Latest news with #JohnSillett
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Radio 1's Big Weekend gets under way as Tom Grennan fans arrive in Liverpool
Update: Date: 14:28 BST Title: Show a Little Bit of Love for tonight's headliner Tom Grennan Content: Its been a busy year for Bedford-born singer Tom Grennan. After narrowly missing out on last-year's coveted Christmas number one he's released a new single, Boys Don't Cry. Tom has also encouraged mental health discussions at the BBC's Make a Difference awards, and stumped up the last of the money needed to build a statue of former Coventry City players George Curtis and John Sillett outside the home of his beloved Sky Blues. But it's only going to get bigger - and busier - for Grennan. His new album, Everywhere I Went, Led Me to Where I Didn't Want to Be, comes out in August. He told the Mirror earlier this year the album would have a 'different sound', saying he's 'looking forward to see if people love it or not'. Three singles have been released from the new album already, so there's probably a fairly high chance we'll be hearing some of the new material on the stage tonight. This is Grennan's third time playing the Big Weekend, following appearances in both 2022 and 2023. Update: Date: 14:20 BST Title: How can I tune in to BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend? Content: Haven't got a ticket? Not a problem - you can still follow the party right here by clicking the play button at the top of this page. There will also be non-stop coverage of the festival on BBC Radio 1, BBC Sounds, and BBC iPlayer. An app dedicated to the festival is available to download, which comes with updates, an interactive map, and reminders for when your favourite acts are due to take to the stage: The Radio 1 YouTube channel, external will have highlights of the weekend, so you can watch your favourite performances again, and again, and again. On Instagram, head to Radio 1's Instagram, external's account for behind-the-scenes content. Full performances and highlights will be on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, and at for 30 days to listen to or watch. Update: Date: 14:08 BST Title: The calm before the storm Content: Manish PandeyReporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool BBC Newsbeat I've just arrived on site for Newsbeat at Sefton Park and it's pretty… quiet. The only people really visible are the security guards who are smiling and looking around in anticipation. But very soon, this place will be heaving with people as Radio 1's Big Weekend kicks off. This is the fourth Big Weekend that I'll be working for the BBC, and there is a familiar feeling in the air. Something big is about to take place. Update: Date: 14:00 BST Title: Gates open at Big Weekend for over 100,000 festival-goers Content: Jack BurgessLive page editor Liverpool, a city famous worldwide for its music history and a place that knows how to throw a party. Could there be a better location for Radio 1's Big Weekend 2025? The sun's out in Sefton Park and we're set for an epic few days. This year's line-up is brilliant, with Sam Fender, Lola Young, Sugababes, Blossoms, Mumford & Sons, HAIM and tons of other musicians set to perform across the three day festival. Today, we've got Biffy Clyro, Tom Grennan, Natasha Bedingfield, James Hype, The Wombats and many more ready to kick the weekend off in style. There are four stages at this year's festival and more than 100,000 music fans expected. The gates are now opening and the music's already starting to get under way. If you're in the UK, you can stream performances from the Big Weekend Channel, Main Stage and New Music Stage at the top of this page, and we'll bring you all the latest updates and reaction right here.
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Statue celebrating Coventry City legends unveiled
A statue to celebrate the careers of two Coventry City football legends has been unveiled. The monument honours George Curtis and John Sillett who managed the team that lifted the FA Cup in May 1987. Crowds gathered at the Coventry Building Society Arena, near the south entrance, on Thursday and applauded as the statue was revealed. Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Joe Elliott, the former club chairman, said it was a memorable day and commended the pair's "lifetime of service". The monument captures the moment the pair lifted the Cup after the Sky Blues defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in a classic final at the old Wembley Stadium. Curtis, a former captain and manager, appeared in 543 games for the club, the second highest in the club's history, and is remembered for helping the club rise through the died in July 2021 at the age of joined the club as a player in 1962 and took on the role as chief coach ahead of the 1987 victory. He went on to take sole charge of team affairs, achieving 10th, 7th and 12th place finishes before leaving the club in November died in November 2021 aged plans to build the statue were revealed in January 2024 and a fundraising appeal raised nearly £250, Elliott thanked everybody who had donated and said: "This statue will be here forever for us to remember." The monument to mark their achievements was created by sculptor Douglas Jennings who said the pair "really were a double act" and it was an "emotional day". "There's a great turnout and you can see what Coventry football club and these men mean to the fans," he Jennings said he had spoken to the pair's families in order to get to know them better. "That's the fun part, you get to know these people and find out what they were really like."He said the families had shown him personal pictures of the pair at home and on holiday, which enabled him to see their body types. "If they're on holiday I can see strong legs, broad shoulders and I can then link that to what the family have told me about them." Singer Tom Grennan, whose grandmother is from Coventry, said he "fell in love" with the city after he watched his first Sky Blues game in 2018. He contributed towards the fundraising appeal and said the pair were "icons" of the club. "I know how much they mean to the city and how important their team was," the singer added. Long-term season ticket holder Jane Dawkins, who was at Wembley when the Sky Blues lifted the trophy, said it was an "honour" to witness the club's success and she was "absolutely thrilled" to watch the statue being unveiled. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
