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. Scot Marti Pellow wows crowd in kilt

    Marti Pellow performs on stage and smiles. He holds a microphone stand in one hand and is raising his other arm. His band plays behind him.Getty Images

    Marti Pellow got the crowds howling earlier when he prayed that the wind wouldn't accidentally blow his kilt up.

    Jokes aside, he looked amazing in his tartan representing his Scottish roots.

  2. Who is next on the mainstage?

    Belinda Carlisle smiles at the camera. She has shoulder length light brown hair and wears a black top.Jamie Simonds/BBC

    Belinda Carlisle will be taking to the stage at 19:00 BST.

    The American singer-songwriter first rose to fame as the lead vocalist of The Go-Go's.

    Carlisle, 67, said: "After having such a fantastic time recording the Piano Room for Radio 2, I am super excited to be joining up with them again this year."

    She is best known for hits like Our Lips Are Sealed, Heaven Is a Place on Earth, I Get Weak, Circle in the Sand, Leave a Light On, Summer Rain and, most recently, Big Big Love.

  3. Hands in the air for Ronan Keating

    Elliot Deady
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A large crowd of people all with their hands in the air watch Ronan Keating perform on a large stage.Elliot Deady/BBC

    The crowd went absolutely wild (me included) as Ronan Keating finished his set with Life is a Rollercoaster.

    Will that sea of hands stay in the air all night long?

    Another view in front of a large crowd of people with their arms raised in the area during a festival.Elliot Deady/BBC

  4. Chelmsford crowd leaves Ronan Keating 'speechless'

    Keating tells Sara Cox and Dermot O'Leary backstage the show was "exceptional".

    "What a feeling. The crowd are so beautiful, so brilliant, so giving. I'm just speechless."

    Keating says he had a glass of red wine immediately when he got off stage.

    "I can't take the smile off my face, it was brilliant," he adds.

  5. What time does Radio 2 in the Park start and finish?

    Today's festivities in Chelmsford kicked off at 11:00 BST and are expected to finish at 21:45, with last entry being 20:45.

    On Sunday, gates open at the same time but last entry to the event is 20:30 and it finishes at 21:30.

  6. Look at that crowd!

    An image from a stage looking out on to a large crowd. Ronan Keating rests on his knees on part of the stage in front of the crowd.

    Ronan Keating is performing to thousands of people. It's incredible.

  7. Ronan Keating gets crowd bouncing

    Ronan Keating is ending his set with Life is a Rollercoaster and, as expected, the Hylands Park crowd is bouncing.

    I would not be surprised if the collective singing could be heard across the whole of Chelmsford right now.

  8. Siblings who attend festivals together, stay together

    Shivani Chaudhari
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A man and women sit next to each other on camping chairs. They both wear sunglasses. The man has short dark hair and wears a grey T-shirt. The woman has blonde hair that has been tied up and she wears a dark grey vest top.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    Brother and sister Carol James from Kent and Matt Bowen from Chelmsford have come to the festival together.

    “I’ve always wanted to go to Radio 2 in the Park but it was always so far away," says Carol.

    “I’m up for more acts coming to Chelmsford."

    Chelmsford to host again next year, anyone?

  9. Dance break for our BBC Essex colleagues

    Elliot Deady
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    Sonia Watson, Akylah Rodriguez and Nadira Tudor dance in front of a camera. The women wear BBC ID badges and sunglasses.Elliot Deady/BBC

    Sonia Watson, Akylah Rodriguez and Nadira Tudor from BBC Essex have been working hard all day interviewing the acts and our Radio 2 colleagues.

    So they are taking a well-earned break to soak up the last of the sunshine while they sing their hearts out to Ronan Keating.

    Go on girls, you deserve it!

  10. Bryan Adams joins Ronan Keating on stage

    Ronan Keating performs on stage. A large crowd watches on.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    Despite being tonight's headline act, Bryan Adams has made a surprise early appearance and joins Ronan Keating on stage for their song The Way You Make Me Feel.

    Keating describes Adams as his "hero".

    What a moment this is for the crowd; what a moment for Essex!

  11. How much are tickets for Radio 2 in the Park?

    Thinking of coming to Hylands Park on Sunday but wondering how much a ticket will cost?

    Tickets can be bought on Ticketmaster for £68 each for general admission.

    More information about Sunday tickets can be found here.

  12. Harley Moon Kemp joins Ronan Keating

    Ronan brings out Harley Moon Kemp, Martin and Shirlie Kemp's daughter, to sing Last Thing on my Mind

    He teases the crowd first saying she comes from the "most ridiculously talented family".

    The pair are belting out the song beautifully together.

  13. Bryan Adams fans waiting patiently

    Nadira Tudor
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A woman sits in a camping chair wearing a green cowboy hat, green cami vest top and sunglasses. She has shoulder length grey hair that falls from beneath her hat.Nadira Tudor/BBC

    Deborah Cording, 63, has come from nearby Billericay.

    "I'm really looking forward to the whole event but, in particular, Bryan Adams," she says.

    "It’s a great place to have music. Just to see live events out in the open is brilliant."

    Bryan Adams will take to the stage at 20:30 BST.

  14. Ronan Keating is here!

    Ronan Keating smiles at the camera in front of an orange backdrop. He has short blonde hair and wears a black shirt.Sarah Jeynes/BBC

    Ronan Keating has been brought on stage in incredible fashion by Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness.

    Keating opens with Lovin' Each Day, which the crowd immediately loves.

    The Irish singer has sold more than 45 million albums with Boyzone and as a solo artist, with 30 consecutive Top 10 hits to date.

    He said he was "thrilled" to be in the line up.

  15. Are tickets for Radio 2 in the Park on Sunday still available?

    Missed out today on a ticket?

    Well, don't fret! There are still tickets available on Ticketmaster for Sunday.

    More information can be found on the BBC's website here.

  16. Na, na, na, na, na

    Life is a Rollercoaster singer, Ronan Keating, is up next on stage.

    We are ready and waiting to hear the crowds screaming those 'na nas' at the start of his hit song.

  17. Have a sneak peek backstage

    Jessie J singing on stage. The picture is taking from backstage. Hundreds of people watch her from below the stage.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    Our reporter Shivani Chaudhari has been backstage catching a glimpse of Jessie J's performance earlier.

    It shows just a snapshot of the huge crowd Jessie was singing to.

    The singer then gave an interview with Rylan Clark where she spoke again of her love for Essex.

    Jessie J and Rylan Clark stand together backstage ready to do an interview.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

  18. Beyonce's Nando's order and Bieber's helicopter arrival in Chelmsford

    Lewis Adams
    Reporting from Chelmsford

    Justin Bieber is wearing a hoodie with light brown, navy and white stripes. He has short brown hair and is pointing while holding a microphone on stage.Getty Images

    It has never been confirmed if Justin Bieber got to enjoy the delights of Chelmsford High Street while in town

    Having grown up with Chelmsford on my doorstep, it has always been hard to believe that people who are genuinely world-famous could be chilling in the park a short drive away.

    But that is exactly what has happened over the years, thanks to Hylands Park’s popularity as a festival destination.

    Crowds at the venue have seen big names including Oasis, Jay-Z and Rihanna perform here in years gone by.

    I still remember the excitement of watching Justin Bieber arriving by helicopter at V Festival in 2016.

    And who can forget when Beyonce spent almost £1,500 at the Chelmsford branch of chicken restaurant Nando's?

    Today’s acts will only add to the legacy Hylands Park has in Essex.

  19. 'Four-hour journey from Bolton worth it'

    Shivani Chaudhari
    Reporting from Hylands Park

    A woman wears a grey cowboy hat with yellow flowers on it and yellow flowers around her neck. She also wears a gold dress. A man stands next to her wears a brown top hat and blue Adidas sports top. He holds a plastic pint cup in one of his hands.Shivani Chaudhari/BBC

    Karen Buckley and Kevin Mercer have driven four hours from Bolton to be here and say the journey has been worth it.

    "I’ve never been to Essex or Chelmsford - it’s very beautiful," says Karen.

    “The acts so far have been wonderful."

    She is most excited to see headliner Bryan Adams later, she tells us.

  20. Can we have a selfie with two broadcast icons, please?

    Tony Blackburn and Jeremy Vine take a selfie on a stage. They both wear floral shirts.Getty Images

    Broadcast icons Jeremy Vine and Tony Blackburn are spotted taking a selfie on stage prior to them introducing Marti Pellow on stage earlier this afternoon.

    We cannot wait to see the selfie results on Jeremy's TikTok account later!