. 1 songs in Britain as he evolved from rocker to teen idol to a singer of Christian songs. His last No. 1 song in Britain was "Millennium Prayer," the Lord's Prayer sung to "Auld Lang Syne."

Richard missed out on the British invasion of the United States in the 1960s, and few of his songs made it into the U.S. Top 40 charts.