Jethro Tull leader Ian Anderson was the subject of a bizarre Q&A session in Friday’s Sun newspaper.In an article that ostensibly celebrated 40 years of Tull, Anderson took the opportunity to say how much he respects the Peter Pan Of Pop (i.e. Sir Cliff of Richard).

Q: Who do you admire?

Anderson: I was at a Cliff Richard concert last year. I have great admiration for his vocal abilities. He has become a better singer as he’s got older and I think he’s always stayed well within his capabilities.

It’s not what I wanted to do but I rather admire him for his abilities and longevity.

I remember confronting Cliff in his underpants at a TV show three or four years ago for a lady who sometimes mends my torn garments, a local seamstress in the village who’s a big Cliff fan.

I thought I’d get an autograph! So I knocked on his dressing room door. I knew he was on next so I was aware I could be intruding.

He opened the door a crack and said: “Oh, come in, come in.” And I slipped in through the door and realised it was really weird!

Here I am aged 57, and Cliff must be 62, 63, whatever (he’s 68) and he’s totally unabashed in his underpants and getting ready to go on in front of 20 million people on German television. Life is so full or rich and great surprises!

Q: What does the 40th anniversary mean to you?

Anderson: I’m entirely unmoved and unimpressed by 40 years as a landmark.

Q: How should people regard you now?

Anderson: I’d like them to have a picture of slightly befuddled confusion.

(Job done, we’d say…)

In further Cliff news, Classic Rock’s Geoff Barton recalls meeting the singer (who was fully trousered, it should be noted) by chance in a bar in Portugal.

Barton, who was slightly the worse for wear, sidled up to Cliff to offer him the following advice: “More Devil Woman, less Mistletoe And Wine.”

Cliff, to his credit, simply smiled and said: “I’ll take that on board.”