BRITAIN’S Got Talent winners Diversity are the first act to be announced to perform at the event, the eleven-strong dance troupe from Essex will perform in front of a star-studded audience at the event, which takes place at Battersea Evolution, to help Cancer Research UK beat cancer.

Last year’s event was attended by a host of stars from the world of entertainment, sport and fashion, including Westlife, Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster Stewart, Sir Steven Redgrave and Henry Holland, along with Strictly Come Dancing favourites Matthew Cutler, Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett.

This year’s guests will be welcomed onto a green carpet which offers a path into a stunning Secret Garden themed venue for an evening of visual and musical delights. In addition to Diversity, Ronan will also take to the stage performing a selection of songs from his new album, Songs for my Mother, which will be especially poignant as his mother Marie died from breast cancer and is his inspiration for the event. The evening will finish on a high as guests are treated to a set by Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills. Additional performances will be announced soon.

Magic FM’s Neil Fox returns to host the exclusive live auction, offering a range of unique lots to the highest bidder. Items up for auction include a striking creation by one of the fashion pack’s favourite milliners, Stephen Jones, an exclusive ‘Catch & Cook’ fishing day with celeb chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, plus the chance to bid for a VIP London Fashion Week experience at the prestigious May Fair Hotel. Guests will also be treated to a goody bag that includes gorgeous products from Elemis and more!

Ronan says:

Emerald’s & Ivy is a fantastic event raising money for a really important cause which affects so many people today. That’s why we’re back again with a bigger and better event and aiming to beat last year’s fundraising record. It’s great to have Diversity on board – it’s going to be really special to see them performing live, and I hope the evening will inspire people to dig deep to help Cancer Research UK continue its amazing work.

To date the event, in association with the Marie Keating Foundation, has raised over £1.6 million in funding towards Cancer Research UK’s two mobile cancer awareness units. The units tour the UK bringing information and highly trained nurses into communities, helping to promote prevention and early diagnosis as important ways to beat cancer. Since they were launched in 2006, over 80,000 people have stepped on board the units to find out more about how to reduce their risk of developing cancer and how to spot early signs of the disease.

He told the Yorkshire Post:

“I’ve seen first hand the great work that the Marie Keating Foundation Units do both in Ireland and in the UK educating people about cancer prevention and treatment.

“However, until we finally beat this disease it’s vital that new and improved Breast Care Units – such as this one in Leeds – are available to help treat and care for people with breast cancer.”