Major music festival cancelled as headliner pulls out a day before event

BST Hyde Park festival has cancelled its final night after Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra pulled out of the headline slot.

Lynne, 77, was due to play alongside his band on Sunday but has been forced to withdraw from the event following a "systemic infection". The London show was supposed to be a "final goodbye" from ELO following their farewell US tour.

Organisers said on Saturday that Lynne was "heartbroken" at being unable to perform. A statement read: "Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.

"The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff's mind today - and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time." They later confirmed the whole of Sunday's event would be cancelled. "Ticket holders will be refunded and contacted directly by their ticket agent with further details," another statement said.

Stevie Wonder played the festival on Saturday - now its final event of 2025. Read more from Sky News:Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland record hottest days of yearTennis star in tears after Wimbledon final drubbing US rock band The Doobie Brothers and blues rock singer Steve Winwood were among those who had been due to perform to before ELO's headline performance.

The cancellation comes after the band, best known for their hit Mr Blue Sky, pulled out of a performance due to take place at Manchester's Co-Op Live Arena on Thursday. ELO was formed in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne, multi-instrumentalist Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan.

They first split in 1986, before frontman Lynne resurrected the band in 2014..