Rob was hoping to stay for Saturday’s event, however, due to filming commitments, he had to leave earlier than he would have liked. The award-winning actor James Nesbitt, star of TV series such as Cold Feet and Bloodlands, who has worked with Specsavers before in the UK, kindly agreed to step in and compere the event.  

Specsavers' co-founder Dame Mary Perkins said: 'We were so sorry that Rob couldn’t stay for both nights and are so very grateful that James agreed to drop everything to ensure that ballgoers at Saturday's event have an equally entertaining evening in his extremely capable hands!' 

Saturday’s Hangar Ball marks the 40th Liberation event that Specsavers has hosted since they first stepped in to help the island celebrate this momentous occasion back in 2005. What started then as a small anniversary tea dance for people who had lived through the Second World War, quickly grew to become what is now one of the largest series of events in the island. 

Anyone wanting to purchase last-minute tickets for Saturday's ball should contact Suzanne Pontin on 07935 203662.