Sir Cliff Richard has opened up about his friendship with Sir Tom Jones, admitting that he was once branded "really rude" after the pair had chatted among themselves.
The singer appeared on BBC cooking show Saturday Kitchen where he opened up about the struggles of keeping friendships while being famous.
He was also joined by guest chefs Ellis Barrie, Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich.
As the chefs cooked some festive dishes, host Matt Tebbutt spoke with the 82-year-old about his career and latest Christmas album.
He said: "I feel sometimes that we lose out a lot. Our industry is not great for close friendships because we compete all the time.
"But that's not the problem. We really only meet for instances like the Royal Command Show.
"Tom will be there, Shirley Bassey will be there, Tom Jones....me, and then we are in and out of each other's dressing rooms and hugging and pictures."
Cliff then went on to explain that between events he doesn't tend to see other fellow celebs for a few years afterwards.
He added: "And when it's all over, we don't see each other again for another five or six years.
"A close friendship for me, is when people say, 'You want to come to an Indian restaurant tomorrow night? And so we're not matey."
The star talked specifically about his friendship with Tom Jones, saying that they have been called 'rude' in the past.
Cliff said: "I know Tom Jones quite well because he came to Barbados last year, and we ended up at the same barbecue and they sat me next to him."
He said that the pair spoke with their backs to everyone while they had a catch-up.
Cliff said: "We sat like this and talked and everybody said afterwards it was really rude. We just chatted to each other. I learned more about him in that period than I've ever known.
"So anyway, I've said to him, if you want to come to Barbados and I'm not there, you could still come and stay at my house if you want to."
Cliff has released his first new Christmas album in 19 years, Christmas With Cliff.
Cliff will be back on the road in 2023 as part of his Blue Sapphire Tour.
However, he said he has had to limit the number of dates due to concerns around his voice.
The singer's latest album Christmas With Cliff features 13 Christmas classics as well as new festive songs.
Sir Cliff has achieved UK chart success with his previous festive songs, with Mistletoe And Wine bagging the coveted Christmas number one slot in 1988, and Saviour’s Day taking the title in 1990.
Back in 1960, with backing band The Shadows, the song I Love You was the Christmas number one.
