British Soap Awards will not air live on Saturday night due to Ariana Grande tribute concert for Manchester bombing victims
THE British Soap Awards 2017 will not air live this year.
Saturday night's ceremony will go ahead as planned however it will not be broadcast live, instead the celebration of the best of British soap will air on Tuesday night at 8pm, with the Britain's Got Talent finale moving to Saturday so as not to detract from Ariana Grande's tribute concert planned for the victims of the Manchester terror attack.
ITV has made changes to its weekend schedule to accommodate the concert, which will air on the BBC, for the victims of the devastating attack that claimed 22 lives.
An ITV spokesperson said: "Ariana Grande's One Love Manchester benefit concert is bringing artists and the public together, and will raise funds for the Red Cross's Manchester Emergency Fund.
"ITV and Britain's Got Talent have no desire to distract from this important cause, so we have taken the decision to move the Britain's Got Talent Final from Sunday night."
It has been confirmed that Coldplay, Take That, Niall Horan, Usher, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Pharrell Williams will take the stage at the gig.
The massive gig, which is being organised by Live Nation, will be held at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket ground almost two weeks after the horrifying terrorist attack at the city's MEN Arena.
The Sun Online yesterday revealed that Justin Bieber, who shares a manager with Ariana, was strongly rumoured to perform, and it has now been confirmed that he will attend to support the victims of the attack that claimed 22 lives.
A source told The Sun Online that superstar Madonna might also be ready to perform at the concert alongside a string of big names.
Liam Gallagher played his first-ever solo concert at the O2 Ritz in Manchester and pledged all proceeds to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund.
The former Oasis singer laid 22 candles on stage in tribute to the victims.
The lineup is still an ongoing process with more artists set to be announced. Rapper Eminem is also rumoured to be joining if scheduling allows.
, and proceeds from the event will go to towards the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund set up by Manchester City Council and The Red Cross.
In a statement released by event organisers, Ariana said: "My heart, prayers and condolences are with the victims of the Manchester Attack and their loved ones.
"There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or to make this better.
"However, I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way.
"We will not quit or operate in fear. We won’t let this divide us. We won’t let hate win.
"Our response to this violence must be to come closer together, to help each other, to love more, to sing louder and to live more kindly and generously than we did before.
"Music is meant to heal us, to bring us together, to make us happy. So that is what it will continue to do for us.
"We will continue to honour the ones we lost, their loved ones, my fans and all affected by this tragedy.
The confirmed lineup so far
Ariana Grande
Justin Bieber
Coldplay
Katy Perry
Miley Cyrus
Pharrell Williams
Usher
Take That
Niall Horan
And more to be announced...
"They will be on my mind and in my heart everyday and I will think of them with everything I do for the rest of my life.”
Following the horrendous incident, Ariana broke her silence last week and tweeted: “My heart, prayers and deepest condolences are with the victims of the Manchester Attack and their loved ones.
News UK, publisher of The Sun, has made a corporate donation of £100,000 to the appeal.
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Salman Abedi detonated a nail bomb in the foyer of Manchester Arena on May 22, just minutes after Ariana's concert had finished.