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BBC VE Day concert viewers divided by 'random' opening act as Zoe Ball hosts
The BBC marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a special concert that was hosted by Zoe Ball, and featured performances from the likes of Fleur East and The Darkness
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The BBC commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a spectacular live concert, kicked off with an introduction from host Zoe Ball. The BBC Radio 2 presenter welcomed viewers to the special programme, VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember, on BBC One.
The concert showcased performances from a host of celebrities at Horse Guards Parade, a fitting venue to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, featuring appearances from stars such as Samantha Barks and Fleur East.
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John Newman, Victor Ray, Freya Ridings and Keala Settle were also present to perform, alongside Calum Scott, The Darkness, Toploader, Tom Walker and classical singer Sir Willard White and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
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Fleur East opened the concert with a stunning performance, accompanied by the stars of Strictly Come Dancing including Amy Dowden, Carlos Gu, Karen Hauer, Neil Jones, Lauren Oakley, and Kai Widdrington.
Special messages were also shared by Dame Joan Collins, Dame Mary Berry, and Dame Sheila Hancock, while actor Brian Cox delivered a powerful recitation of Winston Churchill's famous wartime speech, reports the Mirror.
Article continues belowAt the beginning of the broadcast, Roman Kemp was backstage discussing the show and introducing Zoe Ball. She hinted at arriving with special 'props' and expressed her excitement about hosting such a significant concert.
"The atmosphere has been so joyous. I am telling everyone at home, you will cry tonight. The veterans will be telling their story. It means the world - it's utterly terrifying," Zoe commented about her forthcoming role as host.
The anticipation began with the arrival of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who met with veterans in the Royal Box. This was followed by a ceremonial fanfare heralding the entry of King Charles and Queen Camilla, where they too engaged with the veterans and evacuees present.
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Following Royal protocol, Zoe made a spectacular entrance arriving in a sidecar donning a Union Jack helmet, capturing the crowd's attention. "Good evening and welcome to the VE Day 80. I am thrilled to be with you all here. Together, we can remember a very special day. We have transformed Horse Guards Parade into a special concert venue," she announced, also remarking on the "Glorious sea of red, white and blue."
As the event commenced, a moment was taken to honour the veterans as attendees stood up to offer applause and proudly waved their flags in recognition. Remarks from the audience included expressions like: "This is proper emotional man! #VEDay80," while another noted: "Everyone at the concert wearing red white or blue."
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Adding to the glittering lineup, soap opera favourites Michelle Hardwick, Claire Sweeney and Emma Barton performed a homage to The Andrew Sisters, accompanied by a team of dancers. The esteemed actresses from Emmerdale, Coronation Street and EastEnders appeared distinctly unlike their usual on-screen personas - Vanessa Woodfield, Cassie Plummer and Honey Mitchell.
The Darkness were the next act, captivating attendees with their performance of "I Believe In A Thing Called Love", prompting the crowd to join in with claps while the audience sang and danced along. Yet, their appearance left some Twitter users perplexed.
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"I mean I love The Darkness but that was bold. #VEDay80," one tweeted, while another posted: "Tbf, The Darkness was jolly, if a bit random. #VEDay80."
A third remarked: "Bet the Veterans are enjoying the randomness of The Darkness #VEDay80."
Another comment read: "These 107 year old veterans of VE Day are loving The Darkness banging out I Believe In A Thing Called Love #VEDay80."
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Keala Settle, donning a spectacular silver dress, joined cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason for a touching rendition of "When You Wish Upon A Star."
A poignant pause followed in the show to commemorate King George's iconic speech, after which King Charles made an on-stage appearance.
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Brian Cox recited Winston Churchill's legendary speech, which came after a stirring performance of "Land of Hope and Glory."
Richard Armitage narrated the moving account of Jeff Borsack's wartime experiences before Jeff himself accompanied Richard on stage to tell his tale personally. Emotions ran high, including amongst the Prince and Princess of Wales, as Jeff recounted memories of his parents.
Tom Walker delivered a stirring performance of his hit 'Leave The Light On', accompanied by an orchestra, which left viewers deeply moved. One fan tweeted, "Tom Walker is the best so far #VEDay80," while another praised, "@IamTomWalker performance on #VEDay80 so beautiful he's amazing," and a third echoed the sentiment with: "Brilliant performance by tom walker."
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To commemorate the event, 'Dad's Army' was revived in a special sketch featuring Larry Lamb and Nigel Havers, alongside Daniel Mays and Kevin Eldon. The skit also included appearances by Iain Glen, Sir Derek Jacobi and Alex Macqueen.
Freya Ridings gave a heartfelt performance of 'Lost Without You', interspersed with the poignant words of Margaret, a veteran's wife, and the love letters she penned to him during the war. Her husband, joined by their daughter Penny in the Royal box, listened as the letters recounted how much Margaret missed her father and pleaded for his safe return.
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Sir Willard White touched hearts with his rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', providing a backdrop to the tales of wartime survivors. To change the tempo, Toploader brought some cheer with their hit 'Dancing In The Moonlight'.
The concert neared its end with Calum Scott singing 'The White Cliffs of Dover', uniting veterans and evacuees among the 12,000-strong audience in song. Samantha Barks concluded the evening with Vera Lynn's iconic 'We'll Meet Again', proudly displaying her nearly due baby bump as she announced she was nine months pregnant with her second child.
