It was a hugely emotional Manchester homecoming for The Wanted star Tom Parker as he joined the reunited boyband on stage at the AO Arena for the final song of the show.
The Bolton-born star, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer in 2020 and recently returned to the UK following almost a month's worth of treatment at a specialist clinic in Spain, was able to join the rest of the band on stage for their number one hit Glad You Came at the show's finale.
Fans had been chanting "We love Tom" throughout the comeback show, after bandmate Max George hinted earlier in the show that Tom was in the building and that Tom's family was in the audience.
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But the cheers were deafening when Tom was finally revealed on stage - remaining seated on the top platform of the stage with a "We Love Tom banner" as his bandmates sang Glad You Came.
The star remained seated and was supported by his band mates, Max, Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran and Jay McGuiness.
The band also revealed on stage that they are to donate money from EVERY single ticket sold on this comeback tour to the Brain Tumour Charity to fund vital research into the disease.
Nathan told the crowds:“I think so many people have been on a really tough journey the last few years, a lot of us have, and we know a local lad who is incredible and we’re so proud of him.
“We’ve decided, as a group, we’ve partnered with a new charity called [iPledge] and we are going to donate £1 from every single ticket sold to the Brain Tumour Charity across this whole tour.
“So, there’s not really anything else to say, except thank you so much and we are so Glad You Came!”
As the song started up, a platform above rose with Jay and Max supporting Tom, who was seated.
Tom sat and sang into a microphone when he had the strength, while his bandmates supporting him in a touching and poignant moment for all the fans of the band, before they shout: "Tom, we love you brother."
Earlier Swinton's Max also spoke of how emotional it was to be back on home turf for both him and Tom.
He had said: “A big shout out to my family tonight who are all here and all my friends.
“My mum, dad, my brother, my girlfriend Stacey and Zack and Libby and also, a massive shoutout to Tom’s mum and dad who are here tonight.
“I love you guys, I may have given it away, but there is Mr Tom Parker back there as well.”
The rest of the show was met with a bouncing energy from the crowd delighted to welcome the band back to the stage.
The evening was opened by American singer Harper Starling who hopped across the pond to open the show with a high energy performance of Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk.
HRVY came on stage next to a cheer, with dancers adding to the staging, giving the show a full set of life and movement.
He impressed the crowds with his dance moves, his time on Strictly Come Dancing clearly impressing upon him the importance of a smooth move.
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Despite Tom’s absence from the rest of the show, the rest of the band entertained the audience with light humour and boundless enthusiasm as they hopped all over the Escher inspired set in the arena reprising their biggest chart hits.
They opened the show with their breakout banger All Time Low, and highlights included Heart Vacancy, Rule the World and Warzone - the band also ensured there was a tribute to Ukraine with the stage bathed in the the colours of the flag at one point of the show.
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