The stage is set for a showpiece event
In 1997, BBC2 broadcast from Glastonbury for the first time, recording Radiohead in what would go down in rock legend as one of the festival’s greatest ever sets. Now, 20 years on, the Beeb is returning to Somerset where the headliners include, well, Radiohead again, who can be seen on the channel from 10pm tonight.
However, some things have changed since the BBC crew first put on their wellies and headed down to Worthy Farm. For a start, there are now more places to catch Glastonbury — this year, you can find coverage on BBC2, BBC4, Radios 1 and 2, 6 Music and even Radio 3, which will be focusing on the festival’s best world music acts.
But the televised festivities begin with a band who, like Radiohead, are no strangers to Glastonbury — The Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde and co. opened the Other Stage today, and here Mark Radcliffe and Alice Levine present highlights of their set, followed by a chance to see the legendary US singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson in action.
If it’s beginning to sound like maybe time really has stood still at “Glasto” since 1997, this evening’s footage is also set to contain appearances by Brighton rock duo Royal Blood and rapper Dizzee Rascal.
The coverage continues across the weekend, including headline sets by Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran, while the now traditional Sunday afternoon “legend slot,” previously taken by the likes of Dolly Parton, falls to Bee Gee Barry Gibb.