Wuthering Heights fans go WILD after discovering Cliff Richard giving Jacob Elordi a run for his money with his own questionable Yorkshire accent to play Heathcliff in 90s musical: ‘This is what Emily Brontë would have wanted!’

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Fans of ‘Wuthering Heights‘ are buzzing about a musical from the 1990s that Cliff Richard co-wrote and starred in. He played the role of Heathcliff in the show, and clips of it have recently gone viral online.

While Jacob Elordi is captivating audiences in the new film adaptation, it’s worth remembering that Sir Cliff Richard, now 85, took on the role first – complete with a peculiar wig and a rather unusual Yorkshire accent.

The singer abandoned his wholesome image to play a rebellious character in the popular 1996 show, though critics disliked the casting and were openly critical of Cliff’s performance.

The trailer shows the singer, known for his summer hits, falling passionately in love with his adopted sister, Cathy (Helen Hobson), before unexpectedly bursting into song.

He had a striking outburst, first expressing regret towards those who had wronged him while seemingly on a ship with an obviously fake background, and then yelling into a well.

TikTok users reacted to a recent adaptation with humor, with comments like ‘This is exactly what Emily Brontë envisioned!’ and ‘It sounds like a dream with a Yorkshire accent.’ Many found the adaptation hilariously over-the-top, comparing it to typical movie-to-musical transitions. Some joked about casting choices, suggesting they should have named a character ‘Heathcliffe Richards’ or cast Cilla Black as Cathy.

@sineadhannacraic

why aren’t we talking about Cliff Richard as Heathcliff? #wutheringheights #funny

♬ original sound – Sinead Hanna

Cliff collaborated with theatre director Frank Dunlop on the musical’s script, while John Farrar composed the music and Tim Rice, known for his work on Evita and The Lion King, wrote the lyrics.

The musical was a huge success in the UK, playing in arenas and theatres from October 1996 to May 1997. It broke box office records, selling £4 million worth of tickets in advance and attracting over half a million fans.

Despite one critic calling it more disappointing than dramatic, the show was a hit when released on video, staying at the top of the sales charts for eight weeks.

Cliff recalled enjoying the book immensely when he first read it in school, though he now admits he saw it through rose-colored glasses at the time, as he shared during a Live & Kicking interview.

Reading it again as an adult, I saw it wasn’t a love story. It’s actually a rather unsettling tale about a man consumed by his obsession with a woman.

Jacob Elordi recently revealed his unexpected experience filming intimate scenes with Margot Robbie for the film adaptation of the book.

The film features two lead actors playing the roles of the ill-fated Heathcliff and Cathy, and includes several intense and passionate scenes between them.

Jacob, 28, explains that filming intimate scenes is similar to directing fight or dance choreography – it requires a lot of technical skill.

He described the experience to The Sun, comparing it to the start of a horse race – a quick, immediate burst of action. He explained that it felt similar to planning a fight scene or a dance routine.

The scene is quite technically demanding. It’s not sexually explicit, but the part where I’m positioned above Margot and using my hands required careful choreography. The lighting and limited space meant we had to plan the movements precisely.

‘So what you do has to fit in the frame and work with the lighting.’ 

Margot and Jacob, the stars of Wuthering Heights, have recently completed a huge, global tour to promote their film.

The couple finished their highly publicized press tour and recently returned to Queensland for another visit with family.

The Australian duo unexpectedly showed up at a Brisbane movie theater for their sixteenth showing of the film on February 15th.

The actors star as Cathy and Heathcliff in director Emerald Fennell’s new film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic 1847 novel.

Moviegoers are already calling this epic historical drama the best film of the year. Many have shared their emotional reactions online, saying the story was deeply moving and left them in tears.

This story of a fiery love unfolds on the rugged Yorkshire moors, following the intense and ultimately damaging connection between Cathy and Heathcliff.

Before the film came out, director Emerald, age 40, said she really wanted viewers to have a strong emotional response.

In an interview with Time Out, she jokingly expressed her desire to kiss someone during a movie, adding a playful apology to the Cineworld cinema chain for any potential disruptions.

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2026-02-23 15:19