Broadcaster Lauren Laverne, singer Mahalia, Michael Cragg and Laura Snapes recall the magic, the weirdness and the sheer horror of their trips to Worthy Farm
I first went to Glastonbury to play in a band [Kenickie], then with friends, and then for work. I’ve covered each event since 2002 and it’s a huge privilege to bring the festival into people’s homes. Glastonbury has shaped my life. I went from staying up all night to cutting my teeth on my first live broadcast with John Peel. He had skinned his knees rushing back after watching Kanda Bongo Man. I made a cheeky remark and he said: “You’re made for this shit, aren’t you?” Callow youth that I was, I took it as an enormous compliment. Now that I’m 44, I can see that it may have been more of a comment on showbiz. But I thought that, since he thought I was good (and he knew everything), I had better make a go of this new job – and I’m very glad I did.
