Zoe Ball pulls out of coronation concert last minute
Topics: Coronation, King Charles III, UK News, Music
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: WENN Rights Ltd / PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: Coronation, King Charles III, UK News, Music
Following King Charles' coronation yesterday at Westminster Abbey, attention has now turn to the concert taking place this evening (7 May).
As yesterday was a true royal infusion, the BBC will be probably hoping that the coronation concert lives up to its name with the slew of big names they have in the lineup.
However, the show has been hit with last-minute cancellations from acts who were due to appear at the event on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
On Friday (5 May), it was announced that singer-songwriter Freya Ridings had pulled out of the concert due to feeling unwell.
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Ridings was actually one of the first acts to be confirmed for the concert, though she will not be appearing at Windsor Castle tonight.
The BBC have managed to replace the singer with Zak Abel, who has has collaborated with the likes of Gorgon City and Kygo in the past.
"I am honoured and overwhelmed to be included in the coronation celebrations," Abel said.
"To have the opportunity to be part of such a historic moment is something I will forever be humbled by and will never forget."
But now - just hours before the coronation concert is set to get underway - Zoe Ball has also announced she will not be present this evening.
The radio presenter, who was set to be covering the concert, has said she is bed-bound instead of heading to Windsor.
Taking to Twitter, she wrote: "Absolutely gutted… the sickness bug has got me."
Balls added that her Radio 2 colleagues Scott Mills and Dermot O'Leary would be fronting the broadcast, adding: "I’m heading back to bed."
Despite the last-minute cancelations, this evening is still shaping up to be a great night of entertainment at Windsor Castle.
To celebrate the crowing of the King and the Queen, 20,000 members of the public and specially invited guests will all flock to Windsor for the concert.
The likes of Katy Perry, Take That, Lionel Richie, Paloma Faith, Nicole Scherzinger, Andrea Bocelli and Olly Murs will all perform on-stage this evening.
And members of the Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Art also complete the lineup.
Meanwhile, pre-recorded sketches from Tom Cruise and Bear Grylls will also be shown, with the pair reciting little-known facts about the monarchy.
The concert will air on BBC One and BBC Radio 2 from 8pm this evening.