Stormzy shrugs off Glastonbury Festival critics: 'I am really going to mash it up!'

Stormzy has said he is ready to defy his critics and “mash up” Glastonbury Festival.

The London-born grime artist will headline the iconic Pyramid Stage when the music bonanza returns to Worthy Farm next weekend following a fallow year.

The artist, real name Michael Omari, faced a backlash from festival goers who criticised the decision to pick an artist with only one album under their belt as a headline act.

But Stormzy appears unfazed, telling Graham Norton: “It is the honour of a lifetime. It’s incredible and I am really going to mash it up!”

The Vossi Bop star joined Norton on his famous red sofa after performing Crown, to talk about meeting Sir Paul McCartney.

“I am working all the time on being respected as a song writer, so I asked his advice,” he said. “He led me to a piano and started telling me how to use chords. It was an incredible experience, but I left it too late to tell him I can’t play the piano!”

Stormzy, who recently performed a secret gig aboard a barge on the River Thames, previously addressed his critics after some branded his headline announcement “utterly embarrassing” as he is not “big enough”.

Speaking to ELLE he said the argument “doesn’t even deserve the fuel”.

“I get it. Only one album, where’s all the number ones? But I think the argument doesn’t even deserve the fuel,” he said. “When 28 June comes, either everyone will be proved right or wrong, but I am the headliner and I will come and give you a headline performance.

“I can’t wait. I’ve got mad underdog syndrome, but I got confidence, too. I feel like I have so much to prove, but at the end of the day, I’m Stormzy – and I’m meant to be here.”

He will be the first grime MC to headline the famous festival, over a year on from his BRIT award winning album Gang Signs and Prayers.

He previously performed on the Other Stage in 2017.

Glastonbury takes place from June 26-30. The Graham Norton Show is on BBC One, Friday at 10:35pm.