Millions watch Band Aid III video

Millions of TV viewers tuned in last night (18.11.04) to watch the first broadcast of the Band Aid 20's video.In the UK's biggest simultaneous screening - across at least 30 TV stations - 20million music fans watched the star-studded line-up perform the new version of the 1984 classic 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'At least a third of the population watched the film - broadcast at 5.55pm exactly - after the tapes were given to off-list satellite stations as well.

The video showed stars, including Chris Martin, Joss Stone, Rachel Stevens, Sir Paul McCartney and the Sugababes, performing in the studio alongside images of the Sudan famine - which will benefit from the proceeds of the single.

Introduced by Madonna, she said: "Bob Geldof and his friends are here to remind you that we can never forget. Not ever. Feed the world. I am honoured to introduce Band Aid 20."Tipped for the UK's Christmas No.1 spot, the single also features Dido, The Darkness, Will Young, Jamelia, Keane and Bono, who agreed to re-sing his famous line, "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you."A Band Aid spokesperson said: "This is unprecedented. I've never known it even for a royal occasion, like the Queen's Speech, to be shown on all channels like that.

We have to make sure that as many people as possible buy the single and I can't think of a better way of doing that."