Reading & Leeds Festivals have announced The Libertines as the final of this year’s Main Stage headliners! In an exclusive video message, Peter Doherty said: “I’ve just woken up and I can’t stop thinking about playing at Reading & Leeds.”

John Hassall said: "Really excited to be playing Reading and Leeds this year. There is a great vibe in the band and we should be doing some new songs too. So it'll be the best Reading and Leeds ever!”

Gary Powell said: "We are all extremely happy to be playing Reading and Leeds this year. As Reading and Leeds was the festival that graciously allowed us to perform back in 2010 at our first attempt at reforming, and the audience were amazing in their reception of us, it seems only right that we go back to the scene of the crime and do our best to not only replicate what we did back then - but do better, for the fans and friends we have met along the way. Here’s wishing 'us all' luck come R&L. We’ve all got a lot of work to do!!!!I for one am excited for the challenge and looking forward to seeing everybody!"

Festival boss Melvin Benn comments: “What a band to announce as our third headliner. The Libertines are part of the Reading & Leeds family and I can’t wait for the boys to walk on to our Main Stages in their rightful place at the top of the bill.

“I’m excited to announce over 50 other phenomenally talented acts today who will bring amazing performances for our fans. I really think we’ve got the ultimate line-up this year. Where else can you see Kendrick Lamar on the same day as Deadmau5 and Years & Years, or Marmozets on the same day as Azealia Banks or Metallica, or All Time Low on the same day as Knife Party or Mumford & Sons!

“It’s almost exactly six months to the Festivals and I already can’t wait until August Bank Holiday weekend.

"Having spent some time reviewing the ticket price and talking to people about it I felt that where we had got to with the day price was too high and once I really examined it decided to go the whole hog and reduce it to £59.50. However, anyone thinking it’s a way to get the weekend including camping cheaper will be disappointed. It will not give access to the campsite as I'm creating new entrances for day ticket holders. It’s still great though for those that don't want to camp."

Over fifty further names are also revealed today, joining artists already announced for the Festivals including Main Stage headliners Mumford & Sons and Metallica. The new acts added include: All Time Low, Bring Me The Horizon, Kendrick Lamar, The Maccabees, Knife Party, Limp Bizkit, Tyler, The Creator, Swim Deep, Everything Everything, Jamie XX, Boy Better Know, Camo & Krooked, Hudson Mohawke, New Found Glory, Mastodon, Cancer Bats, Django Django, The Wombats, Frank Turner, Ash, A$AP Ferg, Flatbush Zombies, Azealia Banks, Lethal Bizzle, Stormzy and tonnes more!

ebut R&L performance alongside MOBO Award ‘Best Grime Act’ and BBC Sound Of runner up Stormzy. Brotherly hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd are also announced today.

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