Summary

  • Tens of thousands of music fans descended on Hylands Park in Chelmsford for this year's Radio 2 in the Park

  • The BBC radio station's flagship music was held in Chelmsford - the birthplace of radio

  • Bryan Adams ended Saturday on a high with a set that thrilled the crowd, following the likes of Belinda Carlisle, Jessie J and Ronan Keating

  • Sunday's headliners Def Leppard also brought the roof down, rounding off a day that included sets from Olly Murs, Anastacia and Soul II Soul

  • Watch highlights on BBC iPlayer

Saturday Highlights

Live Reporting

By Alice Cunningham and Shivani Chaudhari. Edited by Stuart Bailey.

  1. Who is on the main stage tonight?

    As we head into the evening, here is a reminder of which acts are due on the main stage:

    • 18:00 - Ronan Keating
    • 19:00 - Belinda Carlisle
    • 20:30 - Bryan Adams

  2. 'Essex is a stunning place'

    Nadira Tudor
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A man with thin grey hair, sunglasses and a black T-shirt smiles at the camera while sitting on a camping chair.Nadira Tudor/BBC

    Eddie Bodsworth, 58, has travelled over from Fairford, Gloucestershire.

    He mainly came to see Stereophonics perform earlier.

    "[It's] my first Radio 2 in the Park and my first time in Essex," he says. "I think it’s a stunning place and setting."

    We could not agree more, Eddie.

  3. Ladies and gentleman, Bryan Adams is in Chelmsford

    Elliot Deady
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    BBC Essex's Matt Mackay was just nipping to the loo when he was approached by a man looking for directions.

    That man was no other than tonight's headliner Bryan Adams.

    This is not how we expected to tell you Bryan Adams has arrived in Chelmsford, but... Bryan Adams has arrived in Chelmsford.

  4. Jessie J captivates Chelmsford

    If you're not in Chelmsford today, one thing you should know is Jessie J knows how to interact with a crowd.

    She speaks so openly to her audience, getting them laughing, cheering and singing along.

    The audience is nothing short of captivated by the singer, even more so when she brings her young son on stage to sing his own rendition of Happy Birthday along with the crowd.

    A chorus of "awwws" ripple across the audience. So cute.

  5. Jessie J speaks of breast cancer surgery

    Jessie J tells the crowd of her breast cancer surgery 11 weeks ago.

    "The last show I did, I had no idea what was going to happen," she says.

    "I'm still very much in the recovery process. I'm definitely not ready for back bends. Well, I am, but my doctors are like: 'Calm down girl.'

    "I'm so grateful to be here... I'm so grateful to see so many of you singing along after all these years.

    "It truly feels like I'm a little kid still doing what I love."

  6. Married couple 'making memories'

    Shivani Chaudhari
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A couple sitting on camping chairs smile at the camera. The woman has her arm around the man next to her. They both wear bucket hats and sunglasses. The man wears a patterned shirt and blue shorts. The woman wears a pink T-shirt and blue trousers.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    Married couple Tony and Tracy Percibal have travelled down from Norfolk.

    The pair were childhood best friends and tied the knot two years ago.

    “We are making memories," says Tracy.

  7. Jessie J immediately gets the crowd singing

    There is a lovely feeling at the start of Jessie J's set as she opens with an acoustic version of her song Domino.

    She asks the crowd: "Are you ready to have some fun?"

    The crowd is singing along with her as she performs in a stunning and glittery silver outfit.

  8. Welcome to the stage, Jessie J!

    Jessie J stands in front of an orange background and smiles at the camera. Her dark hair is slicked back behind her head. She wears silver hoop earrings and a denim jacket.Jonathan Birch/BBC

    The Chelmsford crowd cheer as Dame Elaine Paige welcomes Jessie J on the main stage.

    Jessie, 37, is a Brit Award winner and has sold more than 20 million records with global hits including Price Tag, Domino and Bang Bang.

    The Essex singer revealed her early breast cancer diagnosis at the beginning of June and received widespread support from fellow colleagues for sharing her experience.

  9. Dedicated Radio 2 in the Park outfits

    Elliot Deady
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    Two men wear matching multi-coloured bucket hats and multi-coloured shirts with love hearts on them in different colours. They both wear sunglasses and are smiling at the camera.Elliot Deady/BBC

    Glyn Boallman and Gary Abraham are among a group of eight friends who have come from Teignmouth in Devon.

    All eight are wearing matching outfits.

    Mr Boallman admitted they wore the same shirts to Radio 2 in the Park in Preston last year: "Nobody gets lost, you see!"

  10. A homecoming for superstar Jessie J

    Jessie J stands in front of a wooden fence and smiles at the camera. Her dark hair is tied back and she wears sunglasses, gold chains and a black and white dress.Lauren Carter/BBC

    Ahead of her set at 17:00 BST, Jessie J said this felt like a homecoming gig.

    "All my family are out there, some childhood friends," she said.

    "As we got closer and we went through Romford, where I grew up - I was born in Seven Kings - this is my ends."

    She added she had fond memories of when she performed at Hylands Park during V Festival on numerous occasions.

    "When you're born and raised in Essex, that is something that stays in your blood.

    "It never leaves, I can feel my accent getting stronger as the day goes on."

  11. How's the weather looking?

    A general view of the Radio 2 in the Park festival. A large stage can be seen in the distance with various screens dotted around the site.EddieBlizzard/BBC Weather Watchers

    It's fair to say we've had some horrible weather this past week, so festival-goers might be wondering how the rest of the day’s looking.

    Well, it's good news.

    It's still looking warm and clear, and temperatures should only drop to about 18C this evening towards the end of the performances.

    Be sure to stay hydrated in between your singing and dancing!

  12. Crowd dances along to Kid Creole & The Coconuts

    Crowds of people watch a band performing on a large stage in front of them.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    The crowd seemed to love the party vibes from Kid Creole & The Coconuts.

    The band's trumpet symphonies were spreading waves of positivity across Hylands Park.

    "Thank you, music lovers," Kid Creole shouted as he did the conga on stage - legendary moves.

    Kid Creole & The Coconuts perform on stage. Dancers can be seen moving around singer Kid Creole.Lauren Carter/BBC
    Another view of crowds watching a band perform on stage.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

  13. Kid Creole & The Coconuts rock Chelmsford

    Kid Creole performs on stage and holds a microphone in one hand as he looks to his right. He wears a large hair, suit and tie.Getty Images

    Kid Creole, pictured during a previous performance, has taken to the stage with The Coconuts

    Kid Creole & The Coconuts have been rocking the stage.

    The group scored seven UK Top 40 hits in the 1980s, including three Top 10 singles – Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy, It's a Wonderful Thing Baby and Stool Pigeon.

    Kid Creole said he was "looking forward" to bringing "three stunning Coconuts and the baddest band in the land" to Hylands Park.

  14. Ronan Keating is in the building

    Ronan Keating smiles at the camera backstage. He wears large sunglasses and a black shirt. He has short light coloured hair.Elliot Deady/BBC

    Ronan Keating is in Chelmsford. I repeat, Ronan Keating is in Chelmsford.

    You can watch him perform from 18:00 BST.

  15. A moment for Ella Henderson again

    Ella Henderson during her performance at Radio 2 in the Park. She sings into a microphone in one hand while her other hand holds the microphone stand. She has long, curled blonde hair and she wears a black jacket, blue shirt and black trousers.Getty Images

    Not at the festival today or did you miss Ella Henderson earlier?

    Worry not. Let us just take a moment again for the singer, who looked incredible on stage this afternoon.

    The crowd adored her set and she really helped to keep the party atmosphere going after Stereophonics.

    Ella Henderson sings into a microphone and holds one arm out to the side of her.Getty Images

  16. Fans looking forward to Jessie J's set

    Shivani Chaudhari
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A man sits in a camping chair at a festival surrounded by other attendees. He wears a beige cap, sunglasses and a patterned shirt with a white T-shirt underneath.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    Larry Eliemenye, 40, lives locally and has come to Hylands Park with his family.

    Unfortunately, due to traffic in the area, he missed Stereophonics' set earlier, but he says he cannot wait for Jessie J at 17:00 BST.

    Not long left to wait, Larry! Up next, though, is Kid Creole & The Coconuts.

  17. Rylan, he's one of our own!

    Rylan Clark speaks into a microphone on a stage with his other hand out to the side of his body. He wears a burgundy shirt, sunglasses, gold watch and bracelet.Getty Images

    Essex's very own Rylan Clark looked glorious on stage earlier while he was introducing Ella Henderson.

    Just look at that neat hair, perfectly trimmed beard and crisp shirt.

    Hopefully we see some more of him later.

  18. 'Good folks of Chelmsford'

    Marti Pellow has finished his set and is now talking with Radio 2's Jo Whiley and Romesh Ranganathan backstage.

    "With an audience like that, I could work with that all day," he tells them.

    "It was a pleasure to hang out with the good folks of Chelmsford."

  19. Marti Pellow loves Essex

    "You have been a pleasure to sing for this afternoon," he tells the Chelmsford crowd.

    "This is fantastic - what a great day. I love Essex."

    The feeling's mutual, Marti!

  20. Have we found Essex's biggest Stereophonics fan?

    A young woman with blonde hair and glasses and a young man also wearing glasses take a selfie from below. The man holds a pint glass.Contributed

    Adam May, 27, from Chelmsford is at the festival with his partner Abbey Kitchenham, 26, and he just might be Essex's biggest Stereophonics fan.

    Today's set by the band was his 21st time seeing them and his eighth time this year alone.

    He even went to San Francisco in the United States to see them earlier this year. What an effort!

    "Stereophonics were a brilliant start to the Chelmsford party with Dakota and Maybe Tomorrow getting everyone to sing along," says Adam.

    "I'm also looking forward to Bryan Adams headlining later."

    The Stereophonics frontman stands on stage with one hand raised in the area and the other holding his guitar. He wears glasses, jeans and a leather jacket. He has short dark hair.Contributed

    Stereophonics front man Kelly Jones rocking out on the Radio 2 in the Park stage