BBC VE Day 80 concert viewers distracted by 'random' performance as stars lead tributes
The BBC marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a special live concert, which begun with a special address from host Zoe Ball.
The BBC commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a spectacular live concert, kicked off with a special introduction from host Zoe Ball. The BBC Radio 2 presenter welcomed viewers to the unique 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.
John Newman, Victor Ray, Freya Ridings and Keala Settle were also present to perform, along with Calum Scott, The Darkness, Toploader, Tom Walker and classical singer Sir Willard White and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
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.
At the beginning of the broadcast, Roman Kemp was backstage discussing the show and introducing Zoe Ball. She hinted she would be making her entrance 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 shared about her experience as host.
As the evening began to unfold, the first esteemed guests were none other than the Prince and Princess of Wales, who took their time to greet the assembled veterans within the Royal Box. Their arrival was soon followed by a grand fanfare heralding the presence of King Charles and Queen Camilla, both of whom engaged in conversation with veterans and wartime evacuees.
Zoe made her appearance on a sidecar donning a Union Jack helmet to address the gathered audience.
"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 said, amidst a patriotic sea of red, white and blue.
The beginning of the event saw everyone pause in solidarity to honour the attending veterans; they received a heartfelt round of applause and flag-waving from an emotional crowd. Online reactions echoed the sentiment, with one person commenting: "This is proper emotional man!" while another noted the consistent colour scheme, saying: "Everyone at the concert wearing red white or blue."
Soap stars Michelle Hardwick, Claire Sweeney, and Emma Barton graced the stage with a performance paying homage to The Andrew Sisters, backed by a troupe of dancers. The actresses, known for their roles in Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and EastEnders as Vanessa Woodfield, Cassie Plummer, and Honey Mitchell respectively, looked completely different from their on-screen personas.
The Darkness took to the stage next with their hit 'I Believe In A Thing Called Love' engaging the crowd in a sing-along, complete with clapping and dancing. However, their appearance seemed to bemuse some Twitter users.
"I mean I love The Darkness but that was bold." one remarked, while another commented: "Tbf, The Darkness was jolly, if a bit random."
A third shared: "Bet the veterans are enjoying the randomness of The Darkness."
Another tweet read: "These 107-year-old veterans of VE Day are loving The Darkness banging out I Believe In A Thing Called Love."
Keala Settle performed an version of 'When You Wish Upon A Star' alongside cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. The event paused for a poignant tribute as footage of King George VI's renowned speech was shown, before King Charles III appeared on stage.
Actor Brian Cox delivered the iconic words of Winston Churchill's speech following a stirring performance of 'Land of Hope and Glory'. Richard Armitage read the touching tale of Jeff Borsack's wartime experiences before Borsack himself joined Armitage on stage to narrate his own story.
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" while another praised, "Tom Walker performance on #VEDay80 so beautiful he's amazing," and a third echoed the sentiment with: "Brilliant performance by Tom Walker."
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 from 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, had been the recipient of these letters in which Margaret expressed her longing for his return.
Sir Willard White touched hearts with his rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', as the programme shared the tales of war survivors. To change the tempo, Toploader took to the stage with their upbeat 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 a performance of Vera Lynn's 'We'll Meet Again', proudly displaying her nearly full-term pregnancy as she announced she was nine months pregnant with her second child.
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