Dame Vera recalls fabulous Forties

Has it really been 60 years? For those who shinned lamp posts and smooched with strangers on 8 May 1945, the VE Day commemorative concert in Trafalgar Square must have brought the memories rushing back.

The Royal British Legion, the BBC and the Mayor of London did a fine job of sending the Square back to the Forties for 15,000 holders of free tickets. A Dakota DC3 did a flypast to mark the start of the show.

George Formby and Fred Astaire appeared on big screens decked out like the first televisions and everything was framed by that British celebratory staple, bunting.

Period footage understandably made this effort seem like a pale imitation, however. On the occasion of the Second World War ending in Europe, work was cancelled, beer was free and the streets of London teemed with ecstatic humanity.

Chatting to TV co-host Eamonn Holmes, one veteran revealed that he had spent that night 60 years ago astride one of Trafalgar Square's lions.

Last night only a handful of plucky youths dared to disturb the fountains on a chilly, windy evening.

The BBC Big Band led a variety of British stars through fondly remembered hits with Katie Melua softly singing White Cliffs Of Dover.

M-People's Heather Small and classical singer Hayley Westenra performed a lively duet on Chattanooga Choo Choo and Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins performed Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye. Will Young received some of the biggest applause of the evening after a vintage dance routine during Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

Daniel Bedingfield burst the perfect Forties bubble, with his song Wrap My Words Around You.

There were also readings from celebrities including Heather Mills-McCartney, with husband Sir Paul waving flags in the audience, and Christopher Eccleston, whose reading of part of Laurence Binyon's war poem For The Fallen was followed by a 15-second silence.

Younger stars didn't take all the appreciation, as the more traditional names on the list received an equally warm reception. Sir Cliff Richard, whose singing career started sometime during the Boer War, crooned Sentimental Journey and then returned for an incongruous rock 'n' roll rendition of his new single, What Car.

At the close, co-host Natasha Kaplinsky brought on the undisputed star of the show, forces' sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn. Now 87, she sang at the 50th VE Day celebrations but sadly opted out here, passing the microphone to Jenkins, who led the crowd in a confetti-strewn climax of We'll Meet Again.

The televised concert was watched on screens in Liverpool, Manchester, Hull and Birmingham.