Grass and fields are the stars of this year’s Glastonbury Festival

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL founder Michael Eavis is still smiling despite the empty fields surrounding him on what would have been the opening day of this year’s festival.

The dairy farmer, 84, is pictured with healthy grass at Worthy Farm, Somerset, which would usually have been filled with festival-goers by this time.

This year’s event would have been the 50th anniversary of the festival, with Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Diana Ross, Pet Shop Boys and Dua Lipa, among many others, due to appear.

Organisers were forced to cancel on March 18 following the outbreak of coronavirus, stating that the decision was their “only viable option”.

Instead the BBC has pledged a ‘‘virtual festival’’ this weekend, broadcasting a selection of the best performances since the event was first televised in 1997.

The full line-up over the course of coming days includes Oasis, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Lionel Richie and Amy Winehouse, with promise of some special guests which are yet to be revealed.

The festival organisers have also said they will stream global meditation.

The first Glastonbury Festival was launched by Mr Eavis as the Pilton Pop, Folk & Blues Festival in 1970, with tickets costing £1 with an offer of free milk.

Held at Worthy Farm on September 19, it drew an audience of 1,500 people.

The following year it moved to the Summer Solstice and became known as the Glastonbury Fayre, following the ideals of being free to all in search of music and entertainment.

Over time it has steadily grown, with all 135,000 weekend tickets sold out in under 36 minutes last year.