The delays and problems at Heathrow airport yesterday caused chaos for the first day of Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Derry, Londonderry.
Angel Haze and AlunaGeorge had to pull out of the event after their flights to Londonderry were disrupted, while Rudimental had been expected to cancel, but was heavily delayed instead.
Meanwhile The Mirror reports that the BBC had to use public funds to pay for artists to be bused to Birmingham and then flown on special flights to get them to the venue in this time. It included one of the main stars of the night, Rita Ora (left) who tweeted she stranded at the airport. 
In a statement, the Corporation told the newspaper: “Due to travel disruption at Heathrow today, resulting in the cancelling of all flights from London, alternative arrangements had to be made which included an additional flight from Birmingham for Radio 1 artists and other music industry representatives.
“This was the only way to deliver the best show possible for our audiences and was also cheaper than any alternatives.
“However we will be recovering costs for the cancelled flights.”
But not all were happy with the alternative arrangements. Radio 1 DJs tweeted their frustration at the delays, after many arrived late in the evening after most of the artists had performed:
The Radio 1 DJs have just touched down in Belfast. Only a bloody day later… I missed @calvinharris set. I am raging. Absolutely fuming. — Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) May 24, 2013
Jameela should know better. You’ll never miss a moment watching coverage on your mobile.
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