If there were a perfect artist to support Robbie Willams, Olly Murs would be it - both artists have a lot in common: they are both naturals on stage, born entertainers as well as good singers and they both have a certain charm not to mention some of the best songs you are ever likely to hear.

Olly Murs

Olly Murs was probably still working in the call centre I used to work in when Take That and Robbie Williams were in their first flush of success, tonight he was playing to min excess of 60,000 people and he appeared to be enjoying every minute of it. Curtailing his show to 45 minutes was always going to be a challenge but he took the opportunity in his stride and at times it was hard to believe he was not the headliner.

Wearing his trademark hat he informed the audience that "it feels like I'm a kid in a candy shop when I'm here tonight playing to all you lovely people and hanging out with Robbie Williams backstage".

He squeezes in his hits, 'Dance with me tonight' and 'Dear Darlin' sounding as fresh as ever. Murs then decides to do an Earth, Wind and Fire melody which gets the crowd even more on his side. He has an excellent band with two backing singers who can also dance with Murs. 'My Heart Skips a Beat' is his penultimate track before he dedicates 'Troublemaker' "to all the troublemakers out there tonight." The only way might be Essex, but for tonight, the only way was up for this Essex man.

Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams might not have toured for 7 years as a solo artist but you would not know that from tonight's show - playing the second of four sold out gigs in Manchester, his loyal audience greet him like a long lost friend.

Never the one for understatement, he appears from the top of the stage as he glides down through the audience on a zip wire. "Allow me to reintroduce myself, Manchester" he bellows. 'Let Me Entertain You' is a great track to start off the show.

'Not like the others', a track off his latest album is accompanied by Williams singing the track on a massive head of himself which then opens releasing balloons which float into the Manchester skyline.

'Kids' is mixed in with the AC/DC track 'Back in Black' as Williams then introduces Olly Murs back on stage to duet on the song. It is a perfect pop moment: two British artists at the top of their game and loving every second of it. They gel well together and Murs again looks as if he can't believe his luck.

The production of the show is lavish and you cannot help thinking that Williams is trying to get one up on his old mates from Take That by trying to produce a better show when Take That performed here two years ago. He succeeds, but whilst Take That have more hits to their name, Williams lets his charisma and cheeky boy persona take over at times.

He sings the Take That track 'Everthing Changes' to a Spanish fan whom he invites to join him on stage. "You are not from Bolton with an accent like that" he jokes.

Ending with 'Rock DJ' it was another perfect pop moment before he returns to the stage for the encore of 'Feel', 'She's The One' and of course, the track that ignited his solo career, 'Angels'.

He shows footage of Olly Murs falling off stage then Williams shows the same thing happening to himself when he performed at Roundhay Park in Yorkshire in 2006.

As his opening track goes, 'Let Me Entertain You' and tonight both Murs and Williams did just that. One of the best pop tours of the year so far.

The Yorkshire Times caught Olly Murs and Robbie Williams at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester on Wednesday 19th June 2013.

Olly and Robbie will be back at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June 2013.