Sir Cliff Richard's 'dear John' letter put showbiz first

SIR Cliff Richard broke up with his first serious girlfriend with a letter explaining he had to put his pop career before "any lasting relationship".

In a handwritten missive ending his courtship with dancer, Delia Wicks, the then 21-year-old singer said he had showbiz in his blood and would be lost without it.

The couple had been seeing each other for 18 months when the letter arrived from Australia where he was on tour in October, 1961.

The letter – which misspelled her name as "Dellia" – said: "Being a pop singer, I have to give up one priceless thing – the right to any lasting relationship with any special girl."

It began: "Dear Dellia, I know I haven't written for a long time but I've been so confused in my mind about you and myself. I've just had to make, probably, one of the biggest decisions I'm ever going to make and I'm hopingit won't hurt you too much."