Sir Cliff Richard 'banned from Absolute Radio 60s'

Sir Cliff Richard has been "banned" from new digital oldies station Absolute Radio 60s.

The broadcaster launches the channel on November 22 following the success of its Absolute Radio 80s, 90s and 00s brands. It will be followed by the launch of Absolute 70s a week later.



Absolute Radio 60s DJ Pete Mitchell said of Richard: "Yes, he enjoyed chart success, but his songs don't fit the 'cool sound' of The Swinging Sixties we're trying to create on our new station.

"We believe timeless acts of the decade that remain relevant today are The Beatles, The Stones, The Doors and The Who, not Sir Cliff."

The station has asked the public to vote for the first song played by visiting its official website.

> Absolute Radio readies 60s and 70s stations
> Absolute Radio 80s dances to 1m weekly reach

Richard released his first hit singles in the late 1950s with his backing band The Shadows and was consistently in the charts throughout the 1960s.

He has scored 34 UK top ten hits, seven UK number ones and sold around 250 million records worldwide during his career.

Richard released jazz album Bold As Brass last year and screens his Cliff Richard: The Soulicious Tour Live At The O2 DVD in London today (November 15).

Absolute Radio 60s will launch on Tuesday, November 22 at 10am

Watch Cliff Richard and The Shadows perform the chart-topping 'Please Don't Tease' from 1960 below: