Jeff Lynne makes huge announcement after cancelling ELO gig last minute over illness

Jeff Lynne has confirmed he and the rest of ELO are expected to perform at BST Hyde Parkas planned this weekend, which will be welcome news to concerned fans. The Mr Bluesky band was set to perform in Manchester on Thursday evening (July 10) but had to pull out of the gig at the last minute due to "illness", leaving fans devastated. It came a matter of days before their headline slot at Hyde Park, which organisers have described as the band's "final goodbye" after decades of performing.

However, a spokesperson for the festival has reassured fans that ELO's concert is due to go ahead this Sunday in London. They said: "As reported, Jeff Lynne was unwell and unable to perform on Thursday, July 10. We are advised that there are currently no concerns with regard to Sunday's performance."

There was no mention of Jeff's health, but the 77-year-old took to X on Thursday to announce the Manchester show had to be cancelled "due to illness".

A statement on the band's X page read: "Unfortunately, due to illness, tonight's scheduled performance of Jeff Lynne's ELO at the Co-op Live will not be going ahead. Jeff is devastated that he cannot perform this evening.

"More information will be available as soon as possible. For refunds, please go to your point of purchase," the statement continued.

The post caused concern, and one fan who attended an ELO concert earlier this week claimed Jeff had injured his hand and sounded "shaky".

They told The Mirror: "At the start of the set, he came on and couldn't play the guitar because he had injured his hand. He sounded shaky to begin with, but his singing and energy picked up and were great until the last 10 minutes of the show.

"A chair was brought onto the stage and he had to sit down to sing the last few songs. he appeared to be unsteady on his feet at the end and was helped off the stage by staff."

ELO has been performing since the 1970s, when Jeff and keyboardist Roy Wood founded the band in Birmingham. Roy later left the band to form his own group, Wizzard.

He was replaced by Richard Tandy, who performed until he died last year at the age of 76.