Cliff Richard says he’s “learning reggae” for new version of ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’ for Christmas single

Cliff Richard has said he is “learning reggae” for a new version of ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’, which he plans to release as a Christmas single.

The singer, 86, is set to record a new take on the Bible psalm alongside Chris Eaton, who wrote his 1990 UK Christmas Number One single ‘Saviour’s Day’. It’ll likely form part of a festive album in 2027.

“I’ve never sung reggae before, but Chris is really good at it. He’s phrased it like that, so I’m learning reggae,” Richard explained during a conversation at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, London, last weekend (via The Telegraph).

“He’s written me Number Ones at Christmas, and his new song is based on one of the psalms. I can’t sing it yet as I’ve not learnt it. But it goes, ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd…’ and it’s reggae.”

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Some music fans have ridiculed and criticised Richard for his forthcoming pivot into reggae, with one saying that it “sounds so wrong”. Another person wrote: “Dear God, wasn’t ‘Mistletoe & Wine’ bad enough?”

Someone else joked, “I think I prefer him during his Satanic, Devil worship phase!”, seemingly referring to his 1976 classic ‘Devil Woman’. In a separate post, a X/Twitter user said ‘Reggae Psalms With Cliff Richard’ sounded like an idea from the mind of Alan Partridge.

“I was not expecting to see reggae and Cliff Richard in the same sentence and yet here we are,” another comment read, while someone quipped: “Spliff Richard”.

‘Reggae Psalms with Cliff Richard’ https://t.co/pd8ZJcburn pic.twitter.com/wdEGCmdlhl

— John Paul Newman (@johnpaul_newman) October 20, 2026

I was not expecting to see reggae and Cliff Richard in the same sentence and yet here we are… https://t.co/gAnrSrHuIB pic.twitter.com/rfUwTlAi1g

— ZᎾMßĪƐ ΛṖᎾƇΛĿYṖSƐ ⚡ (@mariehughes) October 20, 2026

Spliff Richard https://t.co/rX1ETUiKVX

— Colin the Dachshund (@DachshundColin) October 20, 2026

Oh dear gawd. Just reading it sounds so wrong 🫣😳

— Patty Cakes Part 2 (@Flippineckers) October 21, 2026

He won’t be singing it in the original,Hebrew,though.. https://t.co/WOih01wdsr

— Jacob Pape (@JacobPape4) October 21, 2026

God forbid!! Apparently Cliff Richard is aiming for his 4th Christmas Number One with Reggae Psalm 23….

I think I prefer him during his Satanic, Devil worship phase!!…. pic.twitter.com/aEesAbGlYe

— Vinyl Lionel (@My1stRecord) October 21, 2026

Last week’s Q&A session was held to promote Richard’s new album ‘Only Number Ones’, which is released on November 27. The upcoming collection sees the star “put his own unique stamp on a selection of his favourite chart-topping hits”, including a new version of ‘White Christmas’.

He has also covered smash songs by the likes songs by the likes of Harry Styles and The Monkees for the project.

The 2CD deluxe edition boasts all of Richard’s own hits, including his other festive chart-toppers ‘Mistletoe And Wine’ and ‘Saviour’s Day’, and UK Number One single ‘The Millennium Prayer’.

He has had four UK Christmas Number Ones in total, also including 1960’s ‘I Love You’ with The Shadows, and 1989’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ with Band Aid II.

Speaking about ‘Only Number Ones’ in a statement, Richard explained: “I suggested to Warner Music that I record an album of songs that made it to Number One. Thank heavens they agreed!

“I listened to dozens of songs and chose 12 of my favourites. This record is my tribute to fabulous artists who had recorded wonderful tracks that achieved the number one position.”

Late last year, Richard revealed that he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, and said the screening process was “absolutely ridiculous”. Around the same time, he played a festive show at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Meanwhile, Christmas 2025 saw The Darkness put a shoegazey spin on ‘Mistletoe And Wine’.