Dermot O’Leary turned wedding planner on Sunday night to help one fan pull off a surprise for his wife-to-be during the UK broadcast of One World: Together At Home.
One couple Alice and Rob were forced to cancel their wedding because of the coronavirus pandemic and on what would have been their wedding day, NHS nurse, Alice had to work instead.
Dermot took it upon himself to help Rob plan a wedding surprise for Alice when she returned home, including surprise virtual appearances from a host of stars including Nadiya Hussain, movie star Richard E Grant and Skip Marley.
What a gent: Dermot O’Leary helped one fan pull off a wedding surprise for his NHS worker wife during the UK’s broadcast of One World: Together At Home on Sunday night
During a video call with Dermot, Rob explained that he and Alice had been forced to postpone their wedding two or three weeks before it was set to take place.
He revealed Alice has since been working flat out for the NHS during the COVID-19 crisis, with Alice saying in a candid VT: ‘You start to think about what the whole country is going through, I couldn’t be prouder of the NHS.
‘For now the important thing is to focus on making sure our families and friends stay healthy and we get through the next however long together.’
Sweet: Alice and Rob were forced to postpone their wedding day due to coronavirus, so Dermot pulled a few strings to help them recreate it on what would have been their big day
Surprise! It included a surprise virtual appearance from Richard E. Grant who delivered a best man’s speech for the couple, as they sipped on champagne watching
After pulling together a special celebration to mark what would have been their big day, Dermot was seen telling Rob: ‘Good luck buddy, hope she absolutely loves it.’
Decking out their living room with decorations, Rob popped a bottle of champagne as Alice returned home and they sat down to watch video messages from friends and families.
Included in those messages was former Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain, who revealed: ‘I did pull a few strings and there’s a cake outside your door right now.’
Tasty: Nadiya Hussain revealed she had baked a wedding cake for Alice and Rob, which was promptly delivered to their front door
Shock: Alice couldn’t believe the star-studded surprises Rob had lined up for her with Dermot’s help, as they watched on from their sofa
It was a little sweet treat for the couple to enjoy as they watched Richard E Grant then deliver a best man’s speech for Rob.
He began: ‘Hello everyone, hello Rob my old mucker, I’ve got some epic tales from our days in Horsham, I‘d love to share them with you now, but sadly I can’t, it’s a family show.’
Richard continued: ‘Seriously, though, Alice, the work that you and the NHS are doing is extraordinary, we’re so grateful for you all. I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness.’
Big day: Rob was seen popping champagne as he kicked off the wedding surprise on Alice’s return home from working in the hospital
Attention to detail: She had no idea he had been setting the whole thing up with Dermot
Lovely touch: When Rob revealed the pair’s first dance is Bob Marley’s I Wanna Love You, Dermot organised for the reggae legend’s grandson Skip Marley to sing it for Alice and Rob
He then raised a glass to the couple, while their friends and families joined in.
But, the surprises didn’t stop there. Dermot had asked Rob what he wanted to be his and Alice’s first dance and he replied Bob Marley’s hit I Wanna Love You – explaining that he and Alice had met at Notting Hill Carnival and got together shortly after.
Dermot organised for Skip Marley, Bob Marley’s grandson, to sing the hit via video link for the couple as they danced in their living room.
In the moment: Alice and Rob were seen dancing along to Skip in their living room
Elsewhere in the show, Rupert Grint and Miriam Margolyes surprised an NHS midwife in Birmingham, who is also a huge Harry Potter fan, as she has been forced to isolate away from her family, so not to put them at risk of contracting COVID-19, while she continues to work in hospital.
Little Mix kicked off the virtual performances, while Jess Glynne, Rag’n’Bone Man and Tom Jones also performed.
The broadcast also included highlights from the US version of the show that saw the likes of Jennifer Lopez, John Legend and Sam Smith, Sir Elton John and The Rolling Stones perform.
Star-studded: The broadcast, raising awareness of NHS workers and key staff, saw performances from the likes of Little Mix (above), Tom Jones and Jess Glynne