Given the rapturous welcome he received, you could have mistaken Tom Walker, opening up for The Script at Leeds Arena, for the headline act. This was an opportunity Walker and his band did not intend to waste; with a stellar catalogue of songs that, in the main, are not too dissimilar to the headline act, his brief set won many new fans.

With founder member Mark Sheehan passing away, The Script has had a tough time of late. With the return of The Script as a four-piece, featuring touring musicians Ben Weaver and Ben Sargeant, and a new Number One album, Satellites, the band appears to be embarking on a new chapter.

The band has always made a grand entrance; tonight was no exception, with singer Danny O’Donoghue weaving his way through the audience from the back of the arena to join the rest of the group for Won’t Feel A Thing.

The strong connection between The Script and their fans became evident when O'Donoghue mingled with the front row members of the audience, inviting them to join in the singing. His voice was now improving after a shaky start where he appeared to have caught a cold.

Dedicating If You Could See Me Now to Sheehan, O’Donoghue joked that his late band member would probably be looking down at the concert tonight with a smile and a tot of whisky in tow too.

Drummer Glen Power delivered a powerful vocal on Six Degrees of Separation, but it was the Celtic influences of the band's homeland during Paint the Town Green that truly showcased the band's full form, with the stage transformed into a deep shade of green for an exhilarating performance.

With Hall of Fame ending the evening on a high, the track celebrated a near twenty-year career. The Script had come from a dark period in their career; now refreshed, optimistic, and reenergised, tonight confirmed a brilliant return.

The band return to the north in 2025:

5th July - Scarborough Open Air Theatre
6th July - Halifax Piece Hall