Jessie J

Jessie J played an emotional homecoming set on the 4Music Stage as the Chelmsford leg of V Festival 2011 got into full swing.Still wearing a protective boot, the singer alternated between sitting on a stool and a sofa during her performance.She jokingly dedicated ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ to “everyone who forgot to bring suntan lotion,” before telling fans: “this is my first-ever gig in Essex,” which got huge cheers.

“My whole family is here,” she revealed, paying tribute to her parents for “keeping me grounded” before ‘Who You Are’.

As hits ‘Do It Like A Dude’ and ‘Price Tag’ were played back-to-back, she recounted watching Paloma Faith and Florence & The Machine at last year’s festival, saying it was a “dream come true” to be playing.Closing with anti-bullying anthem ‘Who’s Laughing Now?’, she was joined onstage by “Mini-Jessie” from the song’s video, before being helped offstage by a security guard, waving as she left.

Earlier, Bruno Mars played a well-attended set on the main stage, covering The White Stripes’ ’7 Nation Army’ in amongst the likes of ‘Nothin’ On You’, ‘Grenade’ – “that’s the one I’m proud of” – and a closing “Just The Way You Are (Amazing)’, with an impressed Mars asking the audience: “Can I take you guys on tour with me?”

Elsewhere, Wretch 32 and Aloe Blacc led early singalongs, while Example attracted another large festival crowd to his set on the 4Music stage, with many heading to the arena tent afterwards to see rapper Wiz Khalifa, with hits ‘Roll Up’ and ‘Black & Yellow’ going down well.

A playful set from Kele was another early highlight, with the Bloc Party frontman quipping: “You may know my other band…The Black Eyed Peas,” before performing a medley of Bloc Party songs including ‘Blue Light’, ‘The Prayer’ and ‘One More Chance’.