BBC: Kneecap's Glastonbury set will not be live streamed but could go on-demand
A number of politicians have called for the Irish rap trio to be removed from the line-up and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be 'appropriate' after one of the members was charged with a terror offence.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
'While the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines.
'We don't always live-stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap's performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets.'
It is understood the BBC needs to consider the performance before making a final decision.
The band said on Instagram: 'The propaganda wing of the regime has just contacted us….
'They WILL put our set from Glastonbury today on the iPlayer later this evening for your viewing pleasure.'
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year.
On June 18 the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts.
The 1975 headlined on Friday at Glastonbury Festival (Yui Mok/PA)
He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she thinks the BBC 'should not be showing' the group's set.
In an X post from last Saturday, she said: 'The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda.
'One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act.
'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.'
The Arcadia Dragonfly takes flight to mark the launch of Build The Peace, a new initiative transforming military machines into unifying art across post-conflict zones, during the Glastonbury Festival (Ben Birchall/PA)
Ahead of the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: 'Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby.'
Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts.
The corporation will broadcast Young's set after previously saying it would not be shown 'at the artist's request'.
Neil Young's set will be televised on the BBC (Isabel Infantes/PA)
On Saturday a BBC spokesperson said: 'We are delighted to confirm that Neil Young's headline set from Glastonbury on Saturday will be broadcast live to audiences across the UK on the BBC.'
The set will be shown on the BBC iPlayer Pyramid Stage stream from 10pm, as well as broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Radio 2.
Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform.
A person in the crowd waves a sign as the Kaiser Chiefs perform on the Pyramid Stage (Yui Mok/PA)
The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's 'best songwriter'.
Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds 'I'm back baby' as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms.
Harry Styles was among the stars attending the festival (PA)
Celebrities who have been spotted at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn.
Friday saw hot dry weather which hardened the Worthy Farm surface after rain in the early hours of the morning, with festival goers expected to see temperatures in the mid-20s on Saturday.
The Met Office's Grahame Madge said: 'We anticipate highs of 26C on Saturday, with high levels of humidity. By Monday temperatures can be anticipated to be over 30C.
'There is always the chance of a light shower, but there is nothing in the forecast that suggests anything heavier for Saturday for Somerset.'
A woman in the crowd with an ice cream watching Burning Spear perform on the Pyramid Stage (Yui Mok/PA)
Avon and Somerset Police have said there have been 75 reports of crimes at the festival with 20 arrests made.
Performing in the coveted Sunday legends slot this year is Sir Rod Stewart, who previously said he will be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, as well as other guests.
The BBC is providing livestreams of the five main stages: Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park.
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BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
Charli, Neil Young and Scissor Sisters give Glastonbury goosebumps
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His new band, The Chrome Hearts, joined him immediately afterwards, launching into a furious flurry of guitar anthems - Be The Rain, Cinnamon Girl and Hey Hey, My My - full of jagged chords and intense crowd swooned when they switched back to acoustic mode for The Needle and The Damage Done and Harvest Moon; and cheered when Young announced he was playing Hank Williams' old guitar (a battered and worn acoustic) on the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song Looking star might be 79 years old, but his voice is still unusually supple and youthful; buoyed up by The Chrome Hearts' close-knit they were at their best on the heavier material - in particular Like A Hurricane, whose time-bending guitar solo felt like a revelation. Young always seems to get great pleasure from playing that particular song, and it was mesmerising to ended the set with Tear Your Hatred Down, a savage takedown of politicians and the war machine, that contrasts the idealism of the 1960s with the cruelties of the modern world. Both as a protest song and a lament for human nature, it was a powerful way to end a peerless set. Doechii drew a huge crowd to the West Holts Stage - including pop star Harry Styles, who danced away to her brief set in the middle of the field, unbothered by Florida-born rapper, known to fans as the Swamp Princess, sang, rapped, danced and changed outfits multiple times, in a show that was themed as a lesson in the history of flow was flawless on breakout tracks like Persuasive, Anxiety, Denial Is A River and Alter Ego - and she even made fun of herself, recreating a popular social media clip from this year's Met Gala, where she was overhead demanding "more umbrellas" to cover her body as she changed was aided by her eight dancers, who climbed over props, twerked and even vogued while descending a rise over the past year has been nothing short of phenomenal and, while fans await her debut album, this slick, bespoke Glastonbury performance felt like a new feather in her Sisters, meanwhile, continued their reunion by packing out the Woodsies tent for a set that reminded everyone how many classics they'd written - from I Don't Feel Like Dancing and Laura to the ever so sleazy Filthy/ Ware joined them on stage for a celebratory strut through I Don't Feel Like Dancin', while Ian McKellen recreated his monologue from the 2010 single Invisible he stood in the wings, fans started chanting "Oh, Ian McKellen" to the tune of The White Stripes Seven Nation Army, at which the actor clasped his hands to his face in shock. 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Daily Mirror
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Glastonbury fans fume at 'atrocious' decision in Charli XCX's headliner
Charli XCX took to the stage to headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival, but fans were left fuming that Lorde didn't make an appearance for their collab Charli XCX delivered a blazing performance for her debut Glastonbury Festival headline slot, prompting many fans to echo a similar sentiment. The 32 year old British pop sensation began sharing music on Myspace in 2008 and swiftly became a staple of the London rave culture. With a succession of early 2010s singles and mixtapes under her belt, Charli XCX hit number one in the UK charts in 2012 with Icona Pop collaboration 'I Love It'. Her success soared following the global smash hit 'Fancy' with Iggy Azalea in 2014. Charli XCX reached new heights in the music industry last year after releasing hit album Brat. The album topped the charts in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. And it also made an impressive debut at number three on the Billboard 200. Her 2024 album, 'Brat', also garnered her eight Grammy nominations at the 67th annual awards including Album of the Year, as well as bagging three wins - Best Dance Pop Recording for "Von Dutch", Best Dance/Electronic Album, and Best Recording Package. Charli's fiancé, George Daniel of The 1975 fame, who also topped the bill at Glasto on Friday, was amongst the excited festival-goers. The excitement buzzed amid speculation that Lorde would grace the stage with Charli to perform their collaboration 'Girl, So Confusing' , reports the Manchester Evening News. However, Lorde's surprise gig at Woodies Stage at 11.30am meant she didn't join Charli XCX, leading to some disappointed fans voicing their feelings online. On X (the social network formerly known as Twitter), @ctphonehomee expressed dismay: "So lorde not being here is atrocious??" and @V4MPIRESHAWTY queried: "WHERE IS LORDE". One fan, @begforloves, expressed their surprise: "Now why would Lorde not be there", while @mattyscruff chimed in with: "not the crowd screaming bc they assumed lorde was coming out". @allyallonsy01 echoed the sentiment, stating: "I was hoping lorde was gonna come out". Taking to the stage in a black crop top and skimpy paints, she seductively teased the crowd and cameras. However, with those in attendance lapping up the display, it appears viewers at home weren't as impressed. Taking to Twitter /X, some fans blasted the singer for seemingly miming. One user fumed: "Oh ffs can't watch Scissor Sisters and Charli XCX is bloody dreadful. Could literally be any random person miming. WTF for a Glastonbury Saturday night, disappointing." Another added: "Predictable but shame nonetheless that charli xcx can't sing live #Glastonbury2025 #charlixcx FAKE." And a third said: "Charli xcx Embarressing [sic]that, turning up to walk around stage pretending to sing…"
