poignant

In a way, the directors of Don’t Look Back In Anger have set themselves an impossible task.

The Oasis reunion shows of 2025 have created memories of a lifetime for hundreds of thousands of people. The incredible nights, or as some might say, biblical gigs, saw friends and loved ones grinning or crying tears of joy as they witnessed something they feared would never happen again.

With their film, creator Steven Knight and directors Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace are trying to bottle that up and recreate the greatest musical comeback ever seen in Britain on a flat screen. But then, this isn’t any old concert documentary.

It tells some of the story behind the Oasis tour and then it also allows you to relive some of those moments again. And just when you think it might be flagging a bit, they have a joint interview with Noel and Liam which is entertaining and also illustrates how their relationship has come full circle.

The tour rehearsal footage is dynamite, adding scenes of tension and comedy. As the band wait for Liam to arrive, Noel paces nervously and technicians look edgy.

Liam is then portrayed as some kind of gun slinging cowboy pushing open the saloon doors as he strides in. No sooner is he inside than the band are off and Liam is belting out the hits and attacking the microphone as if his life depends on it.

And then, almost as quickly as he stormed in, he picks up his black Adidas bag and leaves again, with the rest of the band almost in a stunned silence at this whirlwind they are working with.

Noel must have had doubts at this point about if the tour would go smoothly, but he admits despite some last minute drama he was wowed by Liam’s performance in Cardiff.

And for the majority of fans who weren’t at the Principality Stadium on July 4, 2025, the footage and sound used gives you a real taste of what that moment felt like when the Gallaghers walked back on stage holding hands – a moment that even took Noel by surprise.

It is an iconic moment, and they capture it brilliantly, leaving me close to tears as I recalled one of the greatest nights of my own life.

Lots of captivating footage is then given over to different gigs around the world and the filmmakers have found fans with poignant and interesting stories about why they love Oasis and are going to see the shows.

There’s also time for a touching tribute to their friend Mani from the Stone Roses and a section about Don’t Look Back In Anger taking on extra meaning after the 2017 Manchester bombing.

But the documentary really excited me again when it revealed Noel and Liam sat next to each other for a joint interview, the first time in two decades. It can’t compete with some of their old chats with Steve Lamacq on Radio 1 after an afternoon of cigarettes and alcohol, but Liam and Noel are older and wiser now.

However there are still some great lines and fun to be had. Liam jokes about his two hip operations and is glad he stays still rather than running around like Mick Jagger on stage.

Noel admits he would look stupid with a tambourine on his head but his brother makes it look the best thing ever. And then at the end there is the forgiveness and signs of a new chapter for the Gallagher brothers.

“The music brought us back together,” Liam says. Noel agrees things are “fixed” and admits for the first time in their lives they regularly text each other. The bond even goes way beyond them as their kids are now all great mates and enjoyed getting hammered at the Oasis gigs.

The Gallaghers are not looking back, but forwards, and the anger between them has gone. Rather than betray the Oasis memories I made or compete with them, I tried to let the songs wash over me as much as I could. The film allowed my mind to flash back to last summer, and hopefully it will for other fans too.

It is definitely worth going to the cinema to watch it too for the sound quality, as streaming it at home is unlikely to be the same.

As Oasis fans, all our dreams were made in the Summer of 2025, and this documentary is filled with reminders of that. It ensures those wonderful memories live forever on screen.

It’s also the perfect appetiser for when tickets go on sale shortly to do it all again in 2027.

* Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger opens in IMAX and UK Cinema on September 9.

ARIANA GRANDE broke down in tears on stage at what could be her final-ever concert.

The superstar, 33, sobbed as she opened up about her decision to step back from public life.

Halting her final gig at London’s O2 Arena, Ariana said: “I just wanted to say thank you so much.

“This has been such an extraordinary experience.

“Thank you for ten beautiful London shows and 41 incredible Eternal Sunshine shows.”

Breaking down in tears, Ariana continued: “This has been one of the most beautiful extraordinary experiences of my life and I just wanted to express my gratitude without sobbing. 

over & Out

Jonathan Bailey QUITS West End show weeks after co-star Ariana Grande’s exit

HEEL-ING TIME

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“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“It has been so special and I will cherish this experience always.

“I have loved every minute of this with you all and I just wanted to make sure I express how grateful I am.”

Signing off, she continued: “Thank you for being by my side all the way from Honeymoon Avenue to Hampsted.”

Ariana broke down in tears for a second time before performing Hate That I Made You Love Me. 

The singer struggled to get her words out as she thanked everyone who has worked on the tour from hair and make up to the security. 

For the final show of the tour Ariana added four songs from her new album Petal. 

The singer belted out Oh Well, Like I Do and the record’s lead single Hate That I Made You Love Me. 

Ari also performed Nowhere, Nobody for the first time.

During her performance of hit single Thank U, Next the star continued her recent trend of changing the words to reflect her rekindling things with dancer Ricky Alvarez. 

Rather than singing “wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh” the superstar sang: “Wrote some songs about Ricky, I’m trying to make him my last.”

Ariana’s Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo watched her final show from the sound decks. 

However, unlike on night two of the 10 London shows when she joined Ariana on stage, she opted to take a back seat and simply watch the show as a fan.

It was previously revealed that Ariana would be retreating from the public eye following the end of tonight’s run of 10 O2 Arena shows of the Eternal Sunshine Tour.

In a statement released last month, a rep for the 7 Rings singer said: “Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour.

“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which have led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.

“This tour has been a beautiful experience for her.

“She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”

Ariana herself later clarified that the decision had been months in the planning and was not in response to widespread concern for her health after visible weight loss over the past year.

The singer said: “It was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I have decided, a plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.

“And I want you to know that many things can be true at the same time.”

She added: “I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the f*** opposite.

“This is not what that is. I just want to be very, very clear. Multiple things can be true at the same time.

“Boundaries need to be set.

“Human beings need a break sometimes. And also, this can be, and will continue to be, the greatest experience of my professional and creative life. So, I just wanted to make that quite plain.”

It comes a month after Ariana pulled out of making her West End debut in Sunday in the Park with George slated for next year at the Barbican.

Her co-star Jonathan Bailey has also since pulled out too, as exclusively revealed by The Sun earlier today.