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Stephen Gately's tribute this weekend

Monday, 30 November 2009

I was at a star-studded evening in London's West End for Boyzone's Stephen Gately on Sunday.

Celebrities from all areas of show business turned out to pay tribute to the popstar, who was found dead, aged just 33, after fluid had built up in his lungs while on holiday in Majorca in October.

Crowds of people waited in the pouring rain to watch the stars arrive for the private evening of music and tributes from friends ­ some famous, some not.

Bandmates Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch looked grim as they arrived at the West End's Palace Theatre. On stage, when Ronan talked about his memories of his friend, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

The event was compered by "I'm A Celebrity" winner, Christopher Biggins, who starred with Stephen in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Among the performers were Lee Ryan from Blue, Shane Ward, Beverley Knight, Chesney Hawkes and Liz McClarnon. Chesney had been writing songs with Stephen over the summer and performed one of the songs the pair had written together, as well as his Number One hit "The One And Only". The cast of West End show Joseph, in which Stephen starred, also took to the stage.

In the audience were Stephen's partner, Andrew, his family who had flown over from Ireland, Alan Carr, Duncan from Blue, the Strictly Come Dancing judges and even Cherie Blair, the wife of our former Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

Louis Walsh was appearing live on the X Factor at the time so couldn't make the show but he came on to the party afterwards in celebrity restaurant The Ivy. He broke the news that Lloyd had been voted off the singing competition!

The whole evening was a joyful and moving celebration of a lovely man and shining star who died too soon.

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