Sunday night’s One Love Manchester concert was the most-watched program this year on British television as millions of U.K. viewers tuned in. The benefit show was held to raise money for the victims of the Manchester bombing at Ariana Grande’s concert on May 22 that left 22 dead.
BBC One aired the concert live and it drew nearly half the U.K. viewing audience, with 14.5 million viewers and a 49.3 per cent share, according to Variety. It averaged 10.9 million for the entire show, which aired for more than three hours on June 4.
Viewers from around the world could watch the concert on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
READ MORE: Liam Gallagher criticizes brother Noel for absence at One Love Manchester concert
The concert, held at the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, was attended by 50,000 people. The organizers said that $2.9 million was raised for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund during the live broadcast.
Grande gave a moving speech, thanking the crowd for coming together. “The kind of love and unity we’re displaying is the medicine that the world really needs right now,” she said.
She also talked about her experience after meeting the mother of 15-year-old Olivia Campbell, who was killed in the bombing.
“As soon as I met her I started crying … and she said I should stop crying because Olivia would have wanted me to stop crying,” she said as she fought back tears.
READ MORE: Manchester benefit concert to go ahead despite recent London terrorist attack
Grande was joined at the concert by Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Liam Gallagher and Pharrell Williams, among others.
https://twitter.com/strangesthowell/status/871436987529646080
1. Grande’s emotional performances to Be Alright and Break Free
Grande appeared emotional as she performed Be Alright and Break Free. Before her performance, she and her dancers held hands in solidarity.
“Manchester, we’re gonna be all right,” she yelled. Confetti burst following the performance.
2. David Beckham shared a message with crowd
Former Manchester United soccer player David Beckham said of the attack at the Grande concert, that “as a father, what happened made me truly sad.”
“I’m proud of everyone there today. Everyone in the crowd and all the artists. Tonight is about remembering those that suffered so much on that night. But also celebrating the spirit of this great city. It’s a place we all love,” Beckham said.
WATCH BELOW: David Beckham saddened by attack at Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert
3. Stevie Wonder shared a message: ‘We stand with you, Manchester’
Award-winning musician Stevie Wonder said “love is truly the key” despite religion and ethnicity.
“Love really is the way. Anyone that tries to make anyone think that things of destruction has anything to do with God or Allah, they’re a lie,” he said.
Wonder then launched into a soulful rendition of his classic 1976 song Love’s In Need Of Love Today.
WATCH BELOW: ‘We stand with you, Manchester’: Stevie Wonder
4. Cyrus and Williams performed Happy
Get daily National news
Cyrus said she was “so honoured to be at this incredible event” and performed Happy alongside Williams, who also sang Get Lucky.
“I don’t feel or smell or hear or see any fear in this building. All we feel here tonight is love, resilience, positivity,” Williams said.
https://twitter.com/MCUpdatesPoland/status/871442201649217536
5. Cyrus and Grande sang Don’t Dream It’s Over
Cyrus also performed a duet with Grande, singing Don’t Dream It’s Over.
6. Parrs Wood High School choir sang Grande’s My Everything with the singer
Grande gave an emotional performance of My Everything with the Parrs Wood High School choir. The 23-year-old singer held the young lead performer’s hand, both teary-eyed as they sang.
7. Justin Bieber’s touching speech
Canadian pop star Bieber shared a touching speech and sang acoustic versions of Love Yourself and Cold Water.
“I want to take this moment to honour the people that were lost, that were taken,” he said. “To the families, we love you so much … Everybody say, ‘We honour you, and we love you.'”
https://twitter.com/ArianatorDesire/status/871463537981267968
8. A police officer danced with young fans
During Bieber’s set at the concert, a uniformed officer was recorded skipping in circles hand-in-hand with a group of kids. “This is just amazing,” Elliot Wagland, head of pictures at the London Evening Standard, captioned the video on Twitter.
9. Katy Perry sang Part of Me
Perry sang a stripped-down version of her hit, Part of Me. Backed by two singers and a guitarist, Perry delivered the song wearing all white, singing, “Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows, but you’re not gonna break my soul.”
“I encourage you to choose love even when it’s difficult. Let no one take that away from you,” she said.
“We will not be silenced,” she yelled before singing the anthem, Roar.
10. Black Eyed Peas performance of Where Is The Love?
Grande performed many times throughout the show, even collaborating with the Black Eyed Peas. She sang Fergie’s verse on, Where Is The Love? along with the group.
11. Williams performed Angels
Williams also performed, changing some of his lyrics of Strong to honour the Manchester victims.
“Manchester we’re strong … we’re still singing our song,” he sang with the audience while wearing Bieber’s Purpose World Tour concert sweater.
12. Coldplay and Grande performed Don’t Look Back In Anger
Coldplay performed the Oasis song, Don’t Look Back In Anger, with some help from Grande.
It was the first of four songs Coldplay sang. The band also performed Fix You, Viva La Vida and Something Just Like This.
Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher was a surprise addition to the line-up. Chris Martin filled in for Liam’s brother Noel on acoustic guitar.
13. Grande’s emotional performance of Over The Rainbow
Grande gave a show-stopping performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
WATCH BELOW: Ariana Grande wraps-up One Love Manchester concert with ‘Over the Rainbow’
The concert came the day after attackers targeted the heart of London, killing seven people. Authorities have said that attack started with a van plowing into pedestrians and then involved three men using large knives to attack people in bars and restaurants at a nearby market.
-
![]()
Passengers sing Oasis song following #OneLoveManchester concert -
![]()
Fans, mourners reject fear, terror by attending Manchester benefit concert -
![]()
British police detain more people over London Bridge attack -
![]()
Assessing the police response to the latest terror attack in London -
![]()
London attackers identified, names not yet released: May -
![]()
Canadian victim killed in London attack had attended MRU
The show was broadcast across the globe and proceeds will go to an emergency fund set up by the city of Manchester and the British Red Cross.
—With files from The Associated Press
Comments