BBC bosses have confirmed they will not challenge Sir Cliff Richard’s privacy ruling over their 2014 coverage of a police raid at his Berkshire home.
A High Court judge ruled the BBC had infringed the singer’s privacy, awarding him £210,000 in damages in July, and refused leave to appeal.
The corporation will now seek advice from the attorney general over how the ruling impacts future reporting.
Sir Cliff Richard said he ‘welcomes’ the decision and ‘hopes that outstanding issues can be resolved quickly’ .
Last month, a High Court judge ruled the BBC breached Sir Cliff Richard’s right to privacy after broadcasting police searching his £3million home in Sunningdale, Berkshire
A spokesman for Sir Cliff Richard told MailOnline: ‘Sir Cliff reluctantly took his case to court because he felt his privacy had been flagrantly invaded and disappointingly the BBC were not prepared to acknowledge that and apologise.
‘He welcomes the fact the BBC have decided not to seek permission to appeal from the Court of Appeal, particularly after the Judge gave his Judgment that they had no grounds on which to pursue such an action. Sir Cliff now hopes that outstanding issues can be resolved quickly.’
Sir Cliff Richard was having lunch in his Algarve retreat in August 2014 when the BBC’s News At One broadcast a raid on his luxury apartment in Berkshire.
Helicopter footage of police rummaging through his belongings was being shown on TV with the singer describing feeling his ‘stomach churn’ as he watched the ‘breaking news’ for himself.

Controversial: The BBC shows helicopter footage of police searching Sir Cliff’s home (above) during the 2014 raid
Last month, a High Court judge ruled the corporation breached the 77-year-old’s right to privacy after broadcasting police searching his £3million home in Sunningdale.
The BBC initially defended their editorial decision. The broadcaster was given until Friday to decide to continue with another appeal.
But today it announced it would not to move forward after seeking independent legal advice.
The corporation said: ‘The BBC is writing today to ask the Government to consider a review of the law in this important area to protect the right to properly and fairly report criminal investigations, and to name the person under investigation.
‘There is a fundamental principle of press freedom at stake here and one upon which we believe Parliament, as our lawmakers, should decide.’

Sir Cliff Richard was having lunch in his Algarve retreat in August 2014 when the BBC’s News At One broadcast a raid on his luxury apartment in Berkshire
In a statement, the organisation repeated its apology to Sir Cliff for the distress caused and said: ‘We fully appreciate the impact this has had on him.
‘There are lessons for the BBC in how we reported this story and we will think very carefully about our approach in the future – both in tone and style. We recognise there are things we got wrong – even if all the facts we reported were right.’
The decision is thought to be down in part to fears it would cost millions. An appeal bid alone would have cost £200,000.
The Telegraph reported last week BBC executives were afraid of the wrath of the taxpayer.
The broadcaster’s bill already stands at £1.8million after agreeing to cover £850,000 in legal costs to Sir Cliff, in addition to £190,000 in damages, on top of its own legal fees.
Speaking last week, Sir Cliff’s lawyer Justin Rushbrooke QC, said the BBC shouldn’t appeal, adding: ‘It is about time the BBC took a realistic view of these facts.
‘The last thing my client wants is more time and money spent dealing with this.’
Last month, lawyers representing the BBC said the case had widespread implications and should be examined by three senior judges.
Barrister Gavin Millar QC, who leads the BBC legal team, said the damages award was ‘wrong in law’ and would have a ‘chilling effect’.
He added: ‘The risk is a severe chilling effect on the freedom of the press in relation to reporting police investigations.’
The police raid, which emerged after an exclusive tip off by officers and led to a TV helicopter being flown in, was part of a 2014 investigation into historical child sex allegations – but Sir Cliff was not arrested or charged.