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• Performance to take place on Saturday 30 October at the Roundhouse, London
• A Night With Neil Diamond on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two on Saturday 13 November

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ today announces Neil Diamond as the third and final headline act to perform at this year's Radio 2 Electric Proms.

The singer-songwriter, who has sold over 128million records in a career that has spanned five decades, is lined up to create his very own new moments in music at the closing night of the R2 Electric Proms 2010.

R2 Electric Proms: Neil Diamond will showcase this incredible performer in the intimate surroundings of the Roundhouse in London. Best known for writing and performing classic songs like I'm A Believer, Sweet Caroline and I Am... I Said, Diamond will perform live tracks, for the first time, from his forthcoming album which features some of the greatest songs of the rock era. This new album follows the release of Home Before Dark in 2008, which was Neil's second number one album in the UK, selling over 350,000 copies, as well as reaching the top spot in the Billboard Hot 100 in America.

Neil Diamond said: "I'm trying to make it special. I want to do some songs from my new album, as I've never done those particular songs in public before... Of course I'll throw in a bunch of favourites and hope those can be brought off well and generally just try to have a good time and I hope the audience enjoy the show."

Diamond's Electric Proms performance will be broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two on Saturday 13 November as part of A Night With Neil Diamond, a night dedicated to highlighting Diamond's music heritage and influences. A new, exclusive documentary will also be broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two which will showcase Diamond's prolific and rich music career and feature an interview with the man himself.

Janice Hadlow, Controller, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two, comments: "The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has a rich heritage in producing memorable music television and radio, and the stellar line-up of this year's Radio 2 Electric Proms promises to continue this world renowned tradition. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two's exclusive documentaries profiling Sir Elton John, Robert Plant and Neil Diamond coupled with the highlights of their live performances, will give viewers three very special nights of music programming."

Now celebrating its fifth birthday, the Electric Proms was created by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ to create new moments in music by inviting legendary artists to present one-off collaborations and performances. Past artists who have performed include Sir Paul McCartney featuring a rendition of Eleanor Rigby with a string quartet; Dame Shirley Bassey with guest appearances by James Dean Bradfield and Richard Hawley; Burt Bacharach with a guest appearance by Jamie Cullum; Oasis with the Crouch End Festival Chorus; and Doves with the London Bulgarian Choir. Now one of the UK's most eagerly anticipated live music festivals, Radio 2 is producing the festival for the first time.

The final line up for the 2010 Radio 2 Electric Proms is now confirmed as:

Thursday 28 October – Sir Elton John with Leon Russell, Rumer and Plan B
Friday 29 October – Robert Plant with Band of Joy and the London Oriana Choir
Saturday 30 October – Neil Diamond

Jeff Smith, Head of Music, Radio 2 and 6 Music, said: "It's the first year of Radio 2's Electric Proms so I wanted to make sure we represented the music and musicians of our listeners' lives and with Neil Diamond we have the perfect finale. Neil Diamond joins Sir Elton John and Robert Plant to form a triumvirate of the finest rock and pop musicians whose songs sum up Radio 2's love of timeless and melodic music. These three Radio 2 core artists will effectively curate an evening each and I'm sure the brilliant ideas these artists have for their respective nights will remain true to the established ethic of the Electric Proms and give music fans in the hall, those listening on Radio 2 and those watching ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two a real treat."

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ brings the best live music across TV, radio and online to audiences all year round, from major festival coverage at events like Glastonbury, T in the Park and Radio 1's Big Weekend to strands including Later…With Jools Holland and The Culture Show.

Special live music moments throughout 2010 have included The Mercury Music Prize broadcast last week on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two and 6 Music, and this year's record-breaking Proms season.

Tickets for the R2 Electric Proms will go on sale this week – stay tuned to Radio 2 for further details. Music fans can also sign up to the R2 Events newsletter via to receive further Electric Proms updates.

Audiences are guaranteed to see and hear something truly memorable at the R2 Electric Proms whether at the venue, watching on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two on subsequent Saturdays, listening to Radio 2, tuning in online and interacting with red button technology or on mobile.

Notes to Editors

Last year over 2,560,000 people watched the Electric Proms on Red Button and there were over 236,260 visitors to the Electric Proms website in the event week.

Radio 2 Electric Proms on the ´óÏó´«Ã½

The festival can be viewed and watched via a number of different platforms on the ´óÏó´«Ã½:

Radio – there will be live and recorded broadcasts from all areas of the festival on Radio 2 each night of the event

TV – R2 Electric Proms: Neil Diamond will be broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two on Saturday 13 November along with A Night With Neil Diamond – a documentary featuring an exclusive interview and highlighting the artist's musical history, career highlights and influences.

Red Button and online will provide exclusive clips and behind the scenes footage from Saturday 6 November.

Full listings information will be available via the Radio 2 website.

SH