Manchester gig sends a musical

● Host of stars take to the stage for benefit concert in front of crowd of 50,000 and TV audience of millions

presence here tonight says more than 1,000 words ever could, so a huge thank you to you all for being here.”

Mr Burnham appeared on stage with representatives of political parties, religions and both of the city’s football clubs.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins also appeared on the stage and the crowd applauded as Mr Burnham thanked the police for their efforts following the 22 May attack.

Bishop of Manchester David Walker led the crowd in a minute’s silence for the victims of the bombing.

Grande said she was inspired to change her set list for the concert after the mother of one of the teenage victims said her daughter would have wanted to hear the hits.

She appeared on stage wearing an oversized white One Love Manchester sweatshirt, and seemed overcome by emotion at points as she was joined by a string of musical stars.

Before launching into her hit Side To Side, Grande told the crowd: “I want to thank you so much for coming tonight and being so happy and strong and unified.

“I love you guys so much. This night is the kind of thing the world really needs right now.”

Grande said she had not planned to play so many of her big hits but changed her mind after meeting the mother of Olivia Campbell-hardy, 15, who was among the victims of the blast that killed 22 people at her concert last week.

She said: “I had the pleasure of meeting Olivia’s mummy a few days ago and I started to cry and gave her a big hug and she said, ‘Stop crying, because Olivia wouldn’t have wanted you to cry’.

“And then she told me Olivia would have wanted to hear the hits. We had a different show planned and we had a rehearsal yesterday and we changed everything.”

During the show she duetted with Miley Cyrus on Crowded House’s Don’t Dream It’s Over, during which they twirled each other around and embraced.

She was also joined on stage by her boyfriend Mac Miller as she said: “Tonight is all about love, am I right?”

The pair danced together as they performed their 2013 collaboration The Way and Miller’s track Dang!

Mumford and Sons frontman Marcus Mumford opened the show as he sang “you are not alone in this” as he performed an acoustic version of the band’s hit Timshel.

Concert-goers began queueing outside the Old Trafford ground from 8:30am. All Grande fans who attended the gig on 22 May were offered free passes to the benefit concert.

The show also saw performances from Manchester band Take That, who opened their set with their crowd-pleasing song Let It Shine before renditions of Giants and Rule The World.

Gary Barlow told the crowd: “We want to stand strong, look at the sky and sing loud and proud.”

Barlow welcomed former Take That bandmate Robbie Williams to the stage as “our friend, our brother,” before the foursome took a bow together and Williams led the crowd in a singalong to his hit Strong, with the lyrics changed to: “Manchester, we’re strong, we’re strong, we’re strong, we’re still singing our songs.”

Williams, who appeared to be wearing a sweatshirt from Justin Bieber’s Purpose world tour, then treated the audience to his anthem Angels.

Ahead of the concert Grande’s fans who were caught up in the Manchester bombing said they were nervous to return to a concert so soon after recent terrorist attacks but were determined to carry on to show solidarity with the victims.

Proceeds from the concert will go towards the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, set up by Manchester City Council in partnership with the British Red Cross.

U2 frontman Bono sent a video message to the concert, telling the crowds: “All our hearts are with you, all our hearts are with Manchester and with the UK.

“So many of our friends are in this great city.

“We’re broken-hearted for parents who’ve lost their children and children who’ve lost their parents in this senseless, senseless horror.

“There is no end to grief and that’s how we know there is no end to life.”

Former Manchester United footballer David Beckham also send a message, saying: “As a father what happened made me truly sad and it’s a day we’ll never forget.

“I’m proud of everyone there today, everyone in the crowd and all the artists.”

Other stars who took to the stage included Pharrell Williams, who was joined by Cyrus for his track Happy.

He said: “You know why I’m bowing, I’m bowing because despite all the things that have been going on in this place, I don’t feel or hear or see any fear in this building.

“All we feel here tonight is love, resilience and positivity.”