Michael Eavis To Pass Glastonbury Helm To Daughter Emily In 2011

Michael Eavis has confirmed that after four decades of hard work he's ready to pass on the Glastonbury mantle to his daughter Emily.

In an interview with The Guardian, the 73-year-old said he expected to undertake “two more full years” at the helm taking the festival through to 2011.

He had previously vowed to continue until he was aged 80 in 2015.

The dairy farmer confirmed that the handing over process to his daughter Emily and her fiancée Nick Dewey is well under way, even down to where they live.  

Eavis said: "I'm living on top of the hill now, away from the farm. So (Emily's) taking over the house, which is nice. A new generation of Eavises can live here."

"I still feel I have an important role to play. Even if I go I'll worry about the drains, the rubbish, the recycling. There will be a gradual process of her and Nick taking it over."

Elsewhere in the interview, Eavis said that he only booked Jay-Z to play Glastonbury 2008 after his preferred act Radiohead fell through.

Had he not booked Jay-Z at his daughter's advice, Eavis admits the festival may have had to have been cancelled: "It was either that or cancel the show.

"I knew she had sensible ideas so I had to go with that. It was the last throw of the dice for me. We either throw the dice or abandon the festival."

Glastonbury 2008 in photos: