Carl Barat admits The Libertines' reunion show is a 'colossal risk'

Carl Barat has admitted that reforming The Libertines for Hyde Park's British Summertime festival in July is a "colossal risk."

After Pete Doherty let slip to an Israeli newspaper that he had said yes to an offer to reform the band for a one-off gig, The Libertines confirmed last months that they've accepted a headlining slot at British Summertime in Hyde Park.

According to Contact Music, co-frontman Carl Barat told NME magazine: "For me, the right reasons are, can we do it? Do people want it? Would it be a good thing to do?

"And I don't fucking know. I'm not saying for a second that it's without a colossal risk, doing this."

The band rose to fame in the '00s with the albums Up the Bracket and The Libertines, but their fame was often overshadowed by Pete Doherty's public struggles with substance abuse.

As Doherty's involvement with The Libertines diminished, Carl Barat dissolved the band in 2004, saying that he was no longer willing to play under the name without Doherty.

They played a brief reunion show in 2010 at Reading and Leeds festival, but hadn't played together since.

Their performance at British Summertime takes place in Hyde Park on 5 July, and includes support from acts such as The Pogues, Spiritualized and The Enemy.