BBC won't televise Neil Young Glastonbury set and gives four-word explanation

Glastonbury is once again taking over BBC airwaves as millions tune in to see performances from a star-studded lineup including Raye, Rod Stewart, Franz Ferdinand, and Olivia Rodrigo.

Yet, one legendary act's set will be absent from the BBC's broadcast. During Wednesday's (June 25) instalment of BBC Breakfast, correspondent Colin Paterson reported live from the festival, which was welcoming campers in anticipation of the weekend's events.

He informed viewers: "One other issue that has emerged over the last 24 hours is the BBC put out the timings for their TV coverage. One thing that really stood out was Saturday night.

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"The headliner on Saturday night is Neil Young, he's playing the Pyramid stage. But, BBC One are going to be showing Charlie XCX's set from the other stage on BBC One on Saturday night."

Colin reminisced about Neil Young's declaration last year that he would play Glastonbury in 2025, only to retract his decision upon learning of the BBC's involvement.

A BBC spokesperson has now broken their silence on the matter, exclusively telling The Mirror: “On Saturday on BBC iPlayer, our Glastonbury Channel and five streams for the main stages will bring a range of live performances to audiences. At the artist’s request, we won’t be live streaming Neil Young’s set. Our plans, including those for our TV highlights shows and on-demand coverage, continue to be finalised right up to and during the festival.”

Neil had a change of heart and confirmed his appearance at the festival. BBC presenter Colin explained this week : "I asked Emily Eavis what was going on and she says she does not believe that Neil Young's set will be broadcast by the BBC.

"There's been all kinds of backstage wrangling and negotiations, but as things currently stand, Neil Young's headline set on Saturday night will not be broadcast by the BBC. Instead, they'll be showing Charlie XCX."

The Mirror revealed on Tuesday how the Heart of Gold singer, 79, was still wrangling with the BBC about what they could show amid fears it could be heavily cut.

It came after we told how a BBC schedule of live sets released to the public omits Young, while mentioning headliners such as Charli xcx and Doechii who play other stages on Saturday.

In another development, fans are now fearful after his last two European shows in Bergen, Norway, and Copenhagen, Denmark, were hit with sound problems.

Fans complained about a poor vocal mix. Some were also unhappy that on at least one of those shows, Neil didn’t have any large screens for fans to see the action from the back of the crowd.

BBC bosses are said to be treading carefully after the star pulled out of the festival earlier this year citing concerns about the BBC’s “corporate control”.

He said in January: “We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in. It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being.”

A BBC spokeswoman said: “We aim to bring audiences as many performances as possible from the Pyramid Stage, and our schedules and plans continue to be finalised, right up to and during the festival.” Young has voices his concerns made principled stands recently. He blocked his music from Spotify for two years, saying a podcaster on the platform had spread vaccine misinformation.

When Young played Glastonbury in 2009 only five songs were televised. Speaking at the time Mark Cooper, then executive producer of the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage, said: “Neil Young’s career has been conducted on his own terms.

“They believe in the live event and retaining its mystery and that of their artist. They have decided to make one song available online over the weekend to give a flavour of his set. That’s Rockin’ in the Free World and that’s their decision. You probably won’t find too many Neil Young performances available freely on TV or online.”

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