BBC Radio 2 In the Park with Jessie Ware, Rick Astley, and more

Lancastrian Rick Astley rose from tea boy to global pop star with hits like "Never Gonna Give You Up," scoring 8 UK Top 10s and 40M sales. He’s known for soulful, self-produced albums and a major comeback.

Kylie Minogue, born in Melbourne, is an acclaimed pop icon known for genre versatility and hits like "Can't Get You Out of My Head." She has collaborated with Nick Cave and has multiple Grammys and Brits. Minogue is beloved for her dance-pop, with notable eras in the '80s and '00s, and had a major comeback with DISCO in 2020. Her 2023 album Tension features the successful track "Padam Padam," continuing her vibrant legacy in pop music.

Lemar, born in Tottenham, London, rose to fame in 2002 on Fame Academy. Known for soulful R&B, he has six UK Top Ten singles and won two Brit and MOBO Awards. Collaborated with Beverley Knight, Usher, and Brian Rawling. Released albums include "Dedicated," "Time to Grow," and "The Truth About Love."

Simply Red, formed by Mick Hucknall in 1985 in Manchester, achieved over 60 million album sales and three Brit Awards, with hits like "Stars" and "Money's Too Tight".