Charity stars light up Cardiff

Charlotte Church gave a show-stopping performance

Charlotte Church and Atomic Kitten were among the stars who wowed Cardiff's Millennium Stadium to raise money for charities.

Steps, A1 and S Club 7 completed the chart contingent with Petula Clark and tenor Russell Watson also taking the stage.

Girl group Atomic Kitten entertained the younger members of the audience

The ShowTime @ the Stadium concert on Saturday night was fund-raising for Red Hot Aids Charitable Trust and Children in Need.

Much of the music came from hit West End shows.

S Club 7 started the night with their song Have You Ever before members Jo O'Meara and Paul Cattermole, holding hands, launched into Bring Him Home from Les Miserables.

Atomic Kitten proved they can more than turn their hands to musical theatre, with a rendition of Macavity from Cats.

Huge applause

And 15-year-old Charlotte Church took to the stage in her home town, wearing black trousers and a strapless top.

She performed two numbers, including Don't Rain On My Parade from Funny Girl, to huge applause.

The show, organised by former Ultravox front man Midge Ure, was supported by an orchestra, choir and dancing troops.

Ure, who joined Bob Geldof for Live Aid, was not to be outdone by his performers.

He took to the stage with Bermuda-born singer Heather Nova for Phantom of the Opera's signature tune.

Mammoth stage

Others to perform in the half-empty 72,000-seater stadium included Ruthie Henshall, dubbed the queen of musical theatre, and Damage.

Each was introduced by host H from Steps. The organisers had earlier admitted that some of the acts would be miming.

The centrepiece of the show was the mammoth 15,000 square feet stage, purported to be the biggest built inside any stadium ever.

The show is the first time that most of the pitch has remained in the stadium for a full-scale concert.

It was broadcast on Radio Wales, and on BBC Radio 2, and has been recorded for a TV appearance in the future.