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. Mel C joins Bryan Adams on stage

    Mel C and Bryan Adams sing to each other on stage. Bryans plays a guitar as Mel C sings into a microphone in her hand.

    Wow! Bryan Adams has just brought out Sporty Spice for their song When You're Gone.

    Mel C is cheered on by the crowd as they perform an acoustic version.

    It truly sounds amazing with the crowd's help.

  2. Suffolk neighbours in the house

    Elliot Deady
    Reporting from Hylands House

    Three women all with blonde hair smile at the camera. Two women on the outside have face paint and one wears glasses. Crowds of people can be seen behind them.Elliot Deady/BBC

    Emma Ridgeon, Laura Greenhalgh and Tracey Role nipped up the A12 from Suffolk to be at the festival and have been here in the front row since about 12:00 BST.

    Nice to have our Suffolk neighbours in town!

  3. Crowd lights up Hylands Park

    Bryan Adams performs to a crowd a night who have their phone torches on. He is pictured from behind so the crowd can be seen.

    Thousands of phone torches are raised in the air for Bryan Adams's next track, Shine a Light.

    "It looks beautiful," he tells them mid-song.

    Adams says he wrote it for his late father.

  4. Teachers standing strong on the front row

    Elliot Deady
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    Four women stand together under the glow of an orange stage light and smile at the camera.Elliot Deady/BBC

    Michelle Field, Elles Govus, Amy Plunkett and Abby Marsh - all teachers from Chelmsford - have been here in the front row since Ella Henderson's set at 14:00 BST.

    That is impressive dedication.

  5. We're in Heaven

    The hits just keep rolling on and next up is Heaven.

    The song was recorded in 1983 and, in his home country of Canada, it reached number 11 in the charts.

    Here in the UK, it peaked at just 38.

    In 2001, it was sampled by Spanish DJ and producer DJ Sammy for a dance track.

  6. Bryan Adams addresses the crowd

    Bryan Adams performs on stage playing a guitar. He has short hair and he wears a blue jacket with a white T-shirt underneath.

    He promises he is going to squeeze in as many songs as he can, the next one being 18 Til I Die.

    The track, released back in 1996, receives a huge roar from the crowd.

  7. Bryan Adams fan has seen him 80 times!

    Elliot Deady
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A woman with dark hair which is tied back who wears a white T-shirt, hugs an older woman with grey hair and glasses who is wearing a floral top.Elliot Deady/BBC

    Stacey Cooper, 31, and Lorraine Lodge, 59, both from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, are having a lovely time in the front row, where they arrived at 13:00 BST.

    Lorraine has seen Bryan Adams 80 times - first in 1985. She's even been on stage with him at Wembley Arena!

  8. Bryan Adams giving taste of new music

    Bryan Adams is playing his fourth song of the set and is giving the crowd a taste of music he released earlier this year.

    He performs the single Roll with the Punches, which came out in February this year and was the name of his 16th studio album, released just last month.

  9. Crowd sings along to Run to You

    Second song up is Run To You, which has incredible guitar riffs and moments where Bryan Adams can properly belt the lyrics.

    The crowd is singing along beautifully. Go on, Chelmsford!

  10. The Groover from Vancouver is welcomed on stage

    Bryan Adams raises his hat in the air on stage during a performance. He looks out on to the crowd and smiles.Getty Images

    Bryan Adams is welcomed on to the main stage by Zoe Ball and Dermot O'Leary.

    The 65-year-old Canadian singer has sold millions of records worldwide.

    Throughout his career he has topped the charts in more than 40 countries.

    His hits throughout the 1980s and 90s are iconic, including the anthems (Everything I Do) I Do It For You and Summer Of '69.

    In 1991, (Everything I Do) I Do It For You reached number one in at least 19 countries. The single was number one for 16 weeks in the UK.

    Speaking ahead of the event, he said: "There's something exciting about playing in a new place, especially somewhere that's filled with a Radio 2 crowd ready to rock.

    "I'm thrilled to be part of this event... brace yourselves, we're gonna roll with the punches!"

  11. Bryans Adams gets the crowd going

    Bryan Adams is on stage!

    Wow, it is an electric opening with his song Kick Ass.

    The crowd is already going mad for it - long may it continue!

  12. Watch: Stereophonics rock Hylands Park

    In case you missed it earlier, here's another chance to watch the Stereophonics.

    This weekend's performances will be available on BBC iPlayer here, where you can also see classic sets from the event through the years.

  13. 'I feel like I'm 17 again'

    Nadira Tudor
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A man with dark hair, sunglasses, a white shirt and black T-shirt underneath, stands next to a woman with red hair, sunglasses and a denim jacket.Nadira Tudor/BBC

    Matt and Kelly are enjoying their first festival together in 23 years.

    "I'm reliving my youth," says Matt. "I was here for V98 - I feel like I’m 17 again."

    Kelly adds that she feels "honoured" to be here.

  14. Crowd belts out Heaven Is a Place on Earth

    Belinda Carlisle finishes her set with a stunning performance of the ever-popular Heaven Is a Place on Earth.

    The crowd sings along to every word while white and pink bright lights illuminate the night sky from the stage.

    The place is buzzing.

  15. 'A nice family day out'

    Nadira Tudor
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A young woman with long blonde hair smiles at the camera. She has a nose piercing, wears a necklace and wears a black vest top. People sitting on a picnic blanket can be seen behind her as well as other people leaning on a barrier.Nadira Tudor/BBC

    Korin Stone, 37, is from nearby Harlow.

    "I’m excited as it’s my first time here," she says. "It’s a nice family day out. I love it.

    "It’s such a good mix of people and ages."

  16. What is left on tonight's line up?

    Bryan Adams performing onstage in 2022. He is holding an acoustic guitar and standing in front of a microphone. Behind him is a drummer and lots of blue lights. Bryan Adams is wearing a white top and black leather jacket.Getty Images

    After Belinda Carlisle, there is just one more act on the main stage, which is none other than Bryan Adams.

    He is due on at 20:30 BST and the festival will finish at 21:30 for the day.

    Adams' hits include Summer of 69, Everything I do, All for Love, Run to You, Heaven and When You're Gone.

  17. Majestic performance by Belinda Carlisle

    There's something about the late-summer evening festival time slot that lends a performance a majestic glow.

    That can truly be said of Belinda Carlisle's captivating performance of Circle in the Sand.

  18. Fans travel from Southport to attend

    Shivani Chaudhari
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A woman with purple hair stands between her two male friends. They are all wearing sunglasses. The woman wears a denim dress with a black top underneath. One man wears a grey T-shirt and the other wears an orange one.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    Steve Todd, 61, Rachel Todd, 51, and Jason Wareing, 54, have travelled all the way from Southport, Merseyside. It took them four and a half hours to get to Chelmsford.

    They attended last year's Radio 2 in the Park event, which inspired them to buy tickets for this weekend.

    Teacher Rachel says it's their first time in Essex, which she thinks is "very pretty".

  19. Jessie J looked out of this world

    Jessie J raises both her arms and smiles during a performance.She wears a silver glittery cropped top and trousers as well as a jacket over the top.Getty Images

    If you did not see Jessie J earlier, here are some stunning pictures of the singer during her performance.

    She looked ethereal in her silver, glittery co-ord.

    Jessie J knees on stage as she sings into a microphone. One of her arms is raised in the air.Getty Images

  20. Belinda Carlisle enters the stage

    As the sun starts to set, Belinda Carlisle has joined the stage and launched straight into (We Want) The Same Thing.

    The crowd is loving it.