Review: Live at the Castle, Leeds Caslte, Sunday, July 17

The Wanted were kings of the castle on Sunday as the dismal weather finally relented and the latest boy band sensation soaked up the adoration of thousands of besotted youngsters.

The excitement had built up during the afternoon in the jam-packed programme staged by Heritage Special Events, which was very much at the mercy of the vagaries of a British summer.

Umbrellas went up and down but it would have taken more then a few showers to douse the obvious anticipation of fans spread wide and deep across the grass in the perfect Leeds Castle setting.

The Boston Plan got the event underway, followed by Louise Orfila, lively NVS, who performed their first single Drop Dead Gorgeous, impressive girl group Fanfair, China Soul, daughter of actor-singer David Soul, and Jodie Connor.

Next came quirky dance act Twist & Pulse, aka Glen and Ashley, with their "Streetomedy" routines that hauled them into the Britain's Got Talent finals last year.

Loveable Stacey Solomon breezed onto the stage in her usual breathless style and showed why she made the X Factor top three in 2009 and was a runaway winner of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

After a few note perfect songs, she introduced the remaining acts headed by another jungle dweller, energetic rapper Aggro Santos. If we were in need of a ray of sunshine by this time, Eliza Doolittle was the one to provide it with her happy, infectious songs such as Pack Up.

Another X Factor success story Alexandra Burke and her dancers were the perfect warm-up act for the top of the bill, as the powerful singer belted out a succession of hits from Halleluja through to Bad Boys, All Night Long and Start Without You.

But shortly after 10pm, later than scheduled and after darkness and a chill night had descended, it was time. The banners were waved frenetically, ear-piercing screams rang out and Max, Siva, Jay, Tom and Nathan burst onto the stage.

The timing couldn't have been better, as the group's latest single Glad You Came had that day topped the charts. The success was marked by the boys showering those nearest the stage, and a nearby cameraman, with champagne.

Formed in 2009 through a mass audition, The Wanted soon had a hit single - All Time Low - and album to their credit. Judging by their Live at the Castle routine many more hits will follow.

A nice touch was each member inviting onto the stage a young girl for Heart Vacancy, a moment the lucky fans are likely to savour forever.

The Wanted showed they are a class act as the show climaxed with the two big hits. And, yes, we were all so glad they came.