
The Searchers to end 68-year stint at Glastonbury
McNally said: "A Glastonbury debut at 83, can anyone top that? I don't think life gets any better, does it?"There will be a few nerves, but in a good way, and we'll be nicely warmed up from our shows in June. We can't wait to see our fans again for this incredible final farewell."
Bassist and singer Frank Allen, who joined the group in 1964, said: "I have played shows across the world with The Searchers for over 60 years; Glastonbury has always been an ambition that has eluded us - until now."The Searchers are finally performing at the greatest music festival of them all."What a way to round off a tour and a career. I can't wait to get up on stage and give our fans one final blast."The Searchers' hits also include Sugar And Spice, Needles And Pins and Don't Throw Your Love Away.They have sold more than 50 million records and performed worldwide, while drawing praise from artists such as Bruce Springsteen.The band's Final Farewell Tour runs from 14 June and will end with a performance on the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury on 27 June.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
3 easy fusion recipes from social media cooking star Remi Idowu
There are so many foodie content creators these days, we're always on the look out for those who are doing something a bit different. So when we saw Remi Idowu, who has almost 800k followers on Instagram and 412k followers on TikTok, was releasing a cookbook full of her fusion recipes, we asked to have a sneak peak. Remi draws on her Ghanaian and Nigerian heritage to create recipes full of rich flavours, but her travels around the world have also influenced her cooking style. At 19, Remi launched a baking business selling treats to the public. Now, after successfully building an online community, she's released her debut cookbook Sugar & Spice. Expect comfort food with a twist, but recipes that are also easy to follow. Check out three of them below... Chipotle Cream Enchiladas I tried these enchiladas on a solo trip to Barcelona after a groggy night flight and they blew my mind – a completely new flavour palette I wasn't used to. Since then, I have searched the internet to learn how to make traditional enchiladas and have been shocked by how different they are from your typical British ones. This is my favourite way of making them now, and I'm sure these will be your new favourite, too. If you can, splurge on a good chipotle paste; all the flavours come from it. Makes 12 enchiladas Ingredients 600g skinless, boneless chicken breasts 2 tsp paprika 2 tsp salt 2 tsp black pepper 200ml vegetable oil 12 mini white tortillas 200g ball of mozzarella, shredded For the chipotle cream sauce 2 beef tomatoes, halved 1⁄2 onion 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder 3 garlic cloves 100ml double cream 50g cream cheese 100g chipotle paste (I use Gran Luchito Chipotle Chilli Paste) Salt, to taste To serve (optional) Chopped fresh parsley Sliced onions Method 1) Start with the sauce. Put the tomatoes, onion and bouillon powder into a saucepan and add enough water to cover, then cover with a lid and cook over a low heat for about 15 minutes until the tomatoes and onion are soft. Reserving the stock, transfer the tomatoes and onion to a blender, along with the garlic, cream, cream cheese and chipotle paste and blend until smooth and creamy. If the sauce feels too thick, loosen it with some of the reserved stock. Taste and adjust the seasoning with a little salt if needed, then set aside. 2) Put the chicken breasts into a saucepan and cover with the remaining reserved stock (top up with more water if it isn't covered). Bring to a boil and cook for about 25 minutes, or until cooked through and tender, then remove from the stock. Shred the chicken with 2 forks and transfer to a bowl. Sprinkle over the paprika, salt and pepper, then toss together, making sure the chicken is well coated. Set aside. 3) Preheat your oven to 180°C fan. 4) Heat some of the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add a tortilla and fry for about 30 seconds on each side until golden and flexible (this prevents them from becoming soggy later). Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels to remove the excess oil. Repeat with the remaining oil and tortillas. Tip: Make sure not to fry the tortillas for too long as they will be hard to wrap later on. 5) Now, take each fried tortilla and spoon some of the seasoned chicken into the centre. Roll up each one tightly and set aside while you make the next. Pour about a third of the chipotle cream sauce into the bottom of an ovenproof dish and spread out into an even layer. Place the rolled tortillas seam-side down in the dish so they fit snugly, then pour over the remaining sauce, ensuring every tortilla is covered. 6) Sprinkle the mozzarella over the enchiladas and bake for 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melted, golden and deliciously bubbly. Feel free to serve garnished with parsley and onions for a touch of freshness. West African Fried Rice I have a confession – I believe fried rice deserves just as much love as jollof rice, if not more. It's quicker, arguably tastier and definitely gets a boost in the 'healthy' department (thanks to all those veggies, right?). Cooking the rice in chicken stock adds an extra depth of flavour that takes it up a notch. The sausage and prawns?Totally optional, but that's how my mum always made it for us, and it's a tradition worth keeping. Serves 3-4 Ingredients 3 tbsp vegetable oil 250g easy-cook long-grain rice 1 tsp garlic granules 350ml chicken stock 1 onion, chopped 200g raw king prawns, peeled 3 hot dog sausages 250g frozen vegetables (a mix of peas, sweetcorn and carrots) 1 chicken stock cube 2 tsp dried thyme 3 tsp hot curry powder Salt Method 1) Heat 11⁄2 tablespoons of the oil in a large pot. Check if it's hot enough by tossing in a few grains of rice – if they sizzle, you're good to go. Add all the rice and the garlic granules and toast, stirring, for 3–5 minutes until the rice starts to smell nutty. Pour in the stock, then reduce the heat, cover with a lid and cook gently for about 20–25 minutes, or until the rice is tender. 2) Meanwhile, heat a little more of the oil in a separate pot, add the onion and cook until softened. Add the hot dog sausages and the king prawns. Cook until the prawns just turn pink, then quickly remove the prawns with a slotted spoon and set aside. 3) Add the frozen vegetables to the onion in the pan and cook for 3–5 minutes until any water has evaporated. Crumble in the chicken stock cube and add the thyme and curry powder, stirring well. 4) Return the cooked rice to the pot, mixing it thoroughly with the seasoned vegetables. Season with salt to taste, cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 20–25 minutes to allow all the flavours to meld. 5) Fold the prawns into the rice just before serving, for that final touch. Earl Grey Tres Leches Cake The ultimate cup of tea, in my opinion, is Earl Grey. When I lived up in Leeds, I wouldn't go a day without having at least three cups – nothing else would do. Now that I'm back in the Midlands, I've scaled down to two, but I'm loyal to Earl Grey, no exceptions. During a trip to New York, I stumbled across tres leches cake, and it's been love ever since. There's something magical about the way these two pair together – the fragrant, slightly citrusy notes of the Earl Grey cut through the richness of the tres leches (three types of milk). It's not overly sweet and the double cream on top gives it just the right balance. Absolute perfection. Makes 12 slices Ingredients 240ml milk 4 Earl Grey tea bags 100g unsalted butter, melted 100ml vegetable oil 300g golden caster sugar 4 eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract 360g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 1⁄2 tsp salt For the Earl Grey leche 150ml canned evaporated milk 150ml sweetened condensed milk 2 Earl Grey teabags For the cream topping 600ml double cream 1 tbsp vanilla paste 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional) Method 1) Start with the sponge. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until warm, then remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Let them steep for 10–15 minutes, then discard the tea bags and allow the milk to cool slightly. 2) Preheat your oven to 180°C fan. Grease a 20 × 30cm baking tin and line with baking paper. 3) In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, infused milk, oil and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one by one, followed by the vanilla paste. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, then gradually fold in to the wet mixture. 4) Pour the batter into the prepared tin, smooth the top and slightly bang the tray to ensure all the air bubbles are removed. Bake for 20–25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. 5) Remove from the oven and let the cake cool slightly, then poke small holes with a fork across the surface to allow the milk mixture to soak in later. 6) To make the Earl Grey leche, heat the evaporated milk and condensed milk in a small saucepan until warm – you should be able to dip your finger in and it is not hot. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags and let them steep for 10 minutes, then discard the tea bags and allow the leche to cool. Pour the mixture over the cake, making sure it seeps into the holes, then refrigerate the cake for at least a couple of hours, or preferably overnight. 7) When ready to serve, make the cream topping. Whip together the cream and vanilla paste in a bowl, then spread or pipe evenly over the top of the cake. Sprinkle with the cinnamon, if desired, and enjoy!


Metro
01-07-2025
- Metro
BBC addresses fury after legendary band's final gig wasn't filmed at Glastonbury
The BBC has responded to upset fans of The Searchers after at-home Glastonbury viewers were unable to stream their final ever gig. The Liverpool-based rock group, which grew to fame in the 60s with hits like their cover of Sweets for My Sweet and Goodbye My Love, wrapped up a successful seven-decade-long career at this year's Worthy Farm festival. Formed by Mike Pender and John McNally, the music group is known as the 'longest running band in pop history'. The band – also made up of Frank Allen, Spencer James, and Richie Burns – performed on the Acoustic Stage on June 27 with a packed audience, including Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney. However, for longtime fans unable to make it to the five-day music event, many expressed their anger over the set not being available to livestream or catch up on via the BBC. 'Yesterday musical history was made at Glastonbury when the legendary Searchers played their final ever gig. They are pop aristocracy. Yet the BBC didn't record, show or stream it,' Gerry Hassan wrote on X. 'I spent 7 hrs scrolling through Glasto footage searching for the Searchers. Not shown after all the publicity,' pembox17 added. 'The Searchers were great but BBC didn't show them,' roy clough echoed. 'Gutted BBC couldn't be bothered to record or broadcast the Searchers at Glastonbury. They were top of my to see list!' Christine Monk said. 'BBC, so many fans are gutted we didn't get to see The Searchers' final ever performance at Glastonbury. Please air the Acoustic Stage set or let us know why it wasn't shown. A legendary farewell like this deserves to be seen,' Richard Brown added. A BBC spokesperson shared a statement explaining the absence of the highly-anticpated gig on iPlayer. 'We've celebrated The Searchers on the BBC with interviews with the band but unfortunately, the Acoustic Stage is an area we haven't been able to have cameras in throughout the years.' Ahead of their Glastonbury debut which also doubled as their farewell gig, McNally wrote: 'A Glastonbury debut at 83, can anyone top that? I don't think life gets any better, does it? 'There will be a few nerves, but in a good way, and we'll be nicely warmed up from our shows in June. We can't wait to see our fans again for this incredible final farewell.' Meanwhile, bassist and singer Allen added: 'I have played shows across the world with The Searchers for over 60 years; Glastonbury has always been an ambition that has eluded us – until now. 'The Searchers are finally performing at the greatest music festival of them all. "We're saying goodbye to each other at the end, not just the crowd."The Searchers bassist and singer Frank Allen speaks to @katierazz ahead of their Glastonbury debut, which will end nearly 70 years of touring by the band.#BBCPM — BBC Radio 4 PM (@BBCPM) June 24, 2025 'What a way to round off a tour and a career. I can't wait to get up on stage and give our fans one final blast.' In an interview with BBC's Katie Razzall, Allen explained why the group had decided to finally retire. 'We've tried to stop four times so far… we tried to stop in 2019 basically because the fun had gone out of the whole thing and we all needed a rest, certainly from each other. 'We thought that was it but then after four years we'd all settled down and calmed ourselves and we were talking into doing a thank you tour which turned out to be one of the most joyous things we've ever done,' he explained. After being convinced to carry on touring for a while longer, they got ready to lay the mics down once more when an offer they couldn't refuse came in – playing Glastonbury. Reflecting on the 'emotional' end to their 68-year-long career, Allen added: 'We're saying goodbye to each other at the end, not just the crowd.' This year's BBC Glastonbury coverage has been under scrutiny for more than one reason. More Trending Earlier this week, the national broadcaster released a statement after it failed to pull the livestream for group Bob Vylan who ended their set with a series of chants including 'free Palestine' and 'death to the IDF'. The duo's performance was just ahead of Irish rap group Kneecap whose set was pre-emptively pulled from the BBC livestream but an edited version is available to watch on catch-up. Both performances are now under UK police investigation. Glastonbury 2025 performances are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: 80s music icon almost cancelled long-overdue Glastonbury debut over hearing fears MORE: BBC Play School presenter Donald Macdonald dies aged 86 MORE: Women's Euro 2025 TV channel schedule: How to watch every game in the UK


Scottish Sun
30-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Glastonbury fans FUMING as legendary band's final ever festival performance isn't filmed by BBC
It was soon revealed why the BBC did not broadcast their performance lost gig Glastonbury fans FUMING as legendary band's final ever festival performance isn't filmed by BBC GLASTONBURY fans have been left bitterly disappointed as the BBC failed to film one major performance. Iconic band The Searchers performed their final ever gig over the weekend after 70 years of touring across the globe. 3 The Searchers played their final ever gig on Fridat at Glastonbury Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 But it wasn't filmed or aired by the BBC Credit: Shutterstock Editorial It was a momentous occasion for the band and fans were left over-the-moon that they would get to perform at the country's biggest festival in order to bring their touring career to a close. However, many viewers were left stunned to discover that the Friday night set would not be broadcast by the BBC. The band were due to perform on the Acoustic Stage between 8pm and 9pm. But fans hoping to catch it live streamed on the BBC iPlayer were left fuming when they discovered that there was no dedicated stream for performances on the Acoustic Stage. Reacting in disbelief, one unhappy fan said online: "Surely The Searchers should be on one of the feeds live, last ever show." Before another questioned: "Will the BBC show The Searchers set??" The BBC went on to clarify why they would not be broadcasting the group's final ever gig in a statement. A BBC spokesperson said: "We've celebrated The Searchers on the BBC with interviews with the band but unfortunately the Acoustic Stage is an area we haven't been able to have cameras in throughout the years." Sir Paul McCartney was one of the revellers who was spotted in the crowd for the band's final gig. The Searchers had long been associated with popular Liverpool music venue The Cavern Club - the same club which gave The Beatles their start in the music industry. Rod Stewart surprises Glastonbury fans with THREE huge guests during hit-packed legends slot Ahead of the gig, one of the band's members, Frank Allen, spoke out to share his excitement at appearing at the festival for the very first time in order to close out their momentous career. He said: "I have played shows across the world with The Searchers for over 60 years; Glastonbury has always been an ambition that has eluded us – until now. "The Searchers are finally performing at the greatest music festival of them all. "What a way to round off a tour and a career. I can't wait to get up on stage and give our fans one final blast." Glastonbury 2025 - confirmed acts so far TICKETS to the 2025 festival sold out in just minutes before some of the acts were even confirmed. Here is who has been confirmed so far. Confirmed headliners: The 1975 will take to the Pyramid Stage on Friday. Neil Young will headline the festival for the second time after his last set in 2009 on Saturday after RAYE makes her return. Charli xcx will headline the Other Stage on Saturday night. On Sunday, Olivia Rodrigo is due to belt out her hits for her first appearance while Rod Stewart will perform in the legends slot. More acts to appear on the Other Stage include Loyle Carner and The Prodigy. Doechii will make her Glastonbury debut on the West Holts Stage on Saturday night. Other names confirmed include Noah Kahan, Alanis Morissette, Gracie Abrams, Busta Rhymes, Lola Young, Brandi Carlile, Myles Smith, En Vogue, Amaarae, Cymande, Shaboozey, Osees and Gary Numan.