Cliff Richard has signed up to sing on a luxury liner next year – despite child sex claims hanging over him.
Sir Cliff – who has been quizzed by cops but has never been arrested and has no charges against him – will perform for cruise passengers next summer.
He is determined to get on with his life after the sudden death of close pal Cilla Black four weeks ago.
Friends said the singer, 74, was desperate to look forward and plan future events.
One said: “Cliff is naturally impatient to put this behind him and get on with his life. He knows he is innocent and just cannot understand why it is taking so long for the police to clear his name.
“He was deeply affected by the sudden death of his friend Cilla Black and decided life is too short to keep a low profile.”
The singer will play a week of concerts on board an All Star Irish charter cruise around the Mediterranean next year.
He will be supported by acts including Sixties bands The Merseybeats and The Searchers when the ship leaves Barcelona, Spain, in August 2016.
It will come two years after Sir Cliff’s life was shattered by a controversial police raid on his Berkshire home – filmed by a BBC crew circling overhead in a helicopter – while he was abroad.
Rooms on board the ship, which has a five-star dining room and spa, start from around £800 and climb to over £2,200 per person.
The cruise will also travel to France, Italy and Monaco.
Promoter Gertrude Byrne said: “We’re honoured to have him join us.”
The star kicks off a three-week tour next month to mark his upcoming 75th birthday, his first move to get his career back on track.
It will start in Killarney, Ireland, taking in nine venues to end with a six-night finale at London’s Royal Albert Hall during his birthday week in mid-October.
Pals say he has been buoyed by fans who have splashed out around £1.5million on the 60,000 tickets.
The friend added: “He’s done nothing wrong and decided he must get back to what he does best.
“He saw the great love the public had for Cilla and realised his fans still hold him in great affection too. They want the show to go on – and so does he.”
But they say the star is frustrated by the time the inquiry is taking after claims by a man in his 40s that he was abused aged 15 in 1985 by the singer.
Police have since said the probe had widened “significantly” .
But a source said: “Cliff has been under incredible strain and is upset to have his image tarnished in this way, but still feels strong.”
