Sir Cliff Richard says 'they're never gonna break me down' as he returns to music after BBC legal battle

Sir Cliff Richard is to release his first album of new songs in 14 years, inspired by the “traumatic and draining period in his life” which saw him battle the BBC on privacy.

Sir Cliff, who said he hoped new audiences would now come to his music, has chosen the title “Rise Up” with lyrics proclaimed “they’re never gonna break me down”.

The singer, 77, was awarded £210,000 in damages and £850,000 in costs after a court ruled that the BBC had breached his privacy by broadcasting a police search of his home.

Rise Up, recorded by Abbey Road Studios where he recorded his debut single 60 years ago, will express his “renewed feeling of freedom”, a spokesman said.

Marketing material for the album, to be released on November 23, states: “Drawing on new songwriting talent as well as some of his biggest hit writers, Cliff not only chose songs with immediate impact, but also those that reflected his own personal sentiments.”

Sir Cliff Richard said: “I chose Rise Up as the title track because after the bad period I went through in my life, I’ve managed to ‘Rise Up’ out of what seemed like a quagmire.

“I love the lyric ‘They’re never gonna break me down, they’re never gonna take me down, they know I’m gonna rise up feeling stronger’. It is always great to sing lyrics you can ‘feel’ and I really felt those words!

“So, I believe that we have the right title for the album and I am so thrilled in the way that it has turned out.

“I loved singing every track. To have these great writers supplying me with their songs, is an honour!

“It has been put to me that a new audience might give me a ‘listen to’, and that is an exciting thought, and if they do and don’t like it they can buy something else.

“Give me a chance, that is all we can ask… close your eyes and tune in. My longevity should be considered a plus, not a drawback.

“It was 14 years ago that I last made a record of original songs. That’s quite a gap and I thought that was behind me, I thought I’d never get the chance to do it again and there it is - Rise Up is here.”