Eavis 'handing over Glastonbury in 2011'

Rex Features

Michael Eavis has said that he will hand over control of the Glastonbury Festival to his daughter Emily and her fiancé after 2011.

The 73-year-old farmer and organiser had previously pledged to keep running the event until his 80th birthday but told The Guardian that he would make way sooner.

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."

He added that this year's headliners, Neil Young, Blur and Bruce Springsteen, were "thoroughly, thoroughly predictable" but would please traditional festival-goers.

Eavis confirmed that last year's controversial headliner Jay-Z was chosen by Emily after his preferred choice of Radiohead fell through.

"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," he said.