Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Westlife are to headline this year's Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Proms In The Park in Hyde Park on Saturday 10 September – the annual Last Night Of The Proms extravaganza broadcast live on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2. Now in its 16th year, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Proms In The Park has become Britain's largest outdoor classical music event and is once again expected to attract around 40,000 music-lovers to join the fun and the magic of the nationwide Last Night Of The Proms celebrations.

Irish boy band Westlife have notched up a staggering 14 No. 1 singles and 11 albums throughout their 12-year career, with record sales of more than 44 million worldwide. With hit singles including Flying Without Wings, Uptown Girl and You Raise Me Up, Westlife's live set at Proms In The Park promises to provide a rousing close to the celebrations.

The band join a star-studded line-up that includes award-winning mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, tenor Russell Watson and singer-songwriter Josh Groban. Celebrated pianist Lang Lang makes a guest appearance on the Hyde Park stage before hot-footing it to perform at the Last Night inside the Royal Albert Hall – the first artist ever to appear at both concerts on the same night. The event also sees the return of Sir Terry Wogan, presenting the event for the 15th time, alongside the Royal Choral Society and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra under the baton of Keith Lockhart.

The event culminates in a live video link-up with the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to favourites including Climb Ev'ry Mountain from The Sound Of Music and the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic You'll Never Walk Alone, as well as the chance to join in with Last Night classics including Rule, Brittannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory. And as ever, crowds are encouraged to bring picnics and flags, to sing along and enjoy the music and firework finale.

Vocal harmony group the Overtones, Deacon Blue, Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers and the cast of Rock Of Ages start the entertainment in the afternoon's warm-up events, hosted by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce. This year's Proms In The Park follows the success of last year's concert, which featured Neil Sedaka, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and JosΓ© Carreras.

The event is one of four major Last Night Of The Proms celebrations staged across the UK by the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ on Saturday 10 September. The others will be held in Bangor, County Down (Northern Ireland), Dundee (Scotland) and Caerphilly (Wales), bringing the magic of the Last Night Of The Proms to thousands of music-lovers around the UK.

Proms In The Park fans across the UK are able to tune in to the concert live on Radio 2 or by pressing the red button during the Last Night Of The Proms on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TV (live and in full on Sky, Virgin and Freesat/live excerpts only on Freeview). The concert will be available on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ iPlayer for seven days after the event.

Audiences can view the Last Night Of The Proms via one of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Big Screens situated around the UK – locations in 2011 include Belfast (City Hall), Birmingham (Victoria Square), Bradford (Centenary Square), Bristol (Millennium Square), Cardiff (The Hayes), Coventry (Millennium Place), Derby (Market Place)*, Dover (Market Square), Edinburgh (Festival Square), Leeds (Millennium Square), Leicester (Humberstone Gate), Manchester (Exchange Square), Middlesbrough (Centre Square)*, Norwich (Chapelfield Plain), Plymouth (Armada Way)*, Portsmouth (Guildhall Square), Swindon (Wharf Green), Waltham Forest (Walthamstow Town Square) and Woolwich (General Gordon Place).

* Locations with additional entertainment.

More information on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Big Screens can be found here:

Listings information

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Proms in the Park, Hyde Park, London
Gates open at 4.00pm; entertainment from 5.30pm
The concert includes a Big Screen link up to the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Concert Orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart
Hosted by Sir Terry Wogan
Line-up: Westlife, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Josh Groban, Lang Lang, Royal Choral Society
Pre-broadcast entertainment hosted by Ken Bruce
Pre-broadcast line-up: The Overtones, Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, Deacon Blue, the cast of Rock of Ages.

Notes to Editors

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

Radio 2 is the UK's most popular radio station, with 14.54 million listeners tuning in every week, bringing its audience a broad range of popular and specialist music complemented with documentaries, current affairs, religion and the arts. The network is home to some of the UK's most popular radio presenters such as Chris Evans, Ken Bruce, Simon Mayo and Jeremy Vine as well as specialist music talent such as Jamie Cullum, Jools Holland and Bob Harris.

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Proms

The 117th season of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Proms, the world's largest classical music festival, opens at the Royal Albert Hall on 15 July 2011, presenting the world's leading artists and orchestras, as well as a host of talks, workshops, free performances and family events.

The Proms run until Saturday 10 September 2011, and full information on the season is available at bbc.co.uk/proms.

Booking is now open: online at bbc.co.uk/proms, by telephone on 0845 401 5040 or in person at the Royal Albert Hall.

MC4