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Cliff Richard's agony as friend who lived with him for 30 years dies

Sir Cliff Richard, 82, took to Facebook on Friday to share his heartbreak over the loss of Bill Latham, a friend and former manager he lived with for 30 years. The singer credited the late religious studies teacher with helping him find the "spiritual pathway" that changed his life.

He uploaded a throwback picture of the pair with American evangelist Billy Graham.

The Do They Know It's Christmas? hitmaker began: "Dear all. Yet another loss.

"This time, someone I feel as though I've known forever has left this life and moved on to a better one.

"Many, if not all of you, will know of whom I write ... Bill Latham."

Cliff Richard© Getty/Facebook

Boy George took to social media earlier today to honour Brazil hero Pele as he recalled the legendary footballer's blunder the first time they met.

The former Santos man died aged 82 after undergoing treatment at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo, Brazil since November 29 for worsening colon cancer as well as heart and kidney problems.

Sir Cliff went on: "He is the one who led me on to that spiritual pathway that changed my life fully and completely.

"He showed me how important it was to be charitable and also be brave enough to speak openly of my faith. Bill was one of those people who you could reliably lean on and I did, many times."

The musician added that Bill will be "missed greatly and will live on in the many hearts of those that loved and respected him...my heart being one of them."

He signed off: "God bless you Bill. You deserve your Rest In Peace ... Cliff."

Sir Cliff met Bill in the 1960s, with the pair soon moving into the singer's mansion on the St George's Hill estate in Weybridge, Surrey, until 1996 when Bill moved out to live with his wife. 

Cliff Richard© Getty

Addressing rumours regarding their relationship in 2008, Cliff said, according to Mail Online: "When Bill and I lived together, there were always stories about what people believed our real relationship was, but what nobody realised was that Bill's girlfriend was living with us, too.

"Nobody asked about that, not that it was anyone else's business. When Bill decided to move out, it was because he and his girlfriend wanted to be alone together, simple as that."

Cliff recently opened up about the longevity of his career and his Christmas calendar "coming to an end" after 20 years.

The singer discussed his latest Christmas album and his annual calendar, which he has been releasing every year for 20 years, during an interview with Good Morning Britain's Richard Arnold earlier this month.

Richard began the interview by asking Sir Cliff why it has taken him so long to release a Christmas album.

The singer explained: "If you start doing Christmas albums over and over again, it could really be boring. I've heard a lot of Christmas albums recently, but they don't really make me feel like Christmas."

Speaking about how the public will react, Sir Cliff continued: "Now you know. in the end, you have to just hope it's what the public wants."

The conversation soon shifted to Sir Cliff's annual Christmas calendar which has been running for 20 years, which Cliff admitted "must come to an end" at some point.

"You're not just talking about Christmas," the GMB host said. "The calendar, of course, is the gift that keeps on giving."

Sir Cliff said: "We've done it for like 20-odd years now.

"So this year, I think the calendar has been photographed by people who came to the last gig.

"Last year's calendar, we did get to number one, so we keep our fingers crossed but it must come to an end."