Businesses and charities have seen a market in Oxfordshire for bringing in celebrities to entertain us.

Popular music still attracts the crowds, it appears, but opera? It looks like a big turn-off.

Organisers have been forced to pull the plug on two events at Blenheim Palace because of sluggish ticket sales.

Hard as the decision might have been, we applaud the organisers for being frank with their customers.

It is better to cancel now rather than delay in the faint hope that more tickets might be sold, and cause uncertainty.

At least, disappointed fans of Jose Carreras and his fellow performers are guaranteed their money back and know where they stand.