We've just come back from a press conference where Sir Cliff Richard finally revealed a side to him that he'd previously kept hidden.

Yes, Cliff is a soul fan! And he's recording an album of duets with soul legends to prove it. And like so many classic albums, the idea came from Gloria Hunniford when she was taking part in a celebrity edition of Cash In The Attic, with David Gest. And with Cliff on board, David secured the services of Motown songwriting legends Lamont Dozier and Ashford & Simpson to write NEW SOUL SONGS, to be recorded at Hi Studios in Memphis as duets with the following people...

Dennis Edwards of The Temptations (great!)
Chante Moore (erm...)
Russell Thompkins of The Stylistics (oh yes)
Peabo Bryson (Peabo!)
Candi Staton (amazing!)
Billy Paul (Amy Winehouse likes him)
Freda Payne (Totally Amazing!)
Percy Sledge (is he still alive?)
The Tymes (erm...)

And there's the promise of someone young and famous as well, but Lamont and Cliff couldn't remember her name. It's possibly Duffy. Or Beyonce. Or neither of them. And there might be a rapper on it. Blimey.

During the press conference we suggested that Cliff, David, Gloria and Lamont is an episode of Come Dine With Me we'd pay to see, at which point which Ms Hunniford span round in her seat and shouted, "We're up for it!" So if anyone works for Channel 4... make it happen.

We had a quick chat with Sir Cliff and Lamont after. We can confirm that Cliff is as lovely as they all say, is very skinny and doesn't look a day over 50. Lamont was also nice, in a grumpy granddad kind of a way and he told us he still writes songs every single day, just as he did when he was back on the Motown hit factory.

Other things we learned:

• Cliff Richard does not have a heavy metal album lying unreleased in a vault.
• Neither dose he have a folk album.
• Or a reggae album.
• Cliff Richard thinks Adele is good, though he's only heard a couple of songs.
• And he would love to work with Lady Gaga but she wouldn't be able to wear those hats (we didn't ask why).
• The album might be called Soul-licious. And will be out in October (although they haven't started it yet).
• Cliff Richard is not on Twitter but he has just joined Facebook.

This is still amazing...