The Arctic Monkeys will play their headline set at Glastonbury Festival tonight, despite fears that illness would force them to pull out, co-organiser Emily Eavis has confirmed.
The Sheffield rock band top Friday’s bill on the prestigious Pyramid Stage, but after cancelling a gig in Dublin earlier this week, fans had been left wondering whether their Glastonbury set would go ahead.
However, Eavis has now allayed fears, speaking to BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball from the Worthy Farm site on day one of performances, she replied to a question on whether they would be playing by saying: “They’re on,” which was welcomed with loud applause.
Image: Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner was suffering from laryngitis
She went on: “It was a little bit close there for a minute and we were thinking about whether we should have a serious back-up plan in place, but no, thankfully they’re on, so that’s great.”
Arctic Monkeys, who are currently midway through a world tour, had been due to play Marlay Park in Dublin on Tuesday but were forced to cancel the show as frontman Alex Turner was suffering from laryngitis, following three consecutive shows at the Emirates Stadium in north London.
Apologising to fans on social media, a statement said: “Alex is suffering from acute laryngitis, and following medical advice, has been ordered to rest.”
Laryngitis – which is when your vocal cords become swollen or irritated – comes on suddenly and gets worse during the first few days. It usually lasts for one to two weeks, according to the NHS website.
When asked if the band were still set to play earlier in the week, Eavis told reporters on Wednesday: “I think we are going to be alright.
“They’ve cancelled that [Dublin show], he’s recovering. I’m sure we’re going to be alright.”
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She added: “We’ve got a couple of backup plans if not. We’ve always got backup plans for everything.”
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Gates open at Glastonbury
Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders and Nick O’Malley are expected to take to the Pyramid Stage at 10.15pm tonight and play for one hour.
It will be the third time the Brit, Mercury and Ivor Novello award-winning band have headlined at the festival, following shows in 2007 and 2013.
Glastonbury has a history of surprise sets and unconfirmed slots, and this strangely-named group in a prime headline slot are causing a particular stir.
They are billed on the Glastonbury poster to play the Pyramid Stage before rock duo Royal Blood, whose set leads into the Arctic Monkeys.
Image: Foo Fighters previously pulled out when Dave Grohl injured himself before the 2015 event
Speculation it could be Foo Fighters was fuelled earlier this month after the American rockers posted a thank you letter to fans on social media, which included the line: “It feels so good to see you, churning up these emotions together.”
The band are currently on a world tour, but are now on a scheduled gap between gigs following their last performance in the US on 18 June, and they are not due to pick up again until 6 July in Canada.
The band previously headlined the festival in 2017, after pulling out of Glastonbury 2015 when frontman Dave Grohl fell off the stage at a gig in Sweden and broke his leg.
Foo Fighters announced their new drummer, Josh Freese last month, following the death of Taylor Hawkins who died in a hotel room in the Colombian capital, Bogota, during the band’s South America tour in March 2022.
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Other theories for the mystery act’s identity include Britpop band Pulp led by Jarvis Cocker, who are currently on tour, and whose name could be seen as a definition of ‘to churn up’.
Others have speculated it could be fellow Britpopers Blur, fronted by Damon Albarn, with the band also currently on a reunion tour.
Other headline acts at Glastonbury this year include Guns N’ Roses, Elton John and Lana Del Rey.
Glastonbury Festival is taking place at Worthy Farm, in Pilton, Somerset, until Sunday.
An American Idol TV executive and her husband have been found dead in their LA home.
Robin Kaye was a music supervisor on the long-running reality TV series.
The bodies of the 70-year-old and her husband Thomas were discovered after officers conducted a welfare check at their home.
Both had died from gunshot wounds.
Image: Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas. Pic: Facebook
Detectives say Raymond Boodarian has been arrested in connection with their deaths.
It is alleged the 22-year-old had burgled their property while they were away on 10 July – killing the couple upon their return.
According to Los Angeles Police, there were “no signs of forced entry or trouble” at the property.
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Ms Kaye was an industry veteran – and had previously worked on shows including Lip Sync Battle and The Singing Bee, as well as several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
In a statement, an American Idol spokesperson said: “Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her.
“Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.”
Huge steel fences have been erected to prevent ticketless fans from watching the Oasis reunion tour in Manchester.
Liam and Noel Gallagher will resume their sold-out run of shows – their first since 2009 – with a performance at Heaton Park tonight, and two more on Saturday and Sunday.
While tens of thousands bought tickets for Oasis’sfirst two shows last weekend, crowds gathered to glimpse the large screens above the stage in the distance – in an area dubbed “Gallagher Hill” by some on social media.
Image: People walk past a temporary security fence erected ahead of concerts by Oasis in Heaton Park on 1 July. Reuters file pic
Manchester City Council has now said more steel fences have been erected around parts of the park to prevent ticketless fans from watching the gigs, and to protect nature in the park.
“After taking stock of how the first two nights went, additional measures have now been deemed necessary and will be in place for the next three concerts,” it said.
“The erection of the fencing has a dual purpose – both to protect the environment from further damage and to dissuade people from gathering there.
“The necessary measure means the concert will no longer be visible from this area.”
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Friday: Excited fans at Oasis homecoming gig
The fences will cover a large area of the hill within the park’s cattle field, which is being developed as a new woodland area with around 300 young trees planted.
The council added that there would be no facilities for people without a ticket, and said the event area is “double-walled with solid high security fencing all the way round”.
More than 2,000 event security staff and police officers will also be on duty around the site “to ensure both the safety and wellbeing of ticket-holders and that only those who have tickets access the concert”, it said.
John Hacking, the council’s executive member for employment, skills and leisure, also said in a statement that “unfortunately our hand has been forced in having to put these additional measures in place”.
He added: “Our advice to music fans who don’t have tickets for the concerts is to head into the city centre instead.
“The whole city is going all out to celebrate and help everyone have a good time.
“We’ve got some fantastic things going on with a real party atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, whether they’ve got tickets for the Oasis gigs or not.”
MasterChef presenter John Torode will no longer work on the show after an allegation he used an “extremely offensive racist term” was upheld, the BBC has said.
His co-host Gregg Wallace was also sacked last week after claims of inappropriate behaviour.
On Monday, Torode said an allegation he used racist language was upheld in a report into the behaviour of Wallace. The report found more than half of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated.
Torode, 59, insisted he had “absolutely no recollection” of the alleged incident involving him and he “did not believe that it happened,” adding “racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment”.
Image: John Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2008. Pic: PA
In a statement on Tuesday, a BBCspokesperson said the allegation “involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace”.
The claim was “investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin”, they added.
“The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously,” the spokesperson said.
“We will not tolerate racist language of any kind… we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken.
“John Torode’s contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.”
Australian-born Torode started presenting MasterChef alongside Wallace, 60, in 2005.
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Why Gregg Wallace says he ‘will not go quietly’
A statement from Banijay UK said it “takes this matter incredibly seriously” and Lewis Silkin “substantiated an accusation of highly offensive racist language against John Torode which occurred in 2018”.
“This matter has been formally discussed with John Torode by Banijay UK, and whilst we note that John says he does not recall the incident, Lewis Silkin have upheld the very serious complaint,” the TV production company added.
“Banijay UK and the BBC are agreed that we will not renew his contract on MasterChef.”
Earlier, as the BBC released its annual report, its director-general Tim Davie addressed MasterChef’s future, saying it can survive as it is “much bigger than individuals”.
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BBC annual report findings
Speaking to BBC News after Torode was sacked, Mr Davie said a decision is yet to be taken over whether an unseen MasterChef series – filmed with both Wallace and Torode last year – will be aired.
“It’s a difficult one because… those amateur chefs gave a lot to take part – it means a lot, it can be an enormous break if you come through the show,” he added.
“I want to just reflect on that with the team and make a decision, and we’ll communicate that in due course.”
Mr Davie refused to say what the “seriously racist term” Torode was alleged to have used but said: “I certainly think we’ve drawn a line in the sand.”
In 2022, Torode was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to food and charity.