We've just been catching up with Richard Jones from Stereophonics, who's given us an insight into life backstage.

"It's quite communal," he says. "Everybody says hello to each other, introduces themselves if they haven’t met.

"We’re all in the same game, it’s all good fun."

He remembers playing to crowds here at V Festival in years gone by, particularly recalling their enthusiasm.

Smiling, Jones adds: "The Essex lot, they like having a good time don’t they?"

What a perfect day to enjoy a festival!

If there isn't a name you recognise on this list, I'm afraid you might be in the wrong place.

We've got Tony Blackburn's Golden Hour, Fearne Cotton's Sounds of the 90s and Dermot O'Leary's Alternative Sounds of the 90s.

They follow school disco tunes from Paddy McGuinness and comedian Romesh Ranganathan's For The Love of Hip Hop show.

Jo Whiley, who we caught up with in Chelmsford on Thursday, has her Shiny Happy Playlist and Trevor Nelson will be bringing some old skool classics.

Thanks to the top work of our reporters in Hylands Park, I've got absolutely stacks of pictures of party-goers to upload here.

But I just couldn't scroll past this comment from Rick Cook, who's here for the day from Romford in east London.

"Essex is always the best part of England and the best people come from Essex," he says.

Someone get this man a medal.

Now this is the commitment we love to see...

Philip and Jenny Stone have travelled almost 200 miles (321km) from Axminster in Devon to be here!

"We are impressed with Essex - they have been very welcoming so far," they say.

The couple, both 50, tell us they are excited to see Def Leppard perform tomorrow.

We've just been catching up with some of the first people to get through the gates here at Hylands Park.

For Jennie and Lauren Manley, it's time to party, mother-daughter style.

"It’s such a huge thing for Essex to have this," Jennie says.

Marie Atkinson, 51, has made the short trip from Maldon to be here.

"I think it’s brilliant," she says. "I can’t believe how many big names are here.

"I’ve never seen Belinda Carlisle perform live, so that’s why I wanted to come."

Image source, Getty Images

Fans of music legend Bryan Adams can rest easy: today is the day he rocks out in Essex.

He's already told fans: "Brace yourselves, we’re gonna roll with the punches!" - and that is not a warning that should be taken lightly.

Adams will be headlining the main stage and is preceded by Belinda Carlisle and Ronan Keating.

Price Tag singer Jessie J will also take to the stage later, as will Kid Creole and the Coconuts and Marti Pellow.

Crowds can also expect huge performances from Ella Henderson and Stereophonics.

Radio 2 presenters Vernon Kay, Scott Mills and Rylan all kicked off the festival last night with a buzzing DJ party.

It's fair to say 45-year-old Kelly, who travelled down from Bristol, wouldn't have missed it for the world.

"I’m happy because I feel like I’m in Rylan land," she said on her first trip to Essex on Friday.

Michelle Visage and DJ Spoony were also bringing the tunes, but some fans in the crowd forgot a vital instrument.

"We forgot our wooden spoons, we're gutted," said Gill Melder, who travelled from Chadwell Heath, east London, to see (and wave the cutlery at) DJ Spoony.

Hello and welcome to our live reporting from Radio 2 in the Park, here in Chelmsford.

Up to 65,000 people are expected to attend the three-day festival, which opened on Friday afternoon with Radio 2 DJs Rylan, Scott Mills and Spooney on the decks for a pre-party set.

Today Bryan Adams, Jessie J, Ella Henderson and Stereophonics will grace the main stage.

Over on the DJ stage, Fearne Cotton will be bringing the sounds of the 1990s, comedian Romesh Ranganathan will share his love of hip hop, and Jo Whiley will host her "shiny happy playlist".

Despite a rainier period in Essex recently, the weather looks in no mood to spoil the party: we're expecting highs of up to 21C (70F).

Stick with us as we bring you all the latest from Hylands Park.