Playing the fields
NOTORIOUSLY muddy, a chance of rain, and the possibility of sleeping in a leaky tent for several nights... if you love music, but not the realities of festival-living, this is how best to enjoy Glastonbury.
Sure, we all might get the odd pang of jealousy, the momentary desire to relive our youth, cast away our hygiene standards and run, wellie-clad into Somerset’s Worthy Farm.
But if you didn’t bag a ticket, do not despair. You can flick contentedly between BBC channels and catch every big musical performance of the weekend. And you won’t even have to queue for snacks.
Tonight, 20 years on from their now legendary set on the Pyramid stage and the release of the hit album OK Computer, coverage will feature the whole of Radiohead’s set.
This will be the band’s third time headlining the Pyramid Stage, following their previous headline appearances in 1997 and 2003.
And The Pretenders will open proceedings on the Other Stage, while Dizzee Rascal hits the West Holts Stage.
Over the course of the weekend, you can also expect to see highlights of some of the most talked-about performances – the line-up includes Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, Chic, Stormzy, Alt-J, Justice, Barry Gibb and Nile Rodgers, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Shaggy and Liam Gallagher.
And the presenting team includes the usual suspects enjoying a trip out of their radio booths – Jo Whiley, Lauren Laverne, Mark Radcliffe, Clara Amfo, Alice Levine and Huw Stephens.
Turn the telly up, switch the lights off and wave your lighters in the air – it will be just like you’re there too...