91Èȱ¬

Girls Aloud are back - and self-described superfans have been getting in line early for the first of two concerts taking place in Belfast.

The girl group have reunited more than two decades since they first burst on to the pop scene with Sound of the Underground.

The new shows are being dedicated to Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding who died from cancer in 2021.

Cheryl, Kimberly, Nicola and Nadine will be taking to the stage at the SSE Arena later on Monday night.

And their return brought excited fans to the venue early in the hopes they can get prime spots inside to see group perform.

Corey and Jason were two of those superfans waiting for the foursome to perform.

"I've been to every single concert they've had here, so excited to see them again. We were here for the Ten tour 10 years ago, so it's been a while," said Corey.

He added he had been obsessed with the band since he was five years old and that it would also be a sad night without Sarah Harding on stage.

"I saw they got emotional (in previous gigs) so I think it's going to be a while for them. It's probably so weird for them being up there just four of them when there's been five of them for so long."

Fellow fan Ben echoed those words, saying: "I cannot wait to see them perform. It won't be the same without Sarah Harding but they pay a beautiful tribute to her."

Laura and Sam, meanwhile, said they have been listening to Girls Aloud all their lives.

"They put on such a great show and their songs are songs you can just get up and dance to."

Girls Aloud played the first show of their tour on Saturday in Dublin.

The Belfast shows are the second stop in the 13-city UK and Ireland tour.

The group will play the SSE Arena on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 May, with both concerts set to begin at 20:00 BST.

Bandmember Nadine Coyle, who is from Londonderry, told 91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster's Vinny and Cate programme in March that Sarah Harding's death had left a "gaping hole" in the band.

"It's very difficult because it's so much in your face when you're doing things," she said.

Nadine explained how there would be "lovely elements where Sarah's really going to be honoured" in the show.

"So all of those classic Girls Aloud elements are going to be on there, this is the biggest stage show we've ever done."