The waiting's finally over, and 20 years on from Live Aid's original "global jukebox", the eyes of the world are focused once again on an epic, international musical extravaganza - this time to generate support for the Make Poverty History campaign.
The stellar and highly eclectic cast list at the day's stand-out event in London's Hyde Park reads like a Who's Who of pop royalty. There are sets from standard-bearers of the old guard like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Sting, event instigator Bob Geldof, Annie Lennox and, specially re-formed for the show, the classic Pink Floyd line-up; established acts include U2, Coldplay, Dido, Snoop Dogg, Madonna, Robbie Williams, Mariah Carey, REM, UB40, Travis, Snoop Dogg, Velvet Revolver and Stereophonics; while Joss Stone, Keane, the Killers, Ms Dynamite, Razorlight, Scissor Sisters and Snow Patrol represent the younger generation. [NB Radio Times really does list Snoop Dogg twice]
Jonathan Ross will take viewers to the heart of the action from a pod positioned above the stage, while Jo Whiley and Fearne Cotton will be catching up with musicians backstage. Plus special guests and updates from today's concerts in Paris, Berlin, Johannesburg, Toronto, Tokyo and Rome. The show is repeated along with the US event at 7pm on BBC3.
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Radio 1 broadcasts live throughout the day from the gigs across Europe; Radio 2 has interviews with performers in London; and Radio 5 Live's coverage includes the Make Poverty History march in Edinburgh.
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Followed by National Lottery Results.
(Subsequent programmes may run late)
Music: Live 8 1.00pm BBC2, 4.15pm BBC1, 7.0pm BBC3
What a great event: the best bands in the world, including REM, U2 and Coldplay, lined up at the behest of Bob Geldof for what promises to be a mega-gig as unmissable and exciting as the original Live Aid 20 years ago.
Coverage of the concert starts on BBC2, then switches to BBC1 once the Wimbledon women's final is over. Jonathan Ross hosts from Hyde Park in London, while Jo Whiley and Fearne Cotton will attempt to interview any passing superstar. So, if you weren't lucky enough to get a ticket in the text-message lottery, here's the next best thing. And if it rains, you won't get wet.
If you miss anything, BBC3 repeats the whole lot in Live 8 on Three at 7pm, running through until 3am on Sunday. And at 9.50pm on BBC1 (and tomorrow at 7pm on BBC3), you can experience the Live 8 Philadelphia show, featuring Stevie Wonder, Destiny's Child, Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Bon Jovi and 50 Cent. (Alison Graham TV editor)
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