Kirstie Allsopp supports pal Phil Spencer as fans say 'parents would be delighted'

Phil Spencer's special night had been a long time in the making after the pandemic disrupted his plans to take family to a BBC Proms night at the Royal Albert Hall - and the delay had meant his late mum, who died along with his dad in 2023, never got to attend.

After he finally saw the show, co-star Kirstie Allsopp was overjoyed for him, along with fans who assured him his parents were with him at the event in spirit. Taking to Instagram, the Channel 4 presenter gushed: "My sister & I bought these once in a lifetime tickets to Last Night of the Proms for our Mum 4 years ago, but sadly it was either cancelled or postponed (due to Covid, then the Queen passing, then Mum passing) so tonight was a VERY long time coming and VERY special to be able to share it with our siblings."

He added: "Needless to say, really - but it was totally amazing!" Kirstie swiftly replied: "So, so glad you decided to go, I'm sure it was amazing xxx."

The show, at the Royal Albert Hall, was branded "the biggest musical party of the year" by the BBC - and Phil had dressed for the occasion in a jacket emblazoned with the Union Jack flag. The event, which took place last weekend, saw the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Singers joined by the likes of Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue.

Also part of the classical music festival finale was one of Britain's most beloved pianists, Sir Stephen Hough. Puccini's 'Madam Butterfly' humming chorus was part of the programme, as well as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's 'Summer is Gone'.

There were patriotic moments too, with Thomas Arne's 'Rule, Britannia!' ringing out after the interval, while the National Anthem was also played.

Fans were quick to take to Instagram to discuss how the emotional family get-together would have brought joy to Phil's late parents.

Richard and Anne Spencer died in a tragic accident just over a year ago, after a car they were driving tipped off a bridge and crashed into the Nailbourne River in Littlebourne, Kent.

Heartbreakingly, the pair - both in their 80s - were trapped underwater for 20 minutes.

Although their live-in carer, who was able to free herself from the car, called for help, they could not be revived and after a heroic hour and a half effort to save them, both were pronounced dead.

However, fans reassured Phil today, with one declaring of the night out: "Brilliant to know you all enjoyed the evening, would have pleased your parents. Great to hear the traditional songs being sung too. Rule Britannia."

"Lovely way to remember your parents," agreed a second fan.

A third added: "Bittersweet you got to fulfill your evening out in your mum's memory. I'm sure she was with you all in spirit."

"Your Mum will have known that you both wanted to treat her. She will have been looking down with a huge smile on her face," another suggested, while a fifth chimed in that she and his dad would have been "humming along" to the concert from Heaven.