BBC 'wasting money' on Glastonbury replacement festival

BBC 'wasting money' on Glastonbury replacement festival

The BBC will fill the void left by Glastonbury's fallow year with a replacement festival across all four UK countries - but many feel they are 'wasting money' on an annual and 'absurd jolly'.

The Biggest Weekend will be held simultaneously in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over next year's late May bank holiday weekend, with more than 175,000 tickets available.

Coverage of the events will be similar to that offered at Glastonbury, which is taking its regular break in 2018 to allow the fields at Worthy Farm to replenish.

The announcement drew a mixed reaction on social media, with many feeling it could prove to be an unnecessary expense. 

The BBC's Biggest Weekend, which will replace Glastonbury, is billed as a one-off and the BBC said there are no plans to make it an annual event

One Twitter user said: 'Glastonbury? Haven't the BBC got more important things to do? Sorry, no they haven't. I want my money!' 

There were also calls online 'F*** off wasting our money' and 'Why is the BBC tax funding this c***?'

Another pointed out: 'The BBC can't miss out on their absurd jolly once a year.' 

The broadcaster's biggest radio stations will combine to cover the event while TV coverage will come from BBC Two and BBC Four and all sets made available on the iPlayer.

It is billed as a one-off and the BBC said there are no plans to make it an annual event. 

Glastonbury is taking a fallow year in 2018 to allow the fields at Worthy Farm to replenish

Ed Sheeran headlines on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday evening at this year's Glastonbury Festival

Bob Shennan, director of BBC Radio and Music said: 'BBC Music has a strong history of bringing the nation together for some special moments, and this is the biggest single music event ever attempted by the BBC.

'We will be celebrating the diversity of music from four different corners of the country, bringing the best UK music to the world and the best global music to the UK.' 

However, not everyone saw it as a waste of money, with others excited for the new event.

One supporter said: 'This is a great way to give music across all networks mainstream coverage.'

Another added: 'WOW! What a fabulous idea.' 

The decision comes despite strong criticism last m onth for giving prominence to the speech given by Jeremy Corbyn on the Somerset festival’s Pyramid Stage.

Critics, including Tory MPs, accused the BBC of producing ‘Left-wing propaganda’ for broadcasting the Labour leader’s 15-minute speech. Seven people complained directly to Ofcom about what they perceived to be a lack of impartiality but the watchdog declined to investigate. An official BBC social media account also praised Mr Corbyn for ‘acing’ his speech.

Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball told her audience days later: ‘Other great things that happened at Glastonbury, had a lovely cuddle and a chat with Tom Watson MP.

‘It was so lovely to see him. Of course, probably my favourite thing of the whole weekend was everyone singing, “Oh Jeremy Corbyn” everywhere you went. It was so brilliant.’ 

Holding the festival is likely to come at huge cost to the BBC, which may not be covered by ticket sales.

The announcement comes just days after the release of the BBC’s annual report, which revealed that it overspent by £129million last year, despite a £127million income boost.

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