The Who are set to play at this year’s Glastonbury festival, it emerged today, as organisers revealed that the Arctic Monkeys and Bjork will also be making appearances at the much-anticipated event.

Michael Eavis, who organises the three-day Somerset festival, confirmed that the legendary rockers would join this summer’s line-up after guitarist Pete Townsend told a radio station that his band would be playing.

"I don’t know if we’re allowed to say," Townsend told Xfm. "But let me put it this way, I think they want us to do it and we want to it. So we shall see."

Responding to the interview, Mr Eavis told the BBC: "It’s not 100 per cent sorted, but if he’s telling people he’s playing then we have to."

The confirmation came it was revealed that Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys will be headlining the main Pyramid Stage, in the wake of the unprecedented success of their first record, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, which last year became the fastest-selling debut album of all time.

"I rather let it slip that the Arctics were playing," Mr Eavis said today. "They’re a fantastic band and will be one of headline acts. I saw them a few years ago at the Brixton Academy and it was one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. Everyone went ape."

Bjork, the eccentric award-winning Icelandic pop star, has also been added to the bill, which – as in previous years - has been kept a closely held secret.

Mr Eavis also revealed that the "biggest band in the world" had phoned him up to headline the festival after the announcement that Kylie Minogue was too busy to play. He said that he was not referring to The Who, but to a modern band to whom he could only offer a supporting slot as the line-up was already so jam-packed.

"I can’t say who they were, but it wasn’t U2 or Radiohead," he said. "I had my headline acts, so I could only offer them a slot below that, which was a bit of a cheek. But I don’t think they’re going to go for that.

"We’ve now got all the music done and have got to get on with all the logistics on the site now, like bridges and fencing."

Tickets for the event will go on sale from April 1, when the full list of artists appearing at Worthy Farm will be announced. In an effort to stamp out touting, fans will be able to pre-register for tickets during February by filling in a form online, via post or from camping shop Millets, and will have to supply a photo of themselves to prevent their ticket from being resold.

The festival, which returns after a year’s absence, promises to be the biggest yet after the site was expanded to accommodate 137,500 music lovers – an increase of 25,000 on the previous event.

Tickets for this year’s event will cost £150. Subject to being granted a new four-year licence, it is due to be held on June 22 -24.

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