BBC head of music steps down amid Glastonbury controversy
This follows a performance by UK punk duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury Festival, where the group led the crowd in a chant of death, death to the IDF, with regard to Israeli Defence Forces.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 3, the BBC revealed that 'Bob Vylan was deemed high risk following a risk assessment process' but ultimately was deemed suitable to broadcast.
This prior assessment was applied to all Glastonbury acts, with six other performances falling under the 'high-risk' category regarding live streaming.
Calling the decision to broadcast Bob Vylan's performance 'an error,' the BBC said: 'We deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behaviour appeared on the BBC and want to apologise to our viewers and listeners and in particular the Jewish community.'
Furthermore, the BBC emphasised 'that there can be no place for antisemitism at, or on, the BBC.'
Now, Clarke has allegedly stepped down from her duties while an investigation takes place. Her role includes supervising six national popular and classical music networks, as well as Music Live Events, Music Television commissioning and the Visualisation team.
According to reports, a small number of senior BBC employees have also withdrawn from their positions overseeing live events and music.
As per their statement, the BBC said they will not be broadcasting 'any music performances deemed high risk' going forward. They have previously made the decision not to broadcast Kneecap's set at Glastonbury.
Following the controversy, Bob Vylan was pulled from the lineup of Manchester's Radar Festival.
The duo are currently under investigation by Avon and Somerset Police over their Saturday Glastonbury performance.
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RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
As his triumphant Glasto comeback proved, Lewis Capaldi was right to prioritise his mental health
Everyone loves a happy ending. And if ever there was a happy ending to be found at Glastonbury, it took the form of Lewis Capaldi's comeback show last weekend. Capaldi, as you may remember, had a bit of a nightmare at the world's biggest music festival two years ago. The Scottish singer lost his voice during his set, and visibly battling severe tics due to his Tourette's Syndrome, he struggled to perform. The footage of the crowd helping him to finish his final track Someone You Loved was undeniably touching, but it was clear that he was a man experiencing something more profound than just one bad gig. Sure enough, in the days following his Glastonbury set he announced that he was cancelling all planned gigs and taking a break from touring "for the foreseeable future." "I used to be able to enjoy every second of shows like this and I'd hoped 3 weeks away would sort me out," he said in a statement posted to social media. "But the truth is, I'm still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette's and on Saturday it became obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my physical and mental health in order, so I can keep doing everything I love for a long time to come." Given how Capaldi had been pitched as the jovial p*ss-taker with a sense of humour who didn't seem to take the music industry too seriously - an image at odds with his solemn balladry - it was a big, but undeniably crucial decision. Here was an artist with a huge fanbase, primed for megastardom, knowing when to say 'No. This isn't right. I need to step back from this.' His statement gained over 2.5 million likes on Instagram, and he acknowledged the overwhelming support from fans in an update in December 2023. "The support was like nothing I've ever experienced," he wrote. "It has made me more excited than ever to return to doing what I love at some point in the not too distant future." Yes, we all love a happy ending - and what Capaldi demonstrated was that it sometimes takes putting yourself first in order to achieve one. Capaldi's experience goes some way to illustrating the pressures that young musicians face these days, particularly regarding their mental health. True: successful artists - and even those who aren't quite at Glastonbury-headlining level - may have privileges, experiences and money that many of us could only dream of. Still, there is also an enormous amount of expectation on their shoulders, a pressure which has been compounded since the advent of social media, where everyone is encouraged to post, post, post, engage with your fans, show how great your life is. And if you don't know how to handle the often rapid ascent to fame and fortune, it can really do a number on you. Capaldi's time off was roundly accepted by fans, but was that partly because that first Glasto clip went viral? Everyone could clearly see that he was a man coming apart at the seams, but what about the artists who are hiding their turmoil behind closed doors? As we all know, the history of music is littered with far too many tragic stories of artists who pushed themselves - or perhaps were pushed by their labels, management or fans - to the point of no return. UK mental health charity Mind claims that musicians are three times more likely to suffer from depression than non-musicians - citing pressure from labels and fans, access to addictive substances and the precarious nature of an unstable income. Thankfully, things seem to be changing for the better. You have artists like Chappell Roan, arguably the biggest new pop star in the world right now, making no excuses for her bipolar II diagnosis as she cancelled two festival dates last year. "Things have gotten overwhelming over the last few weeks, and I am really feeling it," she wrote. "I feel pressures to prioritize a lot of things right now, and I need a few days to prioritize my health. I want to be present when I perform and give the best shows possible. Thank you for understanding." Sam Fender, too, pulled his run of US tour dates with Florence and the Machine in 2022, admitting that he was "burnt out". "I've neglected myself for over a year now and haven't dealt with things that have deeply affected me," he wrote. "It's impossible to do this work on myself while on the road, and it's exhausting feigning happiness and wellness for the sake of business. My friends and colleagues have been worried about me for a while and it's not going to get better unless I take the time to do so." He added: "It seems completely hypocritical of me to advocate for discussion on mental health and write songs about it if I don't take time off to look after my own mental health." Other artists, including rapper Kid Cudi, Demi Lovato and Lady Gaga, have been open about their own mental health issues, helping to destigmatise the issue by normalising it. Capaldi's time off was roundly accepted by fans, but was that partly because that first Glasto clip went viral? There are also some fantastic organisations, including Music Minds Matter in the UK, and our own Minding Creative Minds here in Ireland, that are doing fantastic work in the field of safeguarding mental health. The latter organisation offers a free 24/7 counselling service, as well as various therapies, workshops, mentorship programmes and various other support systems for Irish artists and creatives who may be struggling. Glastonbury it's so incredible to be back, thank you so much for having me x — Lewis Capaldi (@LewisCapaldi) June 27, 2025 So when Lewis Capaldi stepped back out on stage at Glastonbury last weekend, two years after his last disastrous appearance, it felt like a victory lap for everyone involved. His adoring fans were still there, and even more appreciative that they were watching an artist who had prioritised his health in order to, as he said himself, continue doing what he loves for a long time. Yes, we all love a happy ending - and what Capaldi demonstrated was that it sometimes takes putting yourself first in order to achieve one. As he put it himself as he wrapped up his short Glasto set: "My name is Lewis Capaldi and I'm f**king back, baby."
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘We've no call girls in Sligo' – ‘Cheapskate' music icon's shock groupie & $10k cash demands to play 80s Irish festival
CONTROVERSIAL rock 'n' roll legend Chuck Berry demanded a groupie at one of Ireland's earliest ever folk festivals — and got one — despite being told: 'We've no call girls in Sligo.' The Johnny B. Goode star was a veteran of 50 when the Boys of Ballisodare organisers broke the bank to lure him in 1981. 5 Chuck Berry demanded a groupie at one of Ireland's earliest ever folk festivals Credit: Sunshine International/REX/Shutterstock 5 Van Morrison headlined Lisdoonvarna in 1983 Credit: Getty Images 5 Rory Gallagher also played the festival Credit: Fin Costello/Redferns The desperation to shell out on a superstar who didn't really fit the bill was typical of the early As attendances grew and competition between organisers heated up, festivals began looking outside of Ireland for their headline acts. This development convinced Philip Flynn to shell out $17,000 on the ageing Philip said: 'Just the idea of Chuck Berry, with Johnny B. Goode and, you know, like . . . Jesus! We decided to go for it.' READ MORE IN MUSIC Listen to Fields Of Dreams on Getting the fading star to a field in Berry — derided a 'cheapskate' and 'not a very nice man' by organisers — demanded two first-class airline tickets, for him and his daughter, and cashed in her ticket when she didn't make the trip. Flynn dispatched his dad-in-law to a bank to withdraw $10,000 in cash to hand over to Chuck as he disembarked at And it didn't end there. Most read in The Irish Sun Berry wanted a groupie, and was willing to wait in the Mercedes which was provided for him. Flynn said: '(Berry's minder) came to me, and this was a Sunday evening, and said, 'Chuck would like some company'. What REALLY happened with Harry Styles' Glastonbury kiss - and which new celeb couples went public? 'I'm standing there saying, 'You know where we are . . . even if it was possible . . . we don't have call girls in Sligo'. 'We know, as the country is a small place, where the car went and it came back an hour later. 'I mean, that's a fact. And so somebody got what they needed. Who knows what happened?' The pioneering events in the Seventies helped transform Ireland's For five years festivals run by people with big dreams and tiny budgets dominated until a different kind of event took over the live entertainment calendar. 'I'm standing there saying, 'You know where we are . . . even if it was possible . . . we don't have call girls in Sligo'." Philip Flynn Rory Gallagher played to 20,000 fans in tiny Macroom, 'NOBODY HAD DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS' Festival historian Roz Crowley said: 'Nobody had done anything like this in Ireland. I mean, there was no template or anything for it. 'A lot of people came from Cork, of course, and slept in doorways — they couldn't afford anything with the price of it. 'A lot of people had to walk because they didn't have a car and they couldn't afford the bus fare. 'And they walked for the best part of eight hours to get to the concert in pretty poor footwear. 'So the poor things arrived into Macroom a bit bedraggled. 'So much so that the locals who saw them arriving looking exhausted put on batches of scones and came out to their gates and fed them glasses of milk and a scone to take them into the town.' 'EARLY INNOCENCE QUICKLY LOST' The festival was a huge success, but like others which were being put on all over Ireland, the early innocence was quickly lost and it came to an end a few years later. Roz explained: 'A different element crept in. I would say that maybe they weren't all music lovers, you know. 'And then, as time went on, managers recognised that, my gosh, this is a kind of a cash cow. ''We could be charging more here for our artists', and it became a different 'And it probably killed it in the end.' Boys of Ballisodare founders Philip and Kevin Flynn saw their folk acts — including Christy Moore — tempted elsewhere. FEES BEGAN TO SPIRAL Major festivals sprang up in Lisdoonvarna in The fees — which had started out at a few hundred pounds at the Sligo event — began to spiral as rival promoters lured in the big name acts. Philip said: 'Lisdoonvarna, when they came on the scene, they were paying IR£600 for the same acts that we were paying IR£200 for. 'They had no idea. They just needed to get in. Whereas I had come to it from a relationship with the acts, at least. 'The parents of one of, I think, Jim Shannon, put up their farm as collateral for bank loans. And they lost money the first year. 'In fairness to them, I have great admiration for the fact that they stuck with it. They came back. "So they did actually make profit after that and did well for a few years.' TRAGIC ENDINGS Early Irish festivals were tinged with tragedy — the first at a punk event in The Radiators From Space were topping the bill in Belfield, where a young man was stabbed to death. Radiators star Pete Holidai said: 'We weren't involved in the actual stabbing incidents — what happened was a scuffle broke out early on in the night. "There were a couple of band members who were in, trying to break the scuffle up and get people to calm down. 'But unbeknown to us some fellow stepped in and stabbed someone and then f**ked off. 'No one realised what had happened and it wasn't until we were on stage later in the evening where we suddenly became aware. 'What happened was that the ambulances were called and it appeared then this guy had died.' A young man was later convicted of killing 18-year-old Patrick Coultry, from Cabra in Dublin. The biggest of Ireland's earliest festivals was Lisdoonvarna, which came to a tragic end in 1983. HELLS ANGELS DRAFTED IN The event was moved to the end of July to capitalise on the August bank holiday, with Rory Gallagher and Van Morrison topping the bill. A staggering 40,000 people attended, but a huge number turned up without tickets and tried to breach the fence. As a result, Hells Angels bikers were drafted in to lend a hand with security. Separately, eight people drowned while swimming on the hot Sunday afternoon of July 31. The dead, all men aged between 19 and 30, included three brothers from 'PART OF US DIED THAT DAY' Stockton's Wing guitarist Mike Hanrahan remembers: 'I was there and it was dark. 'There was a bad vibe at the festival all weekend because of the security. 'We saw the big fencing being knocked over. It was a bad energy at the festival. 'And to cap it all off the young people who lost their lives on the Sunday, to drown in a part of Doolin that we all know. 'It was like part of us died that day as well. 'I remember somebody saying that was the day the music died. I guess that was the beginning of the end of those festivals as well.' The first two episodes of Fields Of Dreams are available on s 5 Huge acts like Christy Moore became wanted by other promoters Credit:5 Hell's Angels Bikers did security at one event Credit: Getty Images
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
BBC star who rose to fame in 60s & dated Coupling's Sarah Alexander dies aged 96 as tributes pour in
A BBC star who rose to fame in the 60s and dated Sarah Alexander has died aged 96. Gerald Harper, who made his name on British TV, sadly passed away on Wednesday, his agent confirmed. 3 Gerald Harper as Stephen Ashley in 'Crown Court' in 1979 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 Gerald Harper in the 'Murder by Misadventure' Play performed in the Vaudeville Theatre in 1991 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 Harper in the 2000s Credit: Shutterstock Editorial CDM Talent Agency posted on social media: "It is with great sadness that Gerald Harper has recently passed away - he was a valued client before he went to Spain to enjoy his retirement." It is unclear where the actor died or his cause of death. Gerald is best known for starring as the lead role in the adventure drama Adam Adamant Lives! and then as the main character in Hadleigh. Following his TV career, he returned to his main passion in theatre. His classical work includes playing on Broadway with the Old Vic company, playing Iago at the Bristol Old Vic and Benedick at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Gerald forged an illustrious career on the stage, featuring in various West End shows, including Crucifer of Blood and A Personal Affair at the Haymarket Theatre. The charismatic performer presented The Sunday Affair for Capital Radio in the 1970s. Gerald also hosted a series of Saturday afternoon shows for BBC Radio 2 in the early 1990s, in which he played classic songs from the past and gave away bottles of champagne and chocolates. Most read in News TV The star will also be well remembered for his relationship with Coupling and Green Wing star Sarah Alexander. Sarah, 54, was only 25 when she was first spotted dating Gerald Harper, then 68, in 1996. Gerald was in his early 70s when Sarah, then aged around 30, became lovers. Sarah was at the height of her own fame at the time, as she was a regular in sitcom Coupling. A passer-by told the Sunday People of Gerald and Sarah at the time: "They were super-glued together! They were all over each other and didn't care who saw them. "Funnily enough, the young lady was making a lot of the running and kept grabbing him to French kiss him – it was quite a display." Friends said Harper was "absolutely bereft" when Sarah left him for Amandaland star Peter Serafinowicz in 2002. Before his relationship with Sarah, Gerald was married to Carla Rabaiotti, a former Pan American air stewardess. The pair, who later divorced in 1983, share a son. Read more on the Irish Sun Harper was previously married to actress Jane Downs from 1957 until they divorced in 1975. They share a daughter. At the height of his fame Harper was TV's most eligible bachelor in ITV's Hadleigh, which ran from 1969 to 1976.
