91Èȱ¬

Line-up also includes glamorous mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins and amazing tenor voice of Garoar Thor Cortes; Sir Terry Wogan presents with the 91Èȱ¬ Concert Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates

Music legend Barry Manilow is to join this year's 91Èȱ¬ Proms In The Park – the annual extravaganza held in London's Hyde Park, and broadcast live on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 2 that allows music lovers to enjoy the magic and passion of the much-loved Last Night of the Proms.

It is to be his only UK concert in 2009.

With worldwide record sales exceeding 75 million, his work as a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer has cemented Barry Manilow as a leading and much adored legend in the entertainment world.

With hits such as Mandy, Can't Smile Without You and Copacabana, combined with his Las Vegas residencies selling out instantly, his success has become a benchmark in popular music.

Bob Shennan, Radio 2 Controller, says: "Everyone at Radio 2 is delighted that Barry Manilow will headline 91Èȱ¬ Proms In The Park in September.

"Barry Manilow is one of the giants of world showbusiness and the fans in the park and our Radio 2 listeners are in for a treat."

He joins a star-studded line-up that includes the award-winning mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, who performs at the London Proms In The Park concert for the very first time.

The event also sees performances from acclaimed Icelandic tenor sensation Garoar Thor Cortes and the 91Èȱ¬ Concert Orchestra under the baton of Martin Yates.

It culminates in a live video link-up with the Royal Albert Hall and a nationwide sing-along to traditional favourites including Jerusalem and Rule Britannia! with the help of the Royal Choral Society.

As ever, crowds are encouraged to bring picnics and flags, to sing along and enjoy the music and fireworks.

Tribute bands to two of the world's best rock groups start the entertainment in the afternoon's warm-up events, which is hosted by Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce.

The Counterfeit Stones entertain with their individual take on The Rolling Stones and Gary Mullen and The Works prepare audiences for the main event with the best of Queen.

This year's Proms In The Park follows the success of last year's event, which featured Sharleen Spiteri, Jose Carreras and Lesley Garrett.

Barry Manilow fans across the UK will be able to tune into the Hyde Park concert and watch him live by pressing the red button during the Last Night Of The Proms on 91Èȱ¬ Two.

Viewers can also watch him on 91Èȱ¬ iPlayer for seven days after the event, as part of the Hyde Park Prom.

Now an integral part of the UK's musical calendar, 91Èȱ¬ Proms In The Park is hosted, for its 14th year, by Sir Terry Wogan, in Hyde Park.

The event, supported by NS&I (National Savings & Investments), on Saturday 12 September 2009, is one of five major outdoor shows staged by the 91Èȱ¬ in five locations across all four nations of the UK – Glasgow, County Down, Salford, Swansea and London – which bring the magic of the Last Night Of The Proms to many thousands of music lovers around the UK.

The expanding programme of 91Èȱ¬ Big Screens takes Proms In The Park even further around the country including Bradford (Centenary Square), Bristol (Millennium Square), Cardiff (The Hayes), Derby (Market Place), Hull (Queen Victoria Square), Leeds (Millennium Square), Liverpool (Clayton Square), Manchester (Exchange Square), Middlesbrough (Centre Square), Norwich (Chapelfield Plain), Plymouth (Armada Way), Portsmouth (Guildhall Square), Rotherham (All Saints Square), Swansea (Castle Square), Swindon (Wharf Green),Waltham Forest (Walthamstow Town Square) and other UK cities where new screens are currently being commissioned.

Listings information

91Èȱ¬ Proms in the Park, Hyde Park, London
91Èȱ¬ Concert Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates
Hosted by Sir Terry Wogan
Line-up: Barry Manilow, Katherine Jenkins, Garoar Thor Cortes
Pre-broadcast entertainment hosted by Ken Bruce
Line-up: The Counterfeit Stones, Gary Mullen and The Works

Gates open 4.00pm; entertainment on stage from 5.30pm.

Tickets: £25 (under-threes free).

Telephone booking: See Tickets on 0844 412 4630 (24-hour national rate, £2 transaction fee applicable) and from the Royal Albert Hall on 0845 401 5040 (9.00am-9.00pm, £2.75 transaction fee applicable) or online at bbc.co.uk/proms (transaction fees vary, see website for details).

Notes to Editors

Broadcast information

This year's 91Èȱ¬ Proms In The Park concerts are broadcast live on 91Èȱ¬ Radio and Television; 91Èȱ¬ Radio 2 broadcasts live from London's Hyde Park; 91Èȱ¬ Radio Manchester, 91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster, 91Èȱ¬ Radio Scotland and 91Èȱ¬ Radio Wales broadcast their events from Salford, County Down, Glasgow and Swansea.

The concert from Hillsborough Castle will be broadcast live on 91Èȱ¬ Four and highlights of all five Proms In The Park concerts are shown as part of 91Èȱ¬ One, 91Èȱ¬ Two and 91Èȱ¬ HD live coverage of the Last Night Of The Proms. Digital TV viewers can press the red button to watch a selection of Proms In The Park coverage from around the UK.

For full listings of all events please go online to bbc.co.uk/proms.

Radio 2's live music coverage focuses on bringing the world's biggest names, as well as the superstars of tomorrow, to its listeners. Recent live performances include Yusuf, Diana Krall, U2, Morrissey and newcomers Daniel Merriweather, Pixie Lott and Paloma Faith.

SG