Reading Festival ‘infested with earwigs’ forcing revellers to ‘empty tents’ and panicked parents to beg for advice

FAMOUS faces from Posh and Becks to Louis Tomllinson and Charli XCX were out and about at Reading & Leeds Festival over the weekend. But it wasn’t just celebrities swarming the fields — as a suspected invasion of beetle-like earwigs at the Reading site had worried parents up in arms. A creepy crawly invasion has hit Reading Festival Credit: PA David and Victoria Beckham backstage after their son Cruz played The Canopy stage with his band The Breakers Credit: Alamy One mum who’d packed her kid off there wrote on the festival’s community Facebook page: “Daughter had earwig infestation in her tent last night, had to empty the tent early hours. Anywhere onsite sell bug killer they can get?” Another added: “My son has messaged to say his tent is infested with woodlice and earwigs everywhere . . . any ideas what he can do?” Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! I’d suggest cracking open another tinny and getting on with it, for starters. This weekend’s line-up — which saw Dave, Raye and Sombr playing The Grid main stage at Leeds last night and Chase & Status, Loyle Carner and Florence And The Machine lead the way in Reading — was one of the best we’ve seen in years. I spotted former One Direction star Louis hanging out with his mates in the VIP area backstage in Reading. “It’s great to be here”, he told me as he downed a relatively cool pint. “I’m not doing any work, I’m just here to enjoy the vibe.” David and Victoria Beckham, alongside their kids Romeo and Harper, were also spotted hanging out backstage after their son Cruz played The Canopy stage with his band The Breakers. Most read in Showbiz Florence And The Machine lead the way in Reading Credit: Getty Charli XCX on stage at the music festival Credit: PA Cruz also played Leeds yesterday, where he mocked grumbles over gig slots for so-called nepo babies, joking: “Welcome to the nepo stage! Let’s have a good time.” After his Reading performance, one of my insiders told me: “David and Victoria were so proud of Cruz. “After his gig, they all went back to see him and they were all celebrating together. “Cruz didn’t hang about for long as he had to head to Leeds last night to play there. “David and Victoria headed off soon after.” Maybe they heard about the earwigs, too. GENE IS REAL DEAL Liam Gallagher’s son Gene performing Credit: Click News and Media HE might get dismissed as a nepo baby, but Gene Gallagher is a rock star in the making. The youngest son of Oasis rocker Liam played the Canopy stage at Reading with all guns blazing. His three-piece band Villanelle, with Gene on vocals and rhythm guitar, Ben Taylor on lead guitar and Jack Schiavo on bass, have carved out their grunge-infused rock sound to impressive effect. Despite the pressure on their shoulders, the band didn’t crack and smashed their way through tracks including Hinge, Opportunity Arising, Measly Means and Placebo. Their debut set at Leeds also went down a storm with punters, who packed out the Canopy tent to watch them in action. The band also gave fans a taste of what is to come by playing unreleased track Some Chew Lip, which is due out next month. As a frontman, Gene is unfailingly likeable and thanked the crowd after every single song. Before playing their final track, Gene told fans: “Thank you all for coming. We thought it would be empty.” With their talent, I don’t think that’s ever going to be the case. MIXING IT UP, JADE Jade Thirlwall performs on The Grid Stage at Reading Credit: Avalon.red Jade proved you can take the girl out of Little Mix – but you can’t take Little Mix out of the girl at Reading Credit: Avalon.red Jade brought a huge dose of nostalgia to her set as she paid tribute to her former bandmates during her first ever appearance at the festival Credit: Avalon.red JADE THIRLWALL proved you can take the girl out of Little Mix – but you can’t take Little Mix out of the girl at Reading. The singer brought a huge dose of nostalgia to her set as she paid tribute to her former bandmates during her first ever appearance at the festival. She told the rain-soaked crowd: “I used to be in a girl band and I am really very proud to come from Little Mix. “We never got to do Reading or Leeds. We didn’t get to do many festivals. “This feels like a very special moment for me, to be out here on my own, doing my own music and doing these shows.” She honoured the group with a medley of their hits, including Touch, Salute, Power, Woman Like Me and Shout Out To My Ex, before adding: “This has been on my bucket list for a very long time, so I am really honoured to be on stage today.” She then joked about the atrocious weather, saying: “I know it is p**sing down so thanks very much for showing up and being here today. “I’m glad the hat stayed on and I might not even bother putting it back on. “I am going to have hat hair for my first ever Reading.” Jade also used her set as an opportunity to clap back at revellers who had moaned about her slot. Before performing a rendition of The Way You Talk About Me, Jade said: “Shout out to any haters in the audience today. “I hope you feel seen. This is for you.” Nicely done, Jade. LOLA YOUNG returned to the Reading stage for a surprise special guest performance yesterday afternoon, after the Messy singer was forced to pull out last year. DAVE had the best surprise guests during his headline set at Reading, bringing out Central Cee and Kano to join him. James Blake was also on hand to sing Both Sides Of A Smile, from Dave’s brilliant 2021 album, We’re All Alone In This Together. BETH: I’VE FOUND MY VOICE Beth McCarthy has more than earned her stripes now after making her debut on Reading’s main stage Credit: Getty SHE was first seen on The Voice UK in 2014, but Beth McCarthy has more than earned her stripes now after making her debut on Reading’s main stage. “It’s one of those pinch-me moments,” she said backstage. “I’ve done all the tiny venues and played to five people in pubs who don’t care about me.” Beth, who was just 16 when she was coached by Ricky Wilson on the BBC show, said she has a lot to thank the Kaiser Chiefs frontman for. “He was amazing and so supportive,” she said. “What inspires me is how he performs – and he is the king of being a frontman.” Beth, who will release her new single Petty Villain this Friday, teased her new era and said the song would be “very different”, adding: “It’s a lot darker.” SOMBR is lining up another huge UK gig after playing The Grid at Leeds Festival yesterday. The Back To Friends star will make his debut at London’s O2 next summer as part of the venue’s 20th anniversary celebrations. Other artists due to perform include Jorja Smith and Maisie Peters. DJ UNITES RAVERS & ROCKERS DJ Josh Baker didn’t show any signs of fatigue as he played a killer set at Leeds last night Credit: Instagram/@joshbaker FRESH from two back-to-back shows at Reading and Creamfields, DJ Josh Baker didn’t show any signs of fatigue as he played a killer set at Leeds last night. Josh, who has new EP Breaking Point, told me: “I never really thought I’d play Reading and Leeds. “It just shows you the growth of whatever genre I play of house music.” The Mancunian added: “There’s still very much an ongoing kind of topic of discussion around Reading, which is about getting away from being a rock festival and, controversially, I hear that. “But the bookings are insane for both genres. “I think there’s a world in which it can all live.” Olivia Rodrigo raised $20million for women’s charities with her Daisy Chain Fields festival in California Credit: Splash OLIVIA RODRIGO raised $20million for women’s charities with her Daisy Chain Fields festival in California . Acts including Chappell Roan, Doechii and Garbage waived their performance fees for the inaugural fundraiser, which supports ten not-for-profit organisations. Olivia, announced they had raised $10million on Saturday, before Melinda French Gates, the ex-wife of Microsoft founder Bill, matched the donation. Melinda said: “I was so inspired by Olivia’s vision, which is why I couldn’t be prouder to contribute.” Olivia added: “Daisy Chain Fields was created to celebrate the power of what can happen when we come together to support one another. “The organisations we’ve partnered with are doing incredibly important work every single day.” That’s the Raye to do it Raye turned her headline shows into a family affair at Reading and Leeds Credit: Getty Raye inviting her sisters Absolutely and Amma to join her in singing their collaborative track Joy Credit: Getty RAYE turned her headline shows into a family affair at Reading and Leeds, inviting her sisters Absolutely and Amma to join her in singing their collaborative track Joy. We later spotted the Escapism singer trying – and failing – to blend into the crowd when she was supporting Absolutely’s set from the side of the stage at The Grid. One onlooker said: “Raye was grinning from ear to ear as she watched Absolutely. “You could see how proud she was and how much she was getting behind her performance.” HARRY STYLES – Madison Square Garden ★★★★☆ Harry Styles at New York’s Madison Square Credit: Anthony Pham SMACKING his face on his microphone at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, Harry Styles’ record-breaking 30-night residency was almost over before it began. But despite being heard muttering “I almost knocked my teeth out” under his breath, it didn’t stop him tearing the roof off the arena in front of the 18,000-strong crowd. Looking every inch the new John Travolta, Harry harnessed all the energy of Manhattan to give a performance of legendary status, dishing out a re-ordered, amped-up setlist from previous dates on his Together, Together tour. Whether youngsters in the sold-out audience in what must be one of the world’s greatest venues got the nods to indie-dance anthems such as Born Slippy or Daft Punk Is Playing At My House is another thing. But it didn’t matter as Harry tore through high-energy opener Dance No More before launching into Music For a Sushi Restaurant, Adore You and, of course, Watermelon Sugar. In a touching moment, Harry also seemed to reflect on the death of Liam Payne, telling fans: “The last few years have been a reminder of how beautiful and difficult, at times, and inspiring and how fragile life can be.”Harry is a must-watch. MARC BAKER THE WEEK IN BIZNESS TOMORROW: Ariana Grande performs the final night of her Eternal Sunshine Tour, ending her ten-date residency at London’s O2 and beginning her break from the public eye. WEDNESDAY: Guy Ritchie, Theo James, Kaya Scodelario and Maya Jama will be at the world premiere of The Gentlemen series two in London, ahead of the show’s launch on Netflix on Thursday. THURSDAY: New thriller The Death Of Robin Hood, starring Hugh Jackman as the ageing outlaw alongside Jodie Comer, hits cinemas. FRIDAY: Jay-Z returns to the UK for his first solo shows in 13 years and Kasabian drop their new album, Act III. Comment now