A bride got the shock of her life on her special day when an extra special guest made an appearance at her wedding reception. Take That superstar Gary Barlow had been booked by the bride and groom’s friends and amazed the wedding guests with Rule the World after a Robbie Williams tribute act had finished his gig.

Gary BarlowGary Barlow started a Twitter competition with the prize himself singing at someone's wedding

Bride Katie Hardy and her new husband Stephen Hardy were kept in the dark about Gary’s appearance at their nuptials in Leicestershire after their friends had put their names forward following a Twitter competition Barlow launched in January.

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He vowed to sing at one of his most dedicated fan’s wedding and Katie, 33 - who has been a Take That fan since she was 8 - fit the bill.

She also has all the names of the original boy band line up tattooed on her arm and has seen the group and Robbie Williams many times.

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Speaking of her excitement, Katie said: "The real Gary Barlow just walked in and I couldn’t believe it.

"It was just the icing on the cake - I was speechless."

Stephen Hardy, 43, who has three children with his new wife, had also been kept in the dark about the surprise guest.

He said: "It was amazing. It made the day even more perfect than it had already been."

Katie added: "Afterwards, he stayed on for the wedding photos. I can’t believe it’s me in them."