This is the awkward moment a visibly star-struck Sarah Ferguson gushed over Sir Cliff Richard today – only for the veteran singer to shut down her praise.
The Duchess of York, 64, appeared as a guest editor on today’s show and presented alongside Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.
After offering relationship advice to viewers and hosting the show’s Spin to Win segment, Sarah sat down with the legendary singer to quiz him about his new album.
Sitting next to Cliff on the sofa, Sarah said: ‘I can’t get over it, it’s just incredible.
‘You know, Sir Cliff, sitting here with you, I’m lost for words and that’s very unlike me!’
Shutting down the compliment, Sir Cliff responded with: ‘Oh come on, you’re never lost for words.’
The awkward moment didn’t go unnoticed by viewers – who posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, about their interaction.
One wrote: ‘This whole Sarah Ferguson thing is so random and actually quite awkward to watch.’
Another questioned: ‘Sarah Ferguson and Cliff Richard on the same sofa together?’
In response to Sarah posting about the show afterwards, a third said: ‘You did really well.
‘It’s a shame Sir Cliff wasn’t a little more thoughtful in his comments though.’
Undeterred by the comment, the mother-of-two then went on to reference one of her favourite songs by the singer, who has been making music for over 65 years.
Turning to Alison and Dermot, Fergie said: ‘I remember Living Doll and you weren’t born!’
Living Doll was released in 1959 – the year Sarah was born – and went on to sell 1.86m copies, making it the top selling single of the year.
Although Move It was the song which kickstarted Sir Cliff’s career in 1958, Living Doll scored him his first number one – and remained at the top of the charts for six weeks.
What’s more, Fergie then went on to label Sir Cliff ‘incredible’ and praised his dance moves.
During the segment, viewers were shown clips from music videos off his new album Cliff With Strings featuring the 83-year-old dancing.
When asked about he has managed to stay so fit, Sir Cliff responded: ‘I went through a period of eating [one meal a day] but I’ve started with eating what’s right for your blood type and I stick with that. Sometimes, I realise that I’m just not hungry!’
After hearing this, Alison then joked: ‘Can I come over to your house and stay for a week?’
Following the show, Sarah wrote on Instagram: ‘As co-host and guest editor, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to pick some topics I’m passionate about. Thank you to my wonderful co-hosts and to everyone who tuned in!’
Earlier in the show, Sarah had offered her words of wisdom to viewers facing problems in their love lives.
During the love and relationships segment, the Duchess acted as an agony aunt, offering advice to two couples struggling with intimacy issues in their marriages.
And there was a running theme in Sarah’s responses, with the mother-of-two suggesting both callers reignite spark by spicing things up in the bedroom.
‘Get a lovely saucy underwear department in your chest of drawers and you really make the hair, you know, blow dry the hair and take him out on a treat.
‘It’s the element of surprise and it will bring the magic back into your relationship,’ the ex-wife of Prince Andrew continued.
The first caller, Suzanne, explained how her she and her husband are struggling to balance demanding careers with a young child.
Sarah asked: ‘Is your husband feeling left out a bit?’
Suzanne replied: ‘I think so yes. The other night, he had the tree lights on and wanted to do something and I was like I can’t I have to go to bed.’
‘Right, okay, so the first question I have for you is do you have a friend next door or do you have a mother-in-law or your mum or someone that could just babysit or come round while you take your husband for a great surprise?
‘You pop down and get a lovely saucy underwear department in your chest of drawers and you really make the hair, you know, blow dry the hair and take him out on a treat.
‘It needs to be more treats that he’s lost for words.
‘So you say to him, “Don’t worry tonight darling, we are gonna pop off somewhere” and you’ve arranged the whole thing and it’s all organised.
‘It’s the element of surprise and it will bring the magic back into your relationship.’
Despite being divorced for over 27 years, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson remain close friends and live together at Royal Lodge in the Windsor estate.
In 2018, Sarah told the Daily Mail: ‘We’re the happiest divorced couple in the world. We’re divorced to each other, not from each other […] My duty is to him. I am so proud of him. I stand by him and always will. The way we are is our fairytale.’
Three months after their engagement was announced, Sarah and Andrew married at Westminster Abbey in July 1986.
Speaking to Piers Morgan in 2011, Sarah said: ‘We married for total love. And when I went up that aisle, I had… I married my man.’
The couple had their first child Princess Beatrice in August 1988 and Princess Eugenie followed in March 1990.
However, the couple legally separated just two years later. At the time, Sarah cited Prince Andrew’s naval commitments as the reason the marriage broke down.
She told US presenter Ernie Manouse in 2010: ‘My deal was that I was marrying my man, who happened to be a prince and a naval officer.
‘But what I got was not the man, I got the palace and didn’t get him… and the courtiers told me I had to go to Buckingham Palace and he had to go to sea. For our marriage, I saw him 40 days a year.’
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
