BBC statement on Kneecap Glastonbury coverage amid fears performance won't air
The BBC has said Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury will be aired if it meets the station's 'editorial guidelines'.
Doubt has been cast over whether or not the Belfast rap group's performance will air on television when they take to the West Holts stage on Saturday at 4pm.
It comes after Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail after appearing in a London court on a terror charge earlier this month.
As Glastonbury kicks off, a spokesperson for the BBC said the station will offer more than 90 hours of performances with live streams of Glastonbury's five main stages – but wouldn't clarify if it will air Kneecap's performance.
In a statement, the BBC told The Independent in the UK: 'As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
"Whilst the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines."
'Decisions about our output will be made in the lead up to the festival,' it said when asked whether Kneecap's set would be broadcast live or as part of the BBC's catch-up services.
It comes after the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the band playing at the festival was 'inappropriate' after Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has also called for Kneecap's planned, hour-long set to be axed.
Asked if he thought the trio should perform at Glastonbury, Mr Starmer told The Sun last week: 'No I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this. This is about the threats that shouldn't be made. I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.'
But despite the furore, Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis said Kneecap are welcome at the festival.
'We haven't responded to that (Keir Starmer's comments),' she said on BBC Breakfast.
'At the moment we're just focusing on bringing the best festival to the people who want to come here. We're incredibly lucky that so many people want to come to Glastonbury, we have millions of people who want to come.'
Pushed for her reaction to Starmer's comments, Eavis insisted: 'There have been a lot of really heated topics this year, but we remain a platform for many, many artists from all over the world and, you know, everyone is welcome here.'
Elsewhere, Glastonbury will host other Irish acts this weekend. CMAT, Sprints, Inhaler, The Script and Snow Patrol are all featured on the line-up for this year's festival.
The 1975 will perform on Friday, Canadian legend Neil Young headlines on Saturday, and US star Olivia Rodrigo will headline the Sunday slot.
CMAT will be the first of the Irish Acts to take to the stage on Friday on the Pyramid Stage at 1.30pm, followed by Inhaler on the Other Stage at 2.15pm.
The Script will perform on the Pyramid Stage at 3pm and Snow Patrol will take to the Other Stage on Sunday at 6pm.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark bag a surprise new series of their show after their Bafta triumph
FIRST they took a trip to Italy, then India and now Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark are off on another Grand Tour adventure. I can reveal the duo are making a third series of their acclaimed 9 The first series of Rob and Rylan's travel show bagged them the Factual Entertainment gong at the Baftas TV Awards in May Credit: PA It comes after the popularity of Rob & Rylan's Grand Tour among viewers and critics alike led the show to scoop a telly Bafta. An insider said: 'The success of the show was as much a surprise to the boys as it was to anyone else because it was almost a TV experiment. 'What would happen if you take two people — one from highbrow culture, the other from pop culture — and send them off on their travels? The answer is hilarious, moving and educational telly, loved by both the viewers, critics and the execs alike. 'It's relatively early days yet, and it's not clear where the third series will take them.' READ MORE TV NEWS The first series of Rob and Rylan's cultural adventure took them from Receiving his gong, a stunned Rylan said: 'This is so surreal, thank you so much to Bafta for this. We didn't know what we were making when we first landed in Venice. 'We were in the edit and we watched it for the first time and I turned to Rob and said: 'We're either going to get cancelled or win a Bafta. I'm so glad it was the latter. A year or so on, we're different people because of that show.' Rylan shares first look at epic new adventure with Rob Rinder as they jet to India for hit BBC travel series 9 I can reveal the duo are making a third series of their acclaimed BBC Two travelogue Stephen's career is back on track Most read in News TV These exclusive shots show him in his role as railway pioneer George Stephenson who – invented locomotive engine the 'Rocket' – for an upcoming drama-documentary about how the first steam-powered passenger line came into being. 9 Stephen Tompkinson just wrapped filming on a very steamy movie Credit: Click News and Media 9 These exclusive shots show him in his role as railway pioneer George Stephenson Credit: Click News and Media Stephen, who has starred in Wild At Heart and DCI Banks, was spotted filming in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, alongside actor Michael Hodgson for The First Five Miles, which focuses on the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The project marks his first screen role since being Good to have you back, Stephen. 9 The picture focuses on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first in the world Credit: Getty - Contributor 9 Inventor George Stephenson (1781 – 1848) Credit: Getty New Beeb show FILMING has begun on the new series of the BBC's acclaimed comedy We Might Regret This. By Lee Getty and Kyla Harris, the show focusses on Freya (Kyla Harris) and Abe's (Darren Boyd) engagement and wedding planning. But their views on marriage day quickly hit a sticking point. Oti: We ignore judges The two-times Glitterball champion, who left the BBC One series in 2022, revealed the pro dancers ignore the judges' comments, and tell their celebrity partners to do the same. 9 Strictly's Oti Mabuse revealed the pro dancers ignore the judges' comments Credit: Getty Images - Getty She says: 'With the judges, I know a lot of the professionals say, 'We're listening, but we're not taking it in'. 'The goal is not what the judges think, the goal is what the celebs think.' Speaking on Her next meeting with Motsi might be awkward . . . Titanic's a tonic for Noel NOEL EDMONDS has a typically niche method of ensuring And the veteran TV presenter enlists the help of head groundsman Jason, who is also a pianist. 9 Noel Edmonds blasts music from the Titanic soundtrack for his New Zealand vineyard Credit: PA Viewers of his Kiwi Adventure series, which continues tonight on ITV1, will see Noel towing Jason around the vineyard on a trailer while he's tinkling the ivories, playing Explaining his idea to workers at his River Haven estate, Noel said that in a study conducted half a century ago, 'The rice field which had the music played in it, the yield increased between 25 and 60 per cent'. But with the threat of frost on his crops, he added: 'It's a strange business to be involved in. I wouldn't recommend it if you want to make money.' Handy if you fancy a tipple in the evenings, mind. Kate's Goggle shocks Kate left the Channel 4 show in 2016 after deciding it was taking too high a toll on her family life for too little financial reward. 9 Gogglebox's Reverend Kate Bottley says the experience was like 'consensual exploitation' Credit: Refer to Caption She told the Walking The Dog podcast: 'My kids spent two and a half years sitting in their bedrooms on nights they came to film. My kids didn't have friends round, couldn't have help with their homework. 'We got paid very little, but I cooked two nights a week for the crew. The money we got went on the electricity, the internet they were using and being hospitable to six people in my home two nights a week. 'It got to the point where we were overwhelmed by it.'
Irish Post
an hour ago
- Irish Post
Warm welcome for new Mayor of Brent at long-standing Irish pub
AN IRISH bar in north London hosted a night of cultural celebrations while welcoming the newly elected Mayor of Brent Councillor Ryan Hack. Irish world champion dancer Joe McGeown was also a special guest at the event hosted at Katie's Bar in Neasden. The event was a 'celebration of Irish culture', the organisers said, with locals gathering to enjoy traditional music performed by Michael O'Hare. A long-standing establishment on Neasden Lane, Katie's Bar has served the local community for many years. Mayor of Brent, Councillor Mike Hack and World Champion Irish dancer Joe McGeown received a warm welcome at Katie's Bar Deeply rooted in Brent's Irish heritage, the pub is also a familiar place to Mayor Hack, who is a regular visitor to the popular spot. The event also celebrated dancer McGeown's remarkable achievement and his contribution to Irish dancing and the wider Irish community. As a two-time World Champion Irish Dancer, he proudly brought along his trophy to display on the evening. 'This event truly celebrated Irish culture and brought the community together to mark the return of an Irish Mayor,' McGeown said after the event. Northwest London - particularly Neasden, Kilburn, Cricklewood, and Willesden - traditionally boasts a significant Irish population. The London Borough of Brent has been twinned with South Dublin County Council since 1997 - a partnership built on deep historical and geographical ties between the two locations. Mayor Hack's personal connections to Brent's Irish community stretch back to 1970, when his grandparents emigrated from Mallow, County Cork, and settled in Willesden. Reflecting on this heritage at the event, Cllr Hack said: 'It's an honour to be the first Irish Mayor of Brent in nearly 20 years. 'I will always champion and celebrate Brent's Irish community.' The evening featured traditional Irish food, Guinness, and live music. As Mayor, Cllr Hack has pledged his support for the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS), an organisation established in 1978 to address the welfare needs of what remains one of London's largest immigrant communities. 'It's great to have an Irish mayor once again providing a voice for the often overlooked Irish community,' Mike McGing, CEO of BIAS, said. 'We look forward to working with Cllr Hack over the coming year.'
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Talk to Joe - Liveline's most jaw-dropping moments
Twenty-seven years after the first broadcast, Joe Duffy is set to hang up the iconic Liveline microphone on RTÉ Radio. Having established himself as a voice for the voiceless, Duffy became a household name and a staple of daily Irish life. After taking over from Marian Finucane in the late 1990s, Duffy became synonymous with Liveline, which maintained a loyal and vigorous listenership throughout his almost three-decade stint at the helm. The show became a public confessional, where callers opened their lives up and shared intimate details about their struggles, as well as giving plenty of honest opinions. From fiery on-air clashes to moving personal stories, Liveline often sparked conversations that led to real societal change. As Joe Duffy takes to the air one last time for his curtain call, speculation is mounting over who will now succeed him on the flagship show. On today's The Indo Daily, Melanie Finn, Entertainment Correspondent with the Irish Independent, looks back on the show's many iconic moments, and discusses who is the leading candidate to inherit the mic.
