It was like the night of 1,000 stars in a show to make you laugh, cry and gasp at the surprise names that Jasper Carrott kept pulling out of his hat. From the pulsating opening with brilliant tribute band Bjorn Again singing Abba's Waterloo, Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen, the pace never eased for nearly four hours. Atomic Kitten's Liz McLarnon sang their No.1 hit Whole Again and a new song Let It Rain Down, before Bill Bailey delivered an hilarious musical comedy performance. Birmingham Royal Ballet performed two parts of their latest Nutcracker before a still-youthful Lulu closed the first half with a five-song set. The second half opened with Realindandrockin, a six-man collective of 60s stars Tony Crane, Dave Berry, Brian Poole, Dave Dee, Mike Pender and Wayne Fontana. Their hair might be going, but these guys can all still sing and they offered a potential glimpse of what Westlife might be like in 2040. Mindbending or what? Next up, The X Factor's runners-up, G4, who had the fans stomping their feet in approval after each of their bizarre versions of Circle of Life, My Way and Bohemian Rhapsody. Bev Bevan, Jasper's old pal from Moseley Grammar School, introduced his new band's version of Blackberry Way as a tribute to The Move's Carl Wayne who died this year. They stayed on stage to support Paul Carrick, of Mike and the Mechanics, whose The Living Years - accompanied by everyone holding torchlights from the show's goody bags - was the tear-jerking emotional highlight. Jasper then announced there were rock legends like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, "but we've gone one better." On walked the tall, cool one, Robert Plant, to perform Fever, "for Elvis", and Need Your Love So Bad, also written by Little Willie John, as well as Poor Joe Williams' 69-year-old blues standard Baby Please Don't Go. Jasper followed that with the King of the Jungle, Joe Pasquale who turned up after a day of last-minute rehearsals for Jack and the Beanstalk at the Birmingham Hippodrome. And topping the bill was Robin Gibb, who performed To Love Somebody, Saturday Night Fever, You Win Again, How Deep Is Your Love, Jive Talkin',Tragedy and Stayin' Alive. Jasper said after leading everyone through a rousing rendition of White Christmas: "I'm proud to be a Brummie and to be one of the audience. This was my fourth Cracker, and the best one we've had." Backstage, Plant said there was "no chance" of ever playing again as Led Zeppelin. | 
