Concert for Ukraine at Resorts World Arena: Ukrainian singer confirmed

Ukraine singer, actress and songwriter and winner of the 2016 Eurovision competition Jamala and the Grammy winning violinist Nicola Benedetti will join tonight’s all-star line up for Concert for Ukraine.

Jamala (real name Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova) and Nicola will join Anne Marie, Becky Hill, Camila Cabello, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sandé, Gregory Porter, The Kingdom Choir, Paloma Faith, Manic Street Preachers, Snow Patrol and Tom Odell at the two-hour fundraiser event which is raising money for the DEC humanitarian appeal in Ukraine.

In 2016 she represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden and has released six studio albums within the last ten years.

Global radio presenters, Capital Breakfast host Roman Kemp, Capital FM’s Marvin Humes and Heart’s Emma Bunton will host the concert.

Who is organising the Concert for Ukraine?

ITV, STV and Livewire Pictures are joining forces with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and the Media & Entertainment group Global to bring together names from the world of music for a unique event spreading a message of hope and support, and most importantly, raising funds for the ongoing DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

The live show will broadcast across ITV, STV, ITV Hub and STV Player and is produced by Livewire Pictures. Global, the Media & Entertainment Group, is joining as media partner, and Marks & Spencer will be headline sponsors for the broadcast. The concert will take place at the Resorts World Arena, Birmingham.

Global will be broadcasting live from backstage at the concert on the night with a show across the Heart and Capital networks – the first simulcast for an event of such importance. The three-hour show, hosted by Capital Breakfast’s Sian Welby and Heart’s Dev Griffin, will feature key performance moments, interviews and backstage atmosphere from the artists performing as well as detail on how listeners can donate to the DEC appeal.

Why is the Concert for Ukraine being held?

All sponsorship and advertising revenue generated from the broadcast of the event (primetime across both linear and simulcast), which is expected to raise over £3 million, will also be donated by ITV to the DEC appeal.

The broadcast will combine emotive music performances with short films recognising the ongoing relief efforts and the plight faced by people affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Viewers will be able to donate money to the cause throughout the evening.

Last week, The Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed that the Government would donate the VAT on each ticket back to the appeal - meaning that over £250,000 has already been promised through ticket sales.

ITV has a long history of supporting DEC appeals, most recently through an appeal for the Afghanistan Crisis in December 2021. Additionally, ITV has raised £60 million for Soccer Aid for UNICEF’s global work since the show began, and regularly raises awareness of different charitable causes and organisations through daytime and regional news coverage.

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