Stars come out for Aids benefit

Robbie Williams is tipped to take part

The star-studded line-up for a massive charity concert to help Aids charities is due to be revealed on Wednesday.

The event, at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, is organised by former Ultravox frontman Midge Ure, who helped Bob Geldof stage the groundbreaking Live Aid concert in 1985.

That event was watched by millions worldwide and raised $100m for those devastated by famine in Africa, as well as sparking a series of benefit gigs.

The Millennium Stadium will host the event

Among the stars who will help launch the 20 October spectacular in Cardiff are girl band Atomic Kitten and Welsh singer Charlotte Church.

Madonna, Robbie Williams, George Michael, S Club 7, the Bee Gees, the Backstreet Boys, Debbie Harry, and Barry Manilow have also been approached to play, but no-one has so far been confirmed.

BBC Wales is helping organise the event in conjunction with the Red Hot Aids charity. The concert will be recorded for broadcast on BBC One a week later.

Live Aid was a specific, very special moment - it's something that has gone down in musical history, and I don't think you can repeat that

Midge Ure

Ure has been involved in organising several major musical fundraisers, including the Prince's Trust concert and the Nelson Mandela birthday event.

He told BBC One's Breakfast news show on Wednesday that he would not be trying to recreate Live Aid.

"Some of the tabloids have christened it Live Aid II," he said.

"But it's not that - it will have some similarities, in that it will obviously be a charity-orientated concert, but it will be very different from anything I have done before.

"It's a celebration of musical theatre, so you will have a variety of artistes, contemporary and otherwise, performing songs from the theatre and musicals.

"Live Aid was a specific, very special moment.

"It's something that has gone down in musical history, and I don't think you can repeat that."

A full orchestra will be assembled for the event - which is so far untitled - and there are likely to be stars performing songs very different to the ones which made them famous.

Ure has already hinted that he hopes to get Robbie Williams doing something from Les Miserables.

All-weather arena

"We are doing some interesting things, and talking to a lot of different people about doing something that is absolutely unique.

"It's something that will never happen again."

The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff has quickly established itself as one of the flagship concert venues in Britain.

Its retractable roof means that it can become an open-air venue or a weather-proof arena within minutes.

As well as attracting big musical names like Robbie Williams, The Stereophonics, Bon Jovi, and the Manic Street Preachers, it has also hosted a wide range of high-profile sporting events, from the Rugby World Cup and the FA Cup Final to the motorcycle Grand Prix.