The BBC has revealed how it plans to show Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance later today.
The corporation has confirmed that the performance will not be streamed live but will be shown on-demand.
“As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers,” a spokeswoman said. “Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines. We don’t always live stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap’s performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets.”
The controversial Irish hip-hop trio will take to what will likely be a packed West Holts Stage in less than two hours. We wrote earlier this week about how the BBC was facing a dilemma over its Kneecap coverage, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the performance is not “appropriate.” Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the following day: “Personally I don’t want to see [Kneecap] on TV screens.”
One of the group’s members, Mo Chara, is currently bailed on a terror charge after displaying a flag at a London gig in support of Hezbollah – a proscribed terrorist group in the UK. This came a few months after counter-terrorism police said they were assessing videos of a bandmember allegedly telling fans at a gig: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
In a Guardian interview yesterday, the band said they were “in character” when displaying the flag. “S**t is thrown on stage all the time. If I’m supposed to know every f***ing thing that’s thrown on stage… I’d be in Mensa, Jesus Christ,” said Mo Chara, AKA Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh.
Earlier today, the BBC confirmed that Neil Young’s set will also be shown on TV. Young had the previous day said he did not want his set to be streamed.
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