Cliff Richard gave a very moving performance when he stood up to sing at the funeral of his close friend Cilla Black in August 2015.
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Now, he admits he actually ended up "winging it" after forgetting the lyrics to his song, 'Faithful One'.
Cliff Richard performed 'Faithful One' at the funeral of his close friend Cilla Black
The veteran singer, who had been friends with Cilla for 40 years, tells The Sun he hadn't sung the song for years, and was already beginning to suffer from a "really bad cough".
He says: "I winged it. And sometimes when you just allow the song to happen and you are just concentrating on being the person that you are and you have got to remember these lyrics I think it helps."
Cilla and Cliff had been friends for decades, often holidaying together as well as performing
Cilla's funeral was held in Liverpool on 20 August, following her sudden death in Spain, at her holiday home in Estepona.
Other close friends to remember Cilla during the service included entertainers Christopher Biggins, Jimmy Tarbuck and Paul O'Grady who moved the congregation to tears and laughter, with his memories of holidays and other fun times with his fellow Liverpudlian.
Cilla Black's Funeral
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Sir Tom Jones arrives for the funeral of Cilla Black at St Mary's RC Church in Woolton on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960Âs and went on to be one of TVÂs highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images) (credit:Ben A. Pruchnie via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Carol Vorderman attends the funeral of Cilla Black at St Mary's Catholic Church on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Sir Tom Jones arrives for the funeral of Cilla Black at St Mary's RC Church in Woolton on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960Âs and went on to be one of TVÂs highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images) (credit:Ben A. Pruchnie via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Bob Carolgees attends the funeral of Cilla Black at St Mary's Catholic Church on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Lorraine Chase attends the funeral of Cilla Black at St Mary's Catholic Church on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Carol Vorderman attends the funeral of Cilla Black at St Mary's Catholic Church on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Well wishers gather around a funeral car with a floral tribute spelling 'Cilla' in red roses before the hearse leaves funeral director's B. Jenkins & Sons on Church Road North in Woolton on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960Âs and went on to be one of TVÂs highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: A well wisher places a flower on the funeral car carrying Cilla Black's hearse before it leaves funeral director's B. Jenkins & Sons on Church Road North in Woolton on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960Âs and went on to be one of TVÂs highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: The funeral cortege of Cilla Black leaves B Jenkins and Son on Church Road North as it makes its way to St Mary's RC Church in Woolton on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960?s and went on to be one of TV?s highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: The funeral cortege of Cilla Black leaves B Jenkins and Son on Church Road North as it makes its way to St Mary's RC Church in Woolton on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960Âs and went on to be one of TVÂs highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Cilla Black's hearse leaves B Jenkins and Son on Church Road North as it makes its way to St Mary's RC Church in Woolton on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960Âs and went on to be one of TVÂs highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: A floral tribute for Cilla Black is seen as the hearse leaves B Jenkins and Son on Church Road North as it makes its way to St Mary's RC Church in Woolton on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960Âs and went on to be one of TVÂs highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: A member of the public arrives outside St Mary's Catholic Church on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960's and went on to be one of TV's highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Dave Thompson via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Members of the public arrive outside St Mary's Catholic Church on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960's and went on to be one of TV's highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Dave Thompson via Getty Images)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Mourners attend the funeral of Cilla Black at St Mary's Catholic Church on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
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Members of the public gather at the church prior to the funeral of British singer and TV personality Cilla Black at St Mary's Church in Liverpool, England, Thursday Aug. 20, 2015. Black died in Spain on Saturday Aug. 1. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:PA)
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Members of the public gather at the church during the funeral of British singer and TV personality Cilla Black at St Mary's Church in Liverpool, England, Thursday Aug. 20, 2015. Black died in Spain on Saturday Aug. 1. (AP Photo/Clint Hughes) (credit:PA)
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Members of the crowd wait for the start of funeral for Cilla Black at St Mary's Church in Woolton, Liverpool. (credit:PA)
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Members of the crowd read a copy of the Order of Service ahead of the funeral for Cilla Black at St Mary's Church in Woolton, Liverpool. (credit:PA)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Members of the public arrive outside St Mary's Catholic Church on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960's and went on to be one of TV's highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Dave Thompson via Getty Images)
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Members of the crowd as they wait for the start of funeral for Cilla Black at St Mary's Church in Woolton, Liverpool. (credit:PA)
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Members of the crowd as they wait for the start of funeral for Cilla Black at St Mary's Church in Woolton, Liverpool. (credit:PA)
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A member of the crowd holds a copy of the Order of Service ahead of the funeral for Cilla Black at St Mary's Church in Woolton, Liverpool. (credit:PA)
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A mourner arrives carrying the Order of Service for the funeral of Cilla Black at St Mary's Church in Woolton, Liverpool. (credit:PA)
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Well wishers gather before Cilla Black's hearse leaves funeral director's B. Jenkins & Sons on Church Road North in Woolton on August 20, 2015 in Liverpool, England. Singer and TV host Cilla Black died on the 1st August at her home in Spain after a head injury caused by a fall. She is best known for a number of hits in the 1960Âs and went on to be one of TVÂs highest earning stars with shows including Blind Date and Surprise Surprise regularly being watched by millions of viewers. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)