Tom Grennan discusses unlikely friendship with Mel C after showstopping Big Weekend duet

Tom Grennan has opened up about his surprising friendship with Spice Girls icon Mel C. was one of the star performers at the 2025 Radio 1 Big Weekend in Liverpool.

Taking to the stage on Friday, the star, who is from Bedford, was joined by 51, where they sang together. The duo entertained the crowds by sharing anecdotes as well as singing Mel's hit song When You're Gone, which she originally performed with Bryan Adams.

Tom said after his set on the Main Stage at Sefton Park: “Mel is a good mate of mine, but she’s a Scouse legend too so it just felt the perfect chance to do something a bit special together - thankfully she was up for it!

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

“The whole event was just a brilliant experience and getting a few mates out on stage to join me really gave it an extra bit of something on top, but doing something marking the memory of the Hillsborough victims just felt right.

“Mel is such a supporter of that cause too, she really understands what it means to local people and has been involved with raising money for the support group over the years.”

Wearing a retro Everton shirt while Mel wore a 90s Liverpool kit, the pair talked movingly about “uniting the city” with Tom later adding: “It’s a special city with an amazing history, and obviously an incredible sporting rivalry, so hopefully we managed to get the tone just right.

“There were a few bantery boos from the Everton fans when Mel came out in the retro Liverpool kit, so I ran backstage and changed into an old Everton one to redress the balance, it seemed to go down well.

“Hopefully people had a great time as well as taking a second to remember the 97 people who lost their lives as a result of the Hillsborough disaster.” Tom was also joined by local rockers The Zutons, YouTuber KSI and pal Ella Henderson.

The also caught up with The Saturdays star Mollie King at the music event - with the star appearing days after her triumphant return to the air following her most recent maternity leave. “It’s so good to be back,” she told me - and said she was made up to be reunited with co-host Matt Edmonson.

“I’ve missed this guy. He was the first person to visit and meet the little one.”

The Saturdays star welcomed her second daughter, Lilliana, with cricketer Stuart Broad in January. Telling me she’s got the mum juggle down to a tee, she said: “I’ve got the best of both worlds. I see my best friend in the afternoon and then my girlies, and Stuart, in the morning. To have cuddles with the girls and then do the radio show is perfect.”

Mollie and Matt open day three of the festival with a DJ set - and are promising some dance moves. “It’ll be fun,” said Matt. “There will be lots of hands in the air. Timber by Pitbull will 100% be on the list.”

“I think we should practice a little routine,” added Mollie.

That will be festival high - but Matt shared one experience which hit a bum note. “I was at Tea In The Park,” he said. “I was on a buggy. There was a lattice fence and I saw a guy take a s*** against that fence. That was quite a low point. It was like one of those Playdo fun factories.”

Follow Mirror Celebs on , , , , , and