He began his career as Britain’s answer to his idol Elvis. 

Now, Sir Cliff Richard, 85, has been spending a ‘gorgeous’ intimate evening wining and dining The King’s ex-wife Priscilla Presley, 80. 

Sir Cliff, is in New Zealand where he has been touring, where he bumped into Priscilla and they decided to make a night of it. 

‘What a gorgeous evening spent together,’ said the Peter Pan of pop. ‘I cherish those moments – they light up my life.’

Sir Cliff idolised Elvis, who died in 1977 aged 42, and even mimicked his trademark lip curl at the start of his career.

However, in the 1970s Sir Cliff turned down the chance to meet his hero as the American had become fat.

Sir Cliff was put in his place by Alison Hammond on This Morning in November 2023 after he fat-shamed Elvis.

During his interview the singer revealed that he once turned down the opportunity to meet the rock and roll legend because he had 'put on weight.'

Cliff, who only eats one meal per day, began: 'I got the opportunity to meet him via a journalist who knew I was heavily influenced by him.

'But I turned it down because I knew he had put on lots of weight and I thought, "If I am having a photo with him and I have it hanging on my refrigerator, of course he's got to look good."'

He concluded: 'And I put it off and, of course, then he died.'

Alison responded: 'You should never have put it off just because they’re a little bit heavier.'

Cliff then explained to the viewers: 'You should take the chance to meet your idols even if they’ve put on weight.'

'Is that why you don’t want me at your house?' Alison hit back, before changing the topic.

Elsewhere in the interview, Cliff revealed that he only eats one meal a day as he explained: 'It's true, I do only have one meal a day. I stick with that.

'I realise that I'm just not hungry. I have yoghurt with some muesli for breakfast then come lunch I'm just not hungry.'

Elvis famously passed away in August 1977 at the age of 42, dependent on prescription drugs.