The proms concert will be the singer's first major show in three years. It will also be broadcast on Radio 1. The high definition screening is being billed as the largest live music cinematic event of its kind in Europe, and has been put together by BBC Worldwide. The commercial arm of the corporation recently beamed The Last Night of the Proms into cinemas around the world.
Glastonbury sells out - Tickets for next year's Glastonbury Festival have sold out in less than 24 hours after going on sale on Sunday morning. People who had registered in advance were able to buy a ticket or pay a £50 deposit to reserve one before paying the full amount by 28 February 2010. Last year, tickets took several weeks to sell out, and the year before there were tickets available right up until the festival. 2010 will see Glastonbury festival celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Chocolate Bars - Oscar-winning film-maker Sam Mendes is developing a stage musical version of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, according to reports. The American Beauty and Revolution Road director is producing the proposed show with business partner Caro Newling, says the Hollywood Reporter.Scottish playwright David Greig is to write the script, with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman providing the score. Published in 1964, Dahl's novel has already inspired two film versions. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, released in 1971, cast Gene Wilder as the eccentric chocolate maker. The second, directed by Tim Burton, reverted to the book's original title and starred Johnny Depp as Wonka. Warner Brothers produced that film and are reportedly behind the upcoming stage version.
New Year News - Madness are to headline this year's Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, the organisers have announced. The band, who had hits including House of Fun and Baggy Trousers in the 1980s, will bring in the year 2010 at the Concert in the Gardens. It will be the band's first gig in the capital for more than 15 years. Tens of thousands of revellers flock to the city every year to see in the New Year with events like the famous street party, open air ceilidh and fireworks.
Madness performed at this year's Glastonbury festival, and also had a show in London to celebrate 30 years in the music industry. The band said: "We've heard it's one of the world's best New Year bashes so we are expecting mayhem - Edinburgh's laid down the gauntlet, we're there to take up the challenge."
(Jim Evans)
