Surreal memories from Glastonbury's star presenters (2024)

Three days of wall-to-wall coverage across TV, radio and BBC Sounds, 90 hours of performances from the five main stages on BBC iPlayer, and a raft of programmes across radio and television in the run-up to the opening night on Friday. Welcome to Glastonbury 2024.

It’s a mammoth operation, but Alison Howe, executive producer of the BBC’s output, insists they’re ready for anything. ‘It’s heartbreaking when sun is forecast but you wake up to rain,’ she says.

‘The weather can turn everything on a sixpence so you just have to work with it. And sometimes it becomes the story and you just have to report on the mud, the umbrellas and the choices of footwear.’

With acts including Coldplay, Squeeze, Dua Lipa, Cyndi Lauper and Shania Twain, the BBC’s presenters can’t wait to get started – but first they reveal their most memorable Glasto moments...

JO WHILEY

The Radio 2 presenter will be central to BBC TV’s coverage

What’s been your favourite musical moment?

Elton John’s swansong last year was sensational – a singalong for everyone in the field and across the country. A total of 7.3 million people watched him on the BBC that night.

Best celebrity moment?

When you interview the legends after they’ve performed on a Sunday afternoon they’re usually in a happy state of shock. Kylie, ELO, Barry Gibb – they’ve all been humbled by the experience. Lionel Richie couldn’t speak for minutes until he eventually just said, ‘What the hell is going on?’ I never thought I’d find myself stood next to a speechless Lionel Richie.

Your worst experience?

The first time I went I was 17. My schoolfriends and I took the coach from Northampton and pitched a tent, but when the rain began so did the mud, and our tent began sliding down the hill. By the early hours of Sunday we decided to go home.

Best survival tips?

My essentials include suntan lotion, lip balm, moisturiser and dry shampoo. I also usually pack hand warmers, a hot-water bottle and a thermal vest.

Hairiest moment?

I used to take the kids [Jo has four] when they were small, and there were a few moments when I wanted to keep them dry. Now they’re there with their friends so I only see them occasionally during the weekend.

Most rock’n’roll moment?

My dad and I once shared a golf buggy with Bono after U2 headlined on the Pyramid Stage. It was raining and muddy and I was worried about my dad falling over, so Bono told us to hop on with him. We took my dad to a bar and all shared a glass of fizz!

The memory you’d rather forget?

I remember wearing white wellies one year, which was a big mistake.

Who would be your dream headline act?

George Michael. I’ve seen him perform at close quarters and he was incredibly charismatic. A slot at Glastonbury would have been a festival classic.

Have you ever had a spiritual experience at Glastonbury?

Rapper Stormzy gave the performance of his life in 2019 – the ballet dancers, the vest designed by Banksy, every element was wonderful. When he sang Blinded By Your Grace the atmosphere was really something.

The moment that reduced you to tears?

In 1997 it rained and rained and rained. Stages sank. People were head-to-toe in mud. It felt like the end of the world.

Funniest moment?

In 2014 when Dolly Parton played, everywhere you went you saw people dressed as Dolly, and occasionally Kenny Rogers, doing impromptu performances of their hit Islands In The Stream. Having my picture taken with Dolly is a Glasto highlight.

CRAIG CHARLES

Will be DJ-ing and hosting shows on Radio 6 Music

What’s been your favourite musical moment?

Stevie Wonder in 2010. I’d been to see him in Manchester and the middle of his set was a bit sugary – I Just Called To Say I Love You and that kind of stuff. But at Glastonbury he condensed it down to his absolute bangers and it was amazing.

Best celebrity moment?

Sitting on straw bales round a campfire with Bez and the rest of the boys from the Happy Mondays, actor Keith Allen, the Clash’s Joe Strummer and Damien Hirst. Some of the stories were amazing – and unrepeatable!

Worst experience?

I lost my phone down the loo. I’d had it in my back pocket and it slipped out. I couldn’t grab it because it was so far down so I had to watch, agonisingly, as it slowly disappeared beneath the water, like the Titanic sinking.

Best survival tips?

I take four Imodium tablets so I don’t have to go to the toilet at all. I also take my Mercedes camper van – she’s called Martha because it’s Martha And The Van Dwellers.

Most rock’n’roll moment?

There have been quite a few, because on several occasions when I was younger I got no sleep at all for the duration of the weekend. Not now though, not with a DJ set on the Friday night and a show on 6 Music on the Saturday.

Who would be your dream headline act?

Led Zeppelin. I’d love it if they reformed and performed one last time. And how about Gary Numan? He does a superb live show that would be perfect for Glastonbury.

Most spiritual moment?

I remember sitting around the campfire when Bez walked into the flames and came out the other side, totally unscathed. He says it was just the angle I was watching him from but I swear I saw him do it.

Has anything reduced you to tears?

Seeing my daughter Nellie, 21, performing last year on The Truth stage – I felt so incredibly proud because she was good and the crowd was thousands strong.

LAUREN LAVERNE

The Desert Island Discs host has been presenting at Glastonbury since 2002

What’s been your favourite musical moment?

I’ve seen so many of my heroes play the best gigs of their careers there – from Paul McCartney to The Chemical Brothers. But now my kids are old enough I’d say it’s sharing the experience with them. I watched Elton’s performance last year with my family as the sun went down, which I’ll never forget.

Best celebrity moment?

Getting to interview Beyoncé unexpectedly straight after her mind-blowing performance in 2011. Also meeting Stevie Wonder and having a chinwag with the goddess that is Dolly Parton. It had been organiser Emily Eavis’s dream to bring her to the festival for about 15 years and she charmed the pants off everyone.

Worst experience?

Definitely one of my sons vomiting into my cupped hands in a tent at 6 o’clock one Monday morning. Very much an ‘OK, this festival has now ended’ alarm call.

Hairiest moment?

Driving across the site for an interview while I was on air with my producer’s arm stuck out of the window holding an aerial trying to keep hold of the signal.

Most rock’n’roll moment?

Interviewing Lars Ulrich of Metallica about the band bringing heavy metal to Glastonbury when suddenly a giant black cloud rolled in and there was an enormous clap of thunder. ‘There you have it,’ he laughed. ‘Your metal soundbite!’

Who would be your dream headline act?

Madonna.

The moment that reduced you to tears?

Standing on the side of the stage as David Crosby played Guinnevere in 2009 and realising I was crying. It’s a song I grew up on as my dad was a big Crosby, Stills & Nash fan. But it was also a special song for my husband. There’s a moment most years when the music connects you to the people you love most – whether they’re with you or not.

NICK GRIMSHAW

The ex-Radio 1 host and Celebrity Gogglebox star co-presents the Sidetracked By Glastonbury podcast

Best celebrity moment?

In 2019 Victoria Beckham asked if she could use our toilet and if I could walk her over to it – she was wearing heels of course. It was surreal. What made it even more extraordinary was that Annie Mac was in the toilet. She came out and for some reason called out, ‘Oh my God, Vicky!’ I’m not sure Victoria Beckham loved being called Vicky.

Worst experience?

Buying a tent with my friend Gillian and discovering, too late, that it was a child’s play tent that wasn’t going to fit one of us in, never mind two.

Best survival tips?

Definitely take trainers, and for goodness sake take factor 50 suncream. There’s no shade and I’ve seen so many sore-looking people over the years.

Hairiest on-air moment?

It feels very lawless – you have to be aware people may have been drinking all day. Sometimes it’s the musicians who are the problem; it can be like trying to control toddlers.

Most rock’n’roll moment?

One year I had to DJ at Paris Fashion Week and then come straight to Glastonbury. I felt like Lenny Kravitz – an actual rock star!

The one thing you’d rather forget?

The smell from the toilets. It never leaves you, physically or mentally.

Who would be your dream headline act?

Grace Jones on Friday, Madonna on Saturday, Kate Bush on Sunday. Apparently Kate is asked every year and always declines.

The moment that reduced you to tears?

I definitely cried when The Rolling Stones headlined on a Saturday night.

Funniest Glastonbury moment?

We once returned to our caravan to find it flooded due to a blocked toilet. My friend Gillian took one for the team by removing the offending item and accidentally chucking it over a fence into the area being used by headliners Muse. Apologies to them!

JAMIE LAING

The Made In Chelsea star will be a roving reporter for the BBC at Glasto for the first time

What’s been your favourite musical moment?

Watching Lewis Capaldi in 2019 when I was on a date with my now wife Sophie. The show was great, the sun was shining, Lewis sang Someone You Loved and Sophie and I kissed. It was unbelievably romantic. That day I asked her to be my girlfriend – and last year we got married!

Worst experience?

Not being able to find a bathroom in 2018 when I really needed to. I had to find a hedge behind a Portaloo...

Hairiest on-air moment?

This will be my first year working and my overriding ambition is to get Chris Martin of Coldplay to shave my head so we can include it in my podcast Shave The Headliners. I’m 99 per cent certain it will happen.

Most rock’n’roll moment?

Arriving by helicopter. My friend who owns a helicopter company organised it. I was trying to impress my now wife, but she wasn’t impressed at all – she thought it was a bit lame.

Funniest moment?

A friend of mine got very drunk, came back to the campsite and promptly dismantled his tent. He attempted to put it back up again and then knocked it down again, and then the neighbours’ too. It was like watching someone floundering on ice.

• Follow the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage on TV, iPlayer, radio and BBC Sounds from Wednesday 26- Sunday 30 June.