'I thought I was going to die' Sir Cliff Richard speaks out after two years of HELL
SIR CLIFF RICHARD has spoken out after he was cleared of historical sexual abuse claims last week and has confessed he "thought he was going to die".
Sir Cliff Richard has revealed he thought he was going to die during the two-year ordeal
The 75-year-old revealed he was so stressed about the allegations that at one point he thought he was dying from a heart attack or stroke.
He explained: "I couldn't understand what was happening to me. I thought I was going to die."
Following the raid on his Berkshire home two years ago, Sir Cliff added he found it difficult to sleep as the investigation slowly took its toll.
He said: "I'd wake in the middle of the night and just keep going over it.
Sir Cliff said he found it difficult to sleep and found he was talking to himself
He explained there was a point where he thought he was having a heart attack or stroke
I couldn't understand what was happening to me
"I haven't had a proper night's sleep in 22 months. I thought I was going crazy, because I found I was talking to myself.
"Whether I was in the shower or cleaning my teeth, I'm mumbling away in front of the mirror."
Speaking of his ordeal, he added that he was most shocked at the way in which he was treated.
The entertainer told the Daily Mail: "I never had the feeling that they thought I was innocent unless proven guilty.
The singer said he feels he was hung out like live bait
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Sir Cliff will discuss his two-year ordeal in a television interview with Gloria Hunniford
"They made me feel as though I was having to prove my innocence. Whereas they're supposed to actually prove my guilt."
Later this week Sir Cliff will discuss the two-year ordeal in his first television interview with friend Gloria Hunniford.
The candid, hour-long instalment will be shown in full during Wednesday's Loose Women, while "snippets" will be revealed to viewers on Good Morning Britain, Lorraine and This Morning beforehand.
In a teaser, viewers are told: "He says he was hung out like live bait after being accused of historic sex abuse and spent two years fighting to clear his name."
The exclusive interview with Cliff will air on Wednesday's Loose Women at 12.30pm on ITV1.