Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran and Anne-Marie were among stars gracing the stage for ITV‘s Concert For Ukraine on Tuesday, raising £11 million to help those suffering in the war-torn country.
Thousands of fans gathered at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham to see an array of performers for the telethon, hosted by Emma Bunton, Marvin Humes and Roman Kemp.
ITV first announced their star-studded Concert For Ukraine earlier this month in the hope of raising funds for the The DEC which is helping the millions of people who are being forced to leave their lives in Ukraine and flee to other countries.
Sensational: Camila Cabello and Ed Sheeran stole the show during ITV’s Concert For Ukraine on Tuesday, with the pair performing their new song Bam Bam together for the first time
Ever the showman, Ed took to the stage to perform two songs, Perfect and his recent hit Bad Habits, earning a thunderous reception from the fans in attendance.
Dusting off his loop pedal station, but briefly had to pause his performance when he realised he was performing with the ‘wrong guitar,’ quipping ‘live television eh?’
‘Thank you so much for coming for such an important cause,’ he told the crowd.
Stellar: Thousands of fans gathered at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham to see an array of performers for the telethon, with Camila and Ed headlining a star-studded lineup
Emotional: Camila herself took to the stage with her own version of Coldplay’s hit track Fix You, stunning in an electric blue suit with a matching metallic bralet
Important: She told the crowd: ‘We’re all praying tonight for the peace and safety of the people of Ukraine. Thank you so much for being part of this super important fundraiser and please donate anything you can’
Soon after Camila herself took to the stage with her own version of Coldplay’s hit track Fix You, stunning in an electric blue suit with a matching metallic bralet, leaving many viewers in tears with the emotional song.
She told the crowd: ‘We’re all praying tonight for the peace and safety of the people of Ukraine. Thank you so much for being part of this super important fundraiser and please donate anything you can.’
The Havana hitmaker then revealed that she and Ed would be performing their new song Bam Bam together for the first time, and got much of the crowd out of their seats with the energetic song.
Dynamic duo! The Havana hitmaker then revealed that she and Ed would be performing their new song Bam Bam together for the first time
Greatest show: Ed (left) and Anne-Marie (right) were among stars gracing the stage for ITV’s charity concert in the hope of raising thousands for those fleeing Ukraine
Amazing: Ever the showman, Ed took to the stage to perform two songs, Perfect and his recent hit Bad Habits, earning a thunderous reception from the fans in attendance
Oops! Dusting off his loop pedal station, but briefly had to pause his performance when he realised he was performing with the ‘wrong guitar,’ quipping ‘live television eh?’
Amazing: Kicking off the star-studded concert were The Snow Patrol who delivered a rendition of their hit single Run for the thousands in attendance
Showman: Gary Lightbody performed one of the band’s most iconic tracks as the band opened the star-studded concerty
Kicking off the star-studded concert were The Snow Patrol who delivered a rendition of their hit single Run for the thousands in attendance.
Emeli Sande also took to the stage with an uplifting rendition of her song Better Days alongside The Kingdom Choir, wowing in a Grecian-style flowing green dress.
And while many were thrilled with Emeli’s performance, some took to social media to question whether the star was miming, after she admitted earlier in the day she’d ‘lost her voice.’
Speaking on STV she said: ‘Sadly I woke up today without my voice. I’m going to try and push through, get the song out. But it’s really wonderful to be involved.’
One posted: ‘Only Emeli Sande mimed and that’s because she lost her voice,’ while another added: ‘A live concert but Emeli sande looked like she was miming?’
So many stars: The charity special was hosted by Marvin Humes, Emma Bunton and Roman Kemp, who took to the stage in front of thousands of fans at The Resort World Arena in Birmingham
Pride: In a tribute to broadcasters who were putting their lives on the line during the devastating conflict, legendary news reporter Sir Trevor McDonald offered his thanks to those covering the devastating war
A third tweeted: ‘Don’t know if it’s just me but was Emeli Sande lip syncing?’
While one fan posted: ‘Why is Emeli Sande miming on the concert for Ukraine? Her voice is so good??’ with one also adding: ‘Emeli Sande lost her voice that’s why she had to lip sync. Check out STV youtube channel to find out.’
Tom Odell also wowed viewers with his own song Another Love, which has become an anthem for many Ukranians fleeing their home country, featuring in many TikToks and social media clips.
In a tribute to broadcasters who were putting their lives on the line during the devastating conflict, legendary news reporter Sir Trevor McDonald offered his thanks to those covering the devastating war.
Anne-Marie delighted fans with her own performance, sporting a simple white co-ord consisting of an oversized white jacket and matching flared trousers.
Ahead of the concert, host Emma posed for a slew of photos in a gorgeous Queen Of Archive ensemble, which was laced with a touch of the 60s in the form of a double ruffle neck and cuff.
Stunning: Emeli Sande also took to the stage with an uplifting rendition of her song Better Days wowing in a Grecian-style flowing green dress
Stellar: She was joined by London-based The Kingdom Choir for her uplifting performance
‘She’s miming!’ And while many were thrilled with Emeli’s performance, some took to social media to question whether the star was miming, after she admitted earlier in the day she’d ‘lost her voice’
Stellar: Tom Odell also wowed viewers with his own song Another Love, which has become an anthem for many Ukranians fleeing their home country, featuring in many TikToks and social media clips
Energetic: Anne-Marie delighted fans with her own performance, sporting a simple white co-ord consisting of an oversized white jacket and matching flared trousers
The Manic Street Preachers made their own statement against the war, performing their chart-topper If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next, with the song making just as much of an impact as it made in 1998, when it was first released, based on the Spanish Civil War.
After storming to victory in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest with her emotional ballad 1944, Jamala delivered an encore performance of the song, which is aptly based on her own family’s escape from Ukraine decades earlier.
Delivering a rendition of the classic track You’ve Got the Love, Becky Hill displayed her jaw-dropping vocals during the concert, donning an all-blue ensemble in support of Ukraine.
In one of the evening’s more haunting moments, Eddie Marsan and Tamsin Greig delivered readings of accounts from refugees fleeing the conflict, accompanied by Nicola Benedetti on violin.
The live televised concert brought together some of the biggest names in the music industry to raise money for the humanitarian appeal in the war-torn country.
Donations will go directly to The DEC, which is helping the millions of people who are being forced to leave their lives in Ukraine and flee to other countries.
ITV is also donating all advertising revenue from the broadcast – an estimated £3 million – to the DEC appeal.
Emotional: After storming to victory in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest with her emotional ballad 1944, Jamala delivered an encore performance of the song, which is aptly based on her own family’s escape from Ukraine decades earlier
Gorgeous: Delivering a rendition of the classic track You’ve Got the Love, Becky Hill displayed her jaw-dropping vocals during the concert, donning an all-blue ensemble in support of Ukraine
Amazing: The Brit Award winner graced the stage among a star-studded setlist
Iconic: The Manic Street Preachers made their own statement against the war, performing their chart-topper If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
History: The song made just as much of an impact as it made in 1998 when it was first released, based on the Spanish Civil War
Concertgoers in Birmingham have paid up to £52 for tickets, with all tax raised from the sales – around £100,000 – donated to the DEC appeal.
Speaking about the event, Havana songstress Camila said: ‘My heart is breaking for the people of Ukraine. As refugees from Ukraine join millions of other displaced people around the globe, we all have a responsibility.
‘One of the biggest needs is to get funds to organisations who can serve these communities directly, so we’re focusing our efforts on doing that as quickly as we can.’
Moving: In one of the evening’s more haunting moments, Eddie Marsan (left) and Tamsin Greig delivered readings of accounts from refugees fleeing the conflict, accompanied by Nicola Benedetti on violin
Energetic: Displaying his own soulful vocals, Gregory Porter was joined by The Kingdom Choir as he took to the stage for a performance
Hard to miss! Showcasing her red cropped tresses, Paloma Faith donned an eye-catching pale pink gown adorned with feathers for a performance of her song Only Love Can Hurt Like This
What an ending! As it was revealed the telethon had raised £11 million for the DEC’s Ukraine appeal, Nile Rodgers and Chic brought the show to a close
While Next To Me singer Emeli added: ‘I will be singing to try to help every human being forced to flee their home and in solidarity with those being racially discriminated against even within this humanitarian crisis.
‘Nobody should be refused access to relief, aid and the right to cross the border to safety, and I’m pleased for the chance to support the DEC’s appeal to help all people whose lives have been affected by the conflict.’
On Tuesday it was revealed that Russia is already starting to withdraw some of its forces from the Kyiv region after announcing it would ‘radically reduce’ military activity at peace talks in Turkey.
US and UK intelligence identified movements in Kremlin Battalion Tactical Groups around the capital after deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin said their troops would start to scale back operations in Kyiv and Chernihiv.
Backstage: The singer took to Instagram on Tuesday to promote the fundraiser, where proceeds will go to Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
Downing Street said: ‘There has been some reduction in Russian bombardment around Kyiv, largely because Ukrainian forces have been successfully pushing back the Russian offensives in the northwest of the city.
‘But fighting continues. There’s heavy bombardment in Mariupol and other areas. So we don’t want to see anything less than a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory.’
Security officials believe the move is an acknowledgement of Russia’s failure to encircle and capture Kyiv in a matter of days, as had been planned at the onset of the invasion.
Turkey hailed the move as the ‘most significant progress’ in negotiations so far and it will raise hopes that Putin will ease off his savage bombardment of Russia’s neighbour.
Devastating: The horrific damage Russia has inflicted on Ukraine has forced millions to flee their homes, travelling west (pictured is the town of Trostianets, in the Sumy region, on March 28)
Fomin said: ‘The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has taken the decision to radically reduce combat operations in the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas in order to boost mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and for the signing of the aforementioned agreement.’
Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said there had been a ‘meaningful discussion’ at the talks which were also attended by Roman Abramovich, a day after it was revealed he had been poisoned at a previous meeting with Ukrainian diplomats.
Both Ukraine and Russia said the talks have also paved the way for a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Raising funds: Donations will go directly to The DEC, which is helping the millions of people who are being forced to leave their lives in Ukraine and flee to other countries (Kyiv is pictured on March 29)
