Music fans at BBC Radio 2 In The Park were left speechless this weekend when Ronan Keating turned his set into an unforgettable moment of friendship and loyalty.
As thousands gathered at Hyland’s Park in Chelmsford for the three-day music festival — which also featured Jessie J, Bryan Adams and Ella Henderson — the Boyzone legend stopped the show to speak directly about his close friend, Rylan Clark.
With emotion in his voice, Ronan told the cheering crowd:
💬 “This is a big gig tonight, a nice vibe, we’re in Chelmsford – also we’re in the home of Rylan. I thought I might do something nice for Rylan tonight, so I wrote a song, especially for you all.”
The singer teased that no one had ever heard the track before, joking:
💬 “This is brand new, it’s about Essex, it’s about Rylan. Don’t move now — this is not the time to go to the toilet or the bar. You’ll regret it if you do.”
He then stunned fans by launching into his classic hit When You Say Nothing At All, dedicating it in Rylan’s honour. The gesture was seen as a powerful show of support, especially as Rylan continues to face backlash and more than 500 Ofcom complaints following his remarks about the UK’s small boats crisis while hosting This Morning.
And the night of surprises didn’t end there. Rylan himself appeared on stage later, thrilling the crowd with a surprise duet alongside Anastacia — proving he wasn’t hiding from the spotlight despite the storm around him.
When asked about Ronan’s public tribute, Rylan remained modest but made his feelings clear:
💬 “I’m not going to talk about anything today… but I love Ronan, he’s a really good friend of mine.”
For fans, it was a rare glimpse of loyalty in the entertainment world — a powerful reminder that even when controversy swirls, true friendship shines brightest on stage. 🌟
