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Geri Halliwell breaks cover as she steps out at the F1 British Grand Prix after snubbing Mel B's wedding

Geri Halliwell breaks cover as she steps out at the F1 British Grand Prix after snubbing Mel B's wedding

Daily Mail​6 hours ago
Geri Halliwell broke cover as she stepped out at the F1 British Grand Prix on Sunday after snubbing Mel B 's wedding over the weekend.
The Spice Girl, 52, was notably absent as her former bandmate said 'I do' to her fiancé Rory McPhee at St Paul's Cathedral in London in front of a string of very A-list guests. She also failed to acknowledge the nuptials on social media.
The pair have a tempestuous relationship and at times have struggled to be in the same room without there being animosity.
But the wife of Red Bull Racing's Christian Horner broke cover at the sporting event as she stepped out in her usual all white look.
She was joined by her eight-year-old son, Monty, whom she shares with Christian as well as her daughter Bluebell, 19.
Geri continued to snub Mel B on Sunday after her lavish wedding weekend - while the likes of Heidi Klum, Paloma Faith and Kerry Katona led the stars sending the Spice Girl congratulatory messages following the ceremony.
The Spice Girl, 52, was notably absent as her former bandmate said 'I do' to her fiancé Rory McPhee at St Paul's Cathedral in London in front of a string of very A-list guests
A host of huge names were quick to comment under the 50-year-old singer's Instagram post this weekend where she shared a gorgeous loved-up snap with her new husband Rory at St Paul's Cathedral.
But one key pal was missing from the long list of names writing sweet messages for her on her big day and that was her Spice Girls band member Geri.
The pair have a tempestuous relationship and at times have struggled to be in the same room without there being animosity.
However other Spice Girl Victoria Beckham was quick to comment under Mel's post saying: 'Congratulations!!!!! We hope you had an amazing day!!!! X kisses xxxxxxxxc.'
Heidi Klum added: 'CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH. WISHING YOU LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE FOREVER.'
Alice Evans said: 'You deserve this! I'm so happy for you!'
Alexandra Burke posted simply saying: 'Congrats!'
Katie Piper added: 'Congratulations you deserve so much love and happiness
Robbie Williams' wife Ayda Field said under the post: 'Congratulations !'
Paloma Faith then added: 'Congrats my angel you deserve the world.'
It comes after Mel C shared a sweet snap of Mel B and her new husband as they celebrated their wedding day on Saturday.
Sporty Spice was notably absent as her Spice Girl bandmate said 'I do' to her fiancé Rory in London in front of a string of very A-list guests.
Mel was unable to attend no doubt due to scheduling conflicts, as she was performing in Sweden, but still wanted to share her excitement and happiness for the pair and took to her Instagram to share a photograph of the newlyweds.
Admitting that she was 'gutted' not to be there, she made reference to the fact they would all see each other and meet up in the not too distant future.
Posting some sweet words online, she gushed in the caption: 'So so happy for you both and beyond gutted I couldn't be there. Excited to celebrate with you really soon! Yippee!'
It comes after Geri has so far failed to acknowledge her Spice Girl's bandmate star-studded nuptials.
Ginger Spice, 52, has so far not mentioned the wedding on her social media, with no posts emerging on her Instagram page throughout the day.
Victoria also missed the ceremony but did share a sweet black and white throwback of herself and the bride with bandmates Geri, Mel C and Emma to her Instagram.
Posh, 51, captioned the snap: 'Congratulations @officalmelb @rorymcphee on your special day! I couldn't be more excited for you both and wish you a lifetime of happiness! kisses xx'
Emma Bunton was the only Spice Girl to attend.
Hours earlier, Victoria had also posted another tribute to the couple on Friday with a photograph of herself and Mel looking glamorous together at a recent event.
She gushed in a caption: 'Sending love to you @officialmelb! @rorymcphee is a very lucky man! xx'
Ahead of the wedding, sources told the Mail that there was no bad blood between Victoria and Mel but was simply a scheduling conflict.
They said: 'Victoria has long standing plans out of the country and she simply can't be there. She adores Mel, they get on really well despite their paths going in opposite directions. It's a real shame.
'There is no issue between them, they haven't fallen out. It's just one of those things.'
As for Geri, she and Mel have a tempestuous relationship and at times have struggled to be in the same room without there being animosity.
The two women went to war after Mel B revealed that she had an intimate relationship with Geri when the band was starting out while she was being interviewed for Piers Morgan's Life Stories programme.
Geri was said to have been deeply upset by the bombshell revelation in 2019, for which Mel has apparently never apologised.
Sources also say that Geri's husband Christian Horner was 'mortified' about Mel's claims.
Though the other Spice Girls were absent, Emma was in attendance and looked gorgeous in a stylish pink dress as she stepped out to support Mel B.
Emma was accompanied by husband Jade Jones and their son Beau, 17, with both men looking dapper for the big day.
After heading out of the cathedral, Baby Spice kindly stopped and signed her autograph for an eager fan.
Mel walked down the aisle for the third time in front of her celebrity friends on Saturday afternoon as she finally became Mrs McPhee.
She looked every inch the blushing bride in a pearl-adorned white gown as she married Rory during the stunning ceremony.
Her gown featured a sheer illusion design adorned with white pearls and a ruched bodice, with the singer adding a flowing veil to her bridal look.
Meanwhile, groom Rory, 37, opted for traditional Scottish attire complete with a red and green tartan kilt.
Mel arrived in a white Bentley to her wedding and flashed a radiant smile and adjusted her veil as she prepared to head inside.
Meanwhile, Mel's children Phoenix Chi, Madison and Angel Iris were all smiles as they arrived to see their mother walk down the aisle.
Phoenix, 26, looked lovely in a blue silk dress and coordinating fascinator, and was accompanied by partner AJ Anderson.
Sibling Angel, 18, who now identifies as a male, looked smart in a black suit, while sister Madison, 13, caught the eye in a bright pink dress and matching head piece.
Celebrities in attendance include TV presenters Gaby Roslin and Angellica Bell, comedians Katherine Ryan and Alan Carr.
Leigh Francis, Cara Delevingne as well as the Spice Girls' former manager Simon Fueller were pictured at the ceremony.
Mel was able to get married at St Paul's Cathedral because of her OBE, which she got in 2022 for her services to charitable causes and vulnerable women, especially Woman's Aid.
It is the third time that Mel said 'I do' after first marrying Dutch backing dancer Jimmy Gulzar in 1998.
And when she wed Stephen Belafonte in 2007, they eloped to Las Vegas before holding a vow renewal in Egypt the following year.
Mel and Stephen separated in 2016 when she accused him of emotional and physical abuse, which he has always denied.
His lawyers said that during the marriage they spent her £50million fortune.
Mel grew close to Rory after the breakdown of her marriage to Stephen.
Last year, she said: 'He's a family friend, great hairdresser... when I went back to England, he would come over and give me hair treatments...
'And as he was nurturing my curls back, I guess he was nurturing my trust and belief in a relationship.'
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Oasis are back! Liam and Noel Gallagher FINALLY reunite on stage in Cardiff 16 years after split and hold hands on momentous first night of reunion tour in front of sobbing fans
Oasis are back! Liam and Noel Gallagher FINALLY reunite on stage in Cardiff 16 years after split and hold hands on momentous first night of reunion tour in front of sobbing fans

Daily Mail​

time37 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Oasis are back! Liam and Noel Gallagher FINALLY reunite on stage in Cardiff 16 years after split and hold hands on momentous first night of reunion tour in front of sobbing fans

Liam and Noel Gallagher finally reunited on stage at Cardiff's Principality Stadium as the first night of the long-awaited Oasis reunion tour left fans in tears. More than 75,000 fans watched history be made as Noel, 58, and Liam, 52, appeared for the first time on stage together in 16 years on Friday. The once-warring Gallagher brothers proved their years-long feud was well and truly behind them as they stepped out on stage hand-in-hand to kick off the show. Throughout their set, they wowed fans with a whole litany of their top hits, including Some Might Way, Morning Glory and, of course, Wonderwall. The thousands of fans packed into the stadium were overwhelmed by the momentous occasion as many were reduced to floods of tears, while celebrities including Danny Dyer, Vernon Kay and Rob Brydon also attended the epic night. In fact, the show was so popular that even more eager fans crammed outside the stadium in the Welsh capital in a bid to listen to the sought-after set list after failing to nab tickets themselves. The epic opening night certainly seemed to be worth the 16-year wait as concertgoers took to social media to laud Oasis for their 'amazing' and 'lifechanging' performance. Kicking off the show, Liam and Noel walked out with their arms around each other in a sweet display of unity, before they proudly gazed on at the crowds, who erupted into rounds of deafening applause. 'Manchester vibes in the area,' Liam said before kicking off the show with Hello, which serves as the opening track for their 1995 classic What's The Story (Morning Glory). They then went into Acquiesce - a song from their first 1995 album, which was followed by the iconic Morning Glory - the titular song of the second studio album. No doubt overwhelmed by the fans, Liam shouted out: 'Yes beautiful people! It's been too long.' Liam then ordered the crowd to 'turn around and bounce' ahead of Cigarettes and Alcohol. After performing Some Might Say, Bring It On Down and Fade Away, Liam went off for a rest, while Noel performed his acoustic version of Talk Tonight. Then Noel appeared emotional as he performed Half The World Away and even stopped singing for a few bars at one point, with the audience being equally as overwhelmed by the moment. 'Manchester vibes in the area,' Liam said before kicking off the show with Hello, which serves as the opening track for their 1995 classic 'What's The Story (Morning Glory) After 16 years, Liam and Noel finally reunite for 41 shows across Europe and the 900,000 fans who have eagerly snapped up tickets will not be disappointed with the set list which is crammed with the nineties band's classics Elsewhere, they performed Some Might Say, Bring It On Down and Fade Away Liam later said: 'Are you having a good time?' before addressing the Ticketmaster chaos in a cheeky quip as he said: 'Was it worth the £40,000 you paid for the ticket.' Tickets were meant to start at £74.25 for seated tickets at their Wembley shows, with the most expensive ticket being a £506.25 pre-show party. However, screenshots from the Ticketmaster website offering In Demand standing tickets being listed for hundreds of pounds each. Throughout their various sets, poignant pictures of the family's home in Manchester flashed up on the screen along with baby pictures of both brothers. Old black and white pictures of their mum Peggy and dad Tommy were also flashed in the screen from time to time as Stand By Me played. They ended the show with Rock n Roll, but fans cheers for an encore, with the pair strolling back out, with two of their fan favourite hits still to come. The crowds went wild as they belted out Wonderwall and the brothers became very emotional as they began to close down the show. 'Thanks for putting up with us over the years. We're hard work. We get it,' he gushed. They then rounded off their first gig in 16 years with legendary track Champagne Supernova. While the crowd remained largely peaceful and calm throughout, a few individuals were seen escorted out from the standing area by security guards. Oasis were supported by Richard Ashcroft and Cast as they made sure to wow fans on the first night of their reunion tour, setting the standard high for their world dates. In a touching tribute to Oasis, Richard said as he arrived on stage: 'So glad to be here with the greatest rock 'n' roll band. When I heard Oasis were reforming I thought I was in it!' Richard's former band The Verve toured with Oasis back in the early days, and Noel was spotted in the crowd ahead of his own performance to catch some of Richard's set. The Gallaghers' families came out to support the brothers on their big night too, with Noel's ex-wife Meg Mathews and daughter Anais spotted in the crowds. Anais was seen sharing a hug with Noel before he took to the stage and she was later pictured throwing her arms in the air as she danced the night away. A source told the Mirror: 'After posting about her ex-husband for weeks, Meg Mathews had a prime seat for watching the band. She was in great spirits before the set, watching Richard Ashcroft with pals.' Oasis also dedicated their opening night to Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car crash in Portugal with his brother Andre on Thursday. An image of Diogo's No 20 Liverpool shirt flashed up on screen as Live Forever played, while a fan held up a Portguese flag in honour of him. Liverpudlian indie rock band Cast also paid an emotional tribute to Diogo as they kicked off the Cardiff show. Frontman John Power took a moment to pay tribute to Diogo as he dedicated their song Walkaway to the star after his tragic death. In an emotional moment, he said: 'This is Walkaway. This one is for Diogo Jota. Take it easy brother.' The Portuguese sportsman and his brother Andre, 26 - who played for Portuguese second division side Penafiel - both died on Thursday following a tragic car crash. His Lamborghini Huracan had a tyre blow out while overtaking another vehicle on the A-52 at Cernadilla near Zamora - just ten miles over the border from Portugal. The £180,000 car is said to have rolled and burst into flames, with emergency services unable to save the footballing duo. No other vehicles were involved, police have said. The siblings were heading to Santander to catch a ferry to Britain after Diogo was advised not to fly following lung surgery, it was reported in his home country. Jota's untimely death sent shockwaves through the footballing world and fans have gathered in their hundreds to lay and pay tribute to the 28-year-old. The tragedy came just days after Jota married his new wife Rute Cardoso - who he shares three young children with - on June 22. After performing fan favourite hit Wonderwall, Liam started getting emotional, saying: 'Thanks for putting up with us over the years. We're hard work. We get it.' After 16 years, Liam and Noel have finally reunited for 41 shows across Europe and the 900,000 fans who have eagerly snapped up tickets will not be disappointed with the set list. The streets of Cardiff were 'electric' ahead Oasis's opening night with Wonderwall blasting from work vans while superfans are queuing up to purchase bucket hats and T-shirts. Patrick Foley and his 10-year-old son, Alex, who is a self-proclaimed superfan, had travelled from Stroud to be there for the 'monumental' moment. Alex said: 'I have been a fan for six to seven years, when my dad played a song I just fell in love with them, I'll remember this forever. 'I would rather be here than the Man United Champions league final, it's a once in a lifetime. 'Everyone at school thinks I'm really cool. I woke up at 3am because I couldn't sleep I was so excited to see Liam. Despite being a longstanding superfan, it is Patrick's first gig and said: 'I wouldn't rather be with anyone else than my son.' Standing next to his wife Holly, 31, Welsh superfan Jarreth, 33, told MailOnline: 'This is bigger than my wedding day. Well I can't say that, it's the top three. It goes wedding day, birth of our daughter Lila, who is named after the Oasis song, and then today. Holly added: 'The atmosphere here in Cardiff is electric. There's never been a build up like this before, like this is way bigger than Taylor Swift when she came to Cardiff. 'We said that if Oasis ever got back together we would have to be there.' He said: 'So glad to be here with the greatest rock 'n' roll band. When I heard Oasis were reforming I thought I was in it!' Richard's former band The Verve toured with Oasis back in the early days He performed a selection of The Verve classics as well as some solo songs Before appearing on stage, the screens read: 'Liam hints at reunion with bro' The superfan couple spent more than £450 on Oasis merchandise, with two T-shirts and a bucket hat. Glen, 42, a window cleaner from Essex who charges £1,000 as a part-time professional Liam Gallagher look-a-like, has been inundated with overexcited fans taking selfies. He told MailOnline: 'I got up this morning with a buzz. I think it's going to take off for the next three or four months, it's going to be massive, it's going to be Supersonic. 'I was here last July watching Noel at Cardiff Castle and you never would have thought a year later we'd be back here watching Oasis in the main stadium. 'You'd never believe it, it was just getting longer and longer, it was getting to the point but they're in their prime to do it now, they're not too old. 'There's been nothing like Oasis since the nineties so it's nice that the next generation get to see them, it's the perfect time for them. 'This is going to be one of the biggest things that has happened in our lifetimes. This is going to be something that people have never experienced before 'I got to see them in Nebworth in 2000, when I was 17. People genuinely think I'm Liam Gallagher so I've been taking a few selfies.' Gavin and Stacey star Rob Brydon, was spotted at the show with his wife and two sons Vernon Kay was spotted in the crowd Danny Dyer was spotted strolling towards the Principality Stadium to see Oasis Danny was joined by a friend as he no-doubt joined a host of other celebrities eager to see the band's return tonight The actor looked dapper for the evening in a navy jacket, some coordinated slacks and a stylish pair of sunglasses The streets of Cardiff are 'electric' ahead Oasis's opening night with Wonderwall blasting from work vans while superfans are queuing up to purchase bucket hats and T-shirts [pictured: Jarreth, Holly and Sarah from Bridgend, South Wales] The atmosphere in Cardiff is 'electric' as thousands of fans descend upon the Welsh capital for the first of Oasis' reunion gigs [Pictured: Richard Ellis, Scott Griffin, Chloe Griffin and David Griffin] Patrick Foley and his 10-year-old son, Alex, [both pictured] who is a self-proclaimed superfan, had travelled from Stroud to be there for the 'monumental' moment Glen, 42, a window cleaner from Essex [pictured] who charges £1,000 as a part-time professional Liam Gallagher look-a-like, has been inundated with overexcited fans taking selfies Lifelong fan and mother-of-two from Cardiff, Kate [pictured], 44, wore a pair of shoes she bought 30 years ago when she was 16 for her birthday After 16 years, the once warring Gallagher brothers will finally reunite for 41 shows across Europe with Welsh fans queuing all night Fans were spotted turning up hours before the gig in Cardiff The band confirmed they would be hitting the stage at 8.15pm after warm up act Richard Ashcroft begins his set at 7:00pm The Cardiff Principality Stadium lit up in anticipation of the first show He continued: 'I've got Manchester next week, Wembley and then LA. I did my first lookalike event yesterday, I did a photoshoot in the Marstens pub in Cardiff, I've always turned it down. 'But now obviously they're back I have to do it, everyone is loving Oasis at the moment so it's nice to help people get in the spirit, so I'll be busy all summer. They're fun to be fair and it's good I'm going to be gigging around.' Another fan, Luciana Barba, 44, had spent £1,000 to travel from Argentina to watch Oasis on Friday and Saturday night, admitting she had spent up to £3,000 on merchandise. 'Today is the day,' she told MailOnline. Ahead of the highly-anticipated evening, footage and pictures from a special drone show over Cardiff Principality enticed. The duo lit up the sky with brightly coloured drones which spelt out the word 'OASIS'. Oasis Live 25 tour dates (UK and Ireland only) JULY 2025 4th - Cardiff, Principality Stadium 5th - Cardiff, Principality Stadium 11th - Manchester, Heaton Park 12th - Manchester, Heaton Park 16th - Manchester, Heaton Park 19th - Manchester, Heaton Park 20th - Manchester, Heaton Park 25th - London, Wembley Stadium 26th - London, Wembley Stadium 30th - London, Wembley Stadium AUGUST 2025 2nd - London, Wembley Stadium 3rd - London, Wembley Stadium 8th - Edinburgh, Murrayfield 9th - Edinburgh, Murrayfield 12th - Edinburgh, Murrayfield 16th - Dublin, Croke Park 17th - Dublin, Croke Park SEPTEMBER 2025 27th - London, Wembley Stadium 28th - London, Wembley Stadium

Love Island fans go WILD for 'brutal' Casa Amor twist as they declare producers 'deserve a raise' for bringing Harry's ex Emma into the villa
Love Island fans go WILD for 'brutal' Casa Amor twist as they declare producers 'deserve a raise' for bringing Harry's ex Emma into the villa

Daily Mail​

time40 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Love Island fans go WILD for 'brutal' Casa Amor twist as they declare producers 'deserve a raise' for bringing Harry's ex Emma into the villa

Love Island fans were sent into a frenzy on Sunday night as they praised a 'brutal' new take on the iconic Casa Amor twist. The segment has been known for causing chaos in the villa, and this year's is set to be no different, with no couples declaring themselves 'closed off.' But as Sunday's episode began, a new twist was introduced that saw the Casa Amor bombshells briefly head into the main villa, giving the girls a brief glimpse at their competition, before bidding farewell to their male partners. It was a move to sent the girls, and particularly Meg Moore, spiralling, as they begun to question whether any of the boys' heads would be turned by the stunning new arrivals. In a further twist, it was then revealed that one of the girls, Emma, was in fact Harry Cooksley's ex-girlfriend, adding yet another layer of drama as the pair were faced with an awkward reunion. Whether Casa Amor was a welcome addition for our islanders or not, the new twists went down a storm with fans, with one even calling for producers to get 'a raise.' Tweets on X included: 'Brutal the girls are getting to see the girls before the boys head to Casa Amor; 'Introducing the Casa girls to the main villa girls before the guys get sent off is wild work; 'Helena right now WHOS EMMAAAAAA; Not the girl he's got tatted entering the villa; Who brought Emma in, give them a raise.' That evening in Casa Amor, Dejon suggested spicing up the atmosphere with a game of Truth or Dare so that everyone could get to know each other on a deeper level and the group quickly get down to business. Harrison's attraction comes under question when he's asked if he's more attracted to the new Bombshells or Toni. But what will his response be? Ben engages in a three way kiss with the Bombshells of his choice. One of his choices is Emma, forcing Harry to watch on from the wings. Lucy licks the torso of the Islander she fancies the most and Harrison snogs one of the Bombshells he's most attracted to, and the couple quickly get carried away as they continue to smooch. On Monday, fans will get to see the hunky male bombshells who are set to join the girls in the main villa, and it seems most have set their sights on Shakira. Whether Casa Amor was a welcome addition for our islanders or not, the new twists went down a storm with fans, with one even calling for producers to get 'a raise' It seems that Shakira will have men lining up to date her, with the first hunk revealed as Chris, 29, a commercial real estate manager from Manchester. He said: 'I'm physically most interested in Shakira, she's had a bit of a rough time so I think I could go in and make a difference for her. 'I like Emily and Yasmin as well, Yasmin has quite an interesting personality, we'd be quite funny together. Emily is very attractive and seems to be very sweet personality wise.' Sharing his game plan to land himself a partner, he added: 'I'm feeling very excited to get involved, there's been a lot of drama in that villa. It feels like it's all to play for! 'I'm looking forward to having time and space to make connections with people, without distractions.' Up next is Ty, 23, a site engineer from Barnsley, who said he might be the man to finally tame Helena's wild ways. He said: ' I've got my eyes on Shakira - she needs a Northern lad in there, our personalities would be the most matched I think. 'Emily seems like a really sweet girl, someone you could take home to your parents. Helena is really good looking but she needs taming! I reckon I'm the man for the job.' For Martin, 23, a graduate from London, he hopes to be the man who can reassure Shakira after she'd been 'messed about' by Harry in the villa. He said: 'I've got my eyes on Shakira, I've had my eyes on her from the start. For her to blossom, she needs someone who knows what they're doing, not someone who is messing her around. 'I like that she's after emotional intelligence and stimulating conversation. I think Yasmin is hilarious, she's got a fiery personality, outgoing, I like how she says what she wants, when she wants…and she has great posture!' For Jamie, 26, an electric engineer from Barking, there are three particular beauties who have caught his eye: 'Yasmin, Shakira and Toni.' Up next is Cach, 24, a dancer from east London, who admitted he feels some couples have played it 'too safe' in the villa. He said: 'Everyone is being a bit safe and settling with what's in front of them. Harry is doing it in the right way which is why he's getting into a lot of trouble!' Rounding out this year's Casa Amor bombshells is Boris, 28, a model who is originally from Ljubljana, but now lives in Dubai. He said: 'I'm super attracted to Shakira, I think she's got a great personality and seems like a good girl. 'I'm sure we'd get along well and have a good time together, but I need to see in person, it's all about energy.'

Live Aid at 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World review – the moment Bob Geldof bursts into tears is astounding
Live Aid at 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World review – the moment Bob Geldof bursts into tears is astounding

The Guardian

timean hour ago

  • The Guardian

Live Aid at 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World review – the moment Bob Geldof bursts into tears is astounding

On the evening of 23 October 1984, Bob Geldof, singer with the waning pop act the Boomtown Rats, had a social engagement. He had been invited to Mayfair for the launch of a book by Peter York, profiler of London's most privileged bons vivants. But before he left the house, Geldof watched the BBC television news and a report by Michael Buerk about a hellish famine in Ethiopia. Among the many startling, blackly comic archive clips in Live Aid at 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World is footage of Geldof at that glitzy party, reeling from what he had seen on TV and remarking to a fellow guest that it was 'gross' for them to be enjoying champagne and canapes. That tension between glamour and guilt is at the heart of this three-part retrospective that doesn't ignore the flaws in Geldof's grand plan to use music to feed the world. It's a fascinating portrait of a complex man's imperfect attempt to solve an impossible problem. The grand achievement commemorated in the title of the series is Live Aid, the Geldof-organised mega-concert that took place in London and Philadelphia in the summer of 1985. Episode one, however, is all about the smaller but still massive cultural moment that resulted from Geldof's initial impulse to raise funds for Ethiopia: Do They Know It's Christmas?, a single by the hastily assembled supergroup Band Aid. Having written the song with Midge Ure of Ultravox, Geldof sets about convincing every pop star in Britain to gather at a recording studio in west London on 25 November 1984. For the first time but not the last, something that shouldn't be possible happens very quickly: Geldof has the balls to demand participation from A-list stars, who have all seen the Buerk report and are keen to help. Pop is far too globalised, atomised and digitised now for such a project to take off: at best in the 21st century, the equivalent celebrity charity effort would be a co-authored viral video. Geldof and Ure both make the point that in 1984, pop gods were overwhelmingly from working-class backgrounds, which is also much less true today. But however it came about, everyone turns up, from Spandau Ballet to Duran Duran, Phil Collins to Sting, Status Quo to Bananarama. The footage of them there together is still intoxicating. George Michael sings a line, looks dissatisfied then fixes it, changing 'but say a prayer' to 'BUT say a prayer' on the next take. Bono might be characteristically cringeworthy in his 2025 interview, with his talk of how he and fellow Irishman Geldof 'have the folk memory of famine' and are thus particularly attuned to the cause, but he also knows exactly what he's doing when a lyric sheet and a microphone are in front of him: having been given the song's darkest, most difficult line, he shifts 'Well tonight thank God it's them, instead of you' up an octave to the top of his register, doubling its impact. Once the single has sold a zillion copies, we witness Geldof's transformation from musician to activist. Before long he is meeting Mother Teresa ('She played the old lady shtick but boy, this was showbusiness') and telling world leaders what he thinks of them: the documentary has dug up a clip of him ambushing Margaret Thatcher over her initial insistence on collecting VAT on every record sold. In a situation where one could so easily think of the right thing to say afterwards when it's too late, Geldof rather magnificently knocks down her glib defence of western inaction there and then. He is even more unapologetic with the president of Ethiopia, swearing at him to his face, although sadly there's no footage of that and we have to rely on Geldof's recall. The most stunning moment is another Geldof recollection, from when he was in a desert in Ethiopia and heard Do They Know it's Christmas? on the radio: when he gets to the part about listening to that Bono line while looking directly at the horror it referred to, the present-day Geldof suddenly bursts into tears. 'All the rage, all the shame' is his bluntly eloquent summary of emotions that are still with him, and he is frank here about becoming a white saviour figure who placed himself in the spotlight – but had to do that to keep the media interested. Whether Geldof ultimately struck that balance is explored in the two further episodes, as is the question of how the money was distributed and how much self-interest drove the artists who performed at Live Aid. But there's no debating what an extraordinary phenomenon it was. Live Aid at 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World aired on BBC Two and is on iPlayer now.

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