The rock band, best known for their hit song “Mr Blue Sky”, was due to perform on Thursday night (10 July) at Manchester’s Co-Op Live but cancelled at the last minute due to “illness”. It comes days before their sold-out headline slot at the London music festival on Sunday, which has been described by the organisers as their final “goodbye”.

After cancelling the gig minutes before curtain up, all eyes now turn to the band's planned Hyde Park finale on Sunday

Jeff Lynne's ELO concert at Co Op Live Arena was called off just before it was due to start. Fans said they were told the performance would not be going ahead just before the band was due to take to the stage. In a statement posted on X, Jeff Lynne's ELO page said the show had been cancelled "due to illness".