LONDON, May 19 (UPI) -- Cliff Richard has overtaken the Beatles as Britain's most-loved recording artist, second only to Elvis Presley.
The annual Guinness World Records Chart for British hit singles and albums rated Presley as No. 1, Richard No. 2 and the Beatles No. 3, Hellomagazine.com reported.
Richard said, at his age and after making music for nearly 50 years, any kind of recognition is welcome.
"I'm delighted to be runner-up to Elvis to be honest, because he is my hero and without him there certainly wouldn't have been a Cliff Richard," Richard said.
Guinness World Records Chart Managing Editor David Roberts said the loyalty factor is why Richard is at No. 2.
"That's why the Beatles are not at the top. Although they were astonishingly successful, they were together for a comparatively short time," Roberts said.
