HELLO! Fans of Lionel Richie will be Dancing on the Ceiling at news the chart-topping singer is to perform a show at Blenheim Palace.

The Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy-winning pop and soul artist will swap the palm trees and beaches of his home in Los Angeles for the sturdy baroque architecture of the Woodstock stately home, where he plays as part of the palace’s Nocturne Live series of concerts.

The Alabama-born performer has an array of huge international hits including Endless Love, Lady, All Night Long, Stuck on You, Hello, Say You, Say Me and Dancing On The Ceiling, all of which should get an airing when he appears in front of an expected 10,000-capacity crowd in the palace’s Great Court on Saturday June 20.

The singer, who was signed to Motown and Atlantic Records, is the first name to be unveiled for next year’s festival, which runs from June 18-21.

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More names are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Previous acts to have performed include Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Gary Barlow, Nile Rodgers, Noel Gallagher and Gladys Knight.

Oxford Mail:

Lionel, who played to more than 100,000 people at Glastonbury Festival in 2015, said: “I’m really looking forward to heading back to the UK and Europe next summer, the crowds are some of the best in the world and I can’t wait to get back over there to see you all!”

Nocturne Director Ciro Romano said: “Improving on last year’s event was never going to be easy but we feel like we’ve taken a big step towards achieving that by confirming Lionel Richie as our first headliner for 2020.

“He’s a bona fide music legend and having him perform his huge catalogue of much-loved songs at Blenheim Palace is going to be a really special occasion.”

Fan Lucy Silver from north Oxford said: “ I absolutely love Lionel. This is going to be up there with Elton John as the best Nocturne Live show ever. I just hope the weather is better for him as it chucked it down for Elton!”

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Having launched in 2015, Nocturne Live has also featured shows by Gregory Porter, The Jacksons, Ennio Morricone, Elvis Costello, The Waterboys and Van Morrison and is widely regarded as the country’s leading stately home concert experience.

This year’s series, which took place in June, featured Kylie Minogue, Gladys Knight, Tears For Fears, Lauryn Hill, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Laura Mvula, Scritti Politti, White Lies and Sister Sledge. Organisers hailed it as the most successful festival yet, with over 35000 music-lovers packing the open air venue over four days.

Mr Romano said: “This year’s event was a resounding success on so many levels. We presented a really diverse bill - with each night offering a totally unique lineup of world class acts – and we welcomed more people than ever through the gates.

“The grounds of Blenheim Palace offer a truly outstanding setting for live music and we look forward to announcing more acts for 2020 in the coming months.”

Tickets for Lionel Richie at Blenheim Palace start at £45 and go on sale at 9am on Friday from nocturnelive.com.