The moving reason The Girls Aloud Show is airing on ITV on Sunday night

There is a moving reason behind Girls Aloud's ITV special airing when it is on Sunday night (November 17). Earlier this year the girl group embarked on a critically-acclaimed sell-out tour, their first in 11 years.

Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts began The Girls Aloud Show on May 17, 2024 in Dublin, Ireland and ended on June 30, 2024 in Liverpool, England. The tour was a celebration of the group's music, fans, and late band member, the much-missed Sarah Harding.

The decision to reunite, one of Sarah's wishes for the group, came after the star, who grew up in Stockport and was part of the girl band since their inception on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, died at the age of 39 in September 2021 after she was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.

READ MORE: Gorka Marquez says 'as if' in Gemma Atkinson tribute as she celebrates milestone after Strictly Blackpool visit

The Girls Aloud Show: Live at The O2 - recorded in London at the end of June during the tour, which saw the band play to over 300,000 people, earlier this year featured emotional tributes to Sarah, is now set to be shown on TV for the first time.

The show highlights plus some sneak peeks behind-the-scenes and airs as a one hour special on Sunday night (November 17) at 8pm on ITV1. The show highlights plus some sneak peeks behind-the-scenes will air as a one hour special later this autumn on ITV1. The full extended arena show will also be available to stream on ITVX.

And the date is is being show is of significance as it would have been Sarah's 43rd birthday. When the date was announced fans took to social media, with @whatacutename writing: "The girls aloud show live at the o2 being aired on Sarah’s birthday justfeels so right."

@Joshlovesit87 also shared: "The fact Girls Aloud are releasing Sarah’s version of “I’ll Stand By You” on the same day it was released 20 years ago & The Tour is being shown on Sarah’s birthday is so special. We all miss you so much angel,I’m sure you are shining down beyond proud. #GirlsAloud." @DJFreedom2022 added: "It will air on our Sarah’s birthday. (I’m not crying, you are) #TheGirlsAloudShow."

The tour was a celebration of Girls Aloud’s rich back catalogue and the ground-breaking success they have achieved as a band. The most successful girl group of the noughties, Girls Aloud have sold in excess of 5 million albums in the UK. The band hold the Guinness World Record for their 20 consecutive UK Top 10 singles.

‘Sound of the Underground’ was the 2002 Christmas Number One, spending four weeks at the top of the charts and selling over half a million copies in the process. Girls Aloud were nominated for five Brit awards and won Best Single for The Promise. They were invited to record the official single for Children in Need twice.