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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Paige Oldfield

Heartwarming moment couple get engaged at The 1975 concert in Manchester

Video footage captures the heartwarming moment a couple got engaged while watching The 1975 perform in Manchester city centre.

A concert-goer caught the sweet proposal on camera while attending the ‘At Their Very Best’ tour at the AO Arena on Friday (January 20).

In the moments following the engagement, Lauren Williams can be seen clutching a ring box while overjoyed fiancé, Durham Bradford, jumps around and sings with other revellers.

READ MORE: The 1975 triumphant homecoming at their very best - and with surprise star guest Charli XCX

Durham, 28, from Rochdale, got down on one knee while the Cheshire band played ‘It's Not Living (If It's Not With You)’, the couple’s favourite song. Though shy Lauren ordered him to stand up, she put the ring on her finger and said yes.

The adorable moment was caught on camera (Lauren Williamson)

“The 1975 have always been one of our favourite bands and it was my Christmas present from him,” Lauren, 27, also from Rochdale, told the Manchester Evening News. “I didn’t expect anything like this to happen.

“When the song came on, he tapped me on my shoulder and I turned around and he got his phone out. He showed me a picture of our dog and I was like, ‘Why are you showing me that?’

“There was a sign by the dog that said, ‘Hi mummy, daddy has a question’, and I zoomed in and there was a ring on the dog’s head. I turned around again and he was there on one knee.

Durham showed Lauren this picture (Lauren Williamson)

“I was so embarrassed because I don’t like public settings. It was all a blur; people were screaming and I was like, ‘Oh my god, get up!’

“It kind of felt like there was no one else there in a sense. I was completely shocked. Then this girl started screaming and pointing and I thought, ‘What’s happening?’. It’s all a bit of a blur to be honest.”

Though the couple had planned to go out celebrating following the engagement, they opted for cheesy chips and a kebab back at home with Toffee the rescue dog.

Lauren Williams and Durham Bradford have been together for just under two years (Lauren Williams)

Trainee psychological practitioner Lauren and senior housing support officer Durham met through mutual friends just under two years ago. The couple became while attending the same parties and gradually their friendship evolved into a relationship.

The 1975’s homecoming gig on Friday was their first show in Manchester since 2020, with fans queuing through the night to be the first into the AO Arena to see the Wilmslow band.

Lauren has been left overjoyed (Lauren Williamson)

Prior to the gig, the band had enjoyed shows in the likes of Cardiff, Birmingham, Brighton and two nights at London’s O2 Arena - the first of which saw global superstar Taylor Swift make that surprise acoustic performance of her hit ‘Anti-Hero’ and old-school The 1975 track ‘The City’.

Since Taylor Swift’s shock appearance in the capital, Manchester ticket holders had been excitedly predicting who may join them next.

And last night they finally found out as singer Charli XCX - who happens to be dating The 1975 drummer George Daniel - burst through the front door at the show to perform her track ‘Vroom Vroom’.

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