Elton John's Glastonbury set smashes viewing records to become most watched of all time

27 June 2023, 11:47 | Updated: 27 June 2023, 12:01

The legendary singer-songwriter played what was billed as his final UK show, closing the festival on Sunday 15th June.

Sir Elton John's headline Glastonbury set has become the most viewed of all time.

The legendary piano man's bill-topping gig marked his last ever UK show and brought record crowds to the Pyramid Stage as well as TV screens at home.

According to the The Independent, data on overnights.tv says the set was watched by 7.6 million viewers across the BBC, tripling Paul McCartney's headline set last year - which was then the most-viewed set in the festival's history.

It is also thought (via The Telegraph) that an estimated 120,000 fans watched Elton in person at the iconic Pyramid Stage.

Arctic Monkeys and Guns N'Roses, who headlined the festival on the Friday and Saturday night attracted 1 million and 1.5 million viewers respectively.

READ MORE - Elton John plays last ever UK show as he headlines Glastonbury 2023: full setlist

As promised, the 76-year-old legend's Glastonbury show saw him deliver a completely new setlist for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour and introduce surprise guests on stage.

The first of Elton's much-rumoured special guests of the evening was Jacob Lusk of the trio Gabriels, joined by the London Community Gospel Choir who accompanied him on the classic 1979 track Are You Ready For Love?

His second guest was American singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez, who joined the star for a version of his own song Until I Found You.

Third up was The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, who joined the star for a rousing rendition of Tiny Dancer.

The fourth and final special guest was Rina Sawayama, who joined Elton for the 1976 No 1 hit Don't Go Breaking My Heart, which originally saw him duet with Kiki Dee. Sawayama had previously collaborated with Sir Elton on the 2021 song Chosen Family.

See Elton John's Glastonbury setlist on Sunday 25th June 2023:

• Pinball Wizard
• The Bitch Is Back
• Bennie And The Jets
• Daniel
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
• I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
• Philadelphia Freedom
• Are You Ready For Love? (with Jacob Lusk and the London Community Gospel Choir)
• Sad Songs Say So Much (with the London Community Gospel Choir)
• Someone Saved My Life Tonight
• Until I Found You (with Stephen Sanchez)
• Your Song
• Candle In The Wind
• Tiny Dancer (with Brandon Flowers of The Killers)
• Don't Go Breaking My Heart (with Rina Sawayama)
• Crocodile Rock
• Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
• I'm Still Standing
• Cold Heart
• Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
• Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)