Regrettably, Lighthouse has to announce that Sophie Ellis-Bextor is no longer able to headline the evening concert at the first ever Poole Pride on Saturday 8 June and will not be appearing.

In an exclusive message to local fans, the Murder of the Dancefloor hitmaker said: “I’m really sorry I won’t be able to perform at Poole Pride this year, but I hope to be able to come back and do a great show for you in the future.

“Wishing you all the best with the first Poole Pride. I know it will be amazing!”

Despite this unexpected development, the rest of the Poole Pride line-up and all associated events are unaffected, and all tickets sold remain valid.

“We are working hard to find the right artist to headline this landmark event and will have some exciting news to share very soon,” says Tim Colegate, Lighthouse Head of Programming.

“Although it's a shame that Sophie cannot be with us, Poole Pride is still going ahead and we’re more determined than ever to host a brilliant, inclusive event that everyone in Poole can be proud of.”

The evening concert will feature main support Bimini and rave legend Charlotte Devaney before giving way to a DJ line up topped by queer disco pioneers Horse Meat Disco with Hed Kandi/Ministry of Sound artist Ellie Sax and Woody Cook, DJ son of Fatboy Slim and Zoe Ball.

Planned in consultation with a community steering group that includes members of the LGBTQ+ community, Poole Pride also includes day-time performances and activities throughout Lighthouse, including the outdoor theatre. A Queer film festival will run in the week leading up to Pride as well as ‘We Didn’t Know If it Was a Revolution or a Party’, a month-long exhibition, presented in partnership with AUB, honouring influential gay activist John Chesterman who was closely involved in the formation of the Gay Liberation Front in 1970 and whose ideas underpin the modern Pride movement.

Ticket holders for the Poole Pride evening concert have been contacted.