VE Day concert review: The Darkness and John Newman aside, it was a beautiful and befitting event Royals battled to keep a straight face through modern music performances, but were moved to tears by the true stars Anita Singh Arts and Entertainment Editor 09 May 2025 12:38am BST 09 May 2025 12:38am BST Gift this article free The concert was spectacular, mostly because of the contribution of the older generation  Credit: Gareth Fuller Anita Singh Arts and Entertainment Editor 09 May 2025 12:38am BST The BBC’s VE Day concert was billed as a showbiz spectacular, but never mind the performers. It was members of the greatest generation who made the evening special.The remarkable Harry Richardson, seated next to the King, a former Bomber Command pilot still going strong at 107 years old.Jeff Borsack, whose tale of unimaginable sadness - orphaned at three when his parents were killed in a London bombing raid while he spent the night in hospital with measles - brought tears to the eyes of the Princess of Wales.  The Prince and Princess of Wales greeted audience members  Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley The royal couple also spent time with Second World War veteran Harry Richardson Credit: Yui Mok There were moving recollections from men and women who appeared on film throughout the concert recalling the events of 80 years ago, from the wrench of evacuation to the joy of the war’s end.The BBC, whatever you think of it, is good at producing events like this. The concert was well-rehearsed and well-staged, albeit hosted by Zoe Ball with a children’s TV show energy (“Part of remembering our history means trying to understand what it was like”). King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoyed spending time with veterans before the concert Credit: Justin Tallis The King waved the Union Jack throughout the concert Credit: Getty The King, who sat next to Mr Richardson, said he had ‘heartfelt gratitude’ for veterans Credit: Chris Jackson Camerawork was on point, framing Horse Guards Parade beneath a faded pink sky. And everyone treated proceedings with respect, including the actor Brian Cox.He was here to deliver Winston Churchill’s victory speech and delivered it well, gracing the royal occasion with his presence despite his feelings about the monarchy (he is on record as wanting it to be abolished).Most of the acts befitted the occasion, including a tribute to the Andrews Sisters, and a recreation of a Dad’s Army sketch featuring comic actor Jim Howick doing a decent impression of Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring. Emma Barton, Michelle Hardwick and Claire Sweeney performing a tribute to The Andrews Sisters Credit: Getty A tribute to Dad’s Army, with Iain Glen, David Bradley, Jim Howick and Nigel Havers Credit: Getty Strictly’s professional dancers brought sparkle.This wouldn’t be a BBC broadcast if it didn’t give us something to complain about, though, and at times you had to wonder what the celebrity booker had been smoking. Toploader, a band last relevant in the year 2000?The Darkness rocking out in front of a bemused Prince William? Reviewers thought The Darkness was a strange choice  Credit: Getty And the royals needed all their reserves of politeness to keep a straight face during the song by John Newman, a drum and bass star who sounded like a duck trying to pass a kidney stone. Dignitaries appeared to genuinely enjoy many of the performances Credit: Aaron Chown At other times, they appeared to clap only out of politeness  Credit: Eddie Mulholland But the classics were quite beautiful, from the magnificent Sir Willard White singing You’ll Never Walk Alone to cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason accompanying Keala Settle on When You Wish Upon A Star. Samantha Barks closed the concert with We’ll Meet Again Credit: Ben Whitley West End star Samantha Barks, nine months pregnant, closed the show on a perfect note with We’ll Meet Again.And one of the most stirring moments was the opening Lancaster Bomber flypast.Throughout the evening, the new was outshone by the old.