A lifelong Take That fan has a set of wedding photos to treasure after Gary Barlow turned up to serenade the newlyweds.

Bride Katie Hardy had no idea the Back For Good singer was about to walk in on her big day after friends kept the secret for eight long months.

Even groom Stephen Hardy was kept in the dark, having booked a local Robbie Williams tribute act to fill in at the reception at the Three Nuns pub in Loughborough, Leicestershire, on Saturday.

But when the tribute singer finished his last number, Gary walked on to the dance floor, belting out Take That’s 2006 hit Rule The World, to the complete shock of the wedding party.

Katie said: “The real Gary Barlow walked in, and I just couldn’t believe it.

“It was just the icing on the cake – I was speechless.”

The lucky couple couldn't believe their eyes as the real Gary Barlow turned up (David Moody/PA)
The lucky couple couldn’t believe their eyes as the real Gary Barlow turned up (David Moody/PA)

The 33-year-old has been a Take That fan since she was eight, seeing the group and Williams perform many times.

She even has the names of the original band members tattooed on her arm.

But unknown to care worker Katie, friends and other die-hard fans put the couple’s names forward after Gary launched a Twitter competition in January, vowing to sing at his most dedicated followers’ weddings.

The group got an incredible nine million tweets to the star, and Gary’s management were in touch just days later.

Katie’s friends managed to then keep their secret for the next few months – as did Gary.

ride Katie Hardy had no idea the Back For Good singer was about to walk in on her big day (David Moody/PA)
Bride Katie Hardy had no idea the Back For Good singer was about to walk in on her big day (David Moody/PA)

She was part of the audience on ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show, when show guest Gary teased her, telling Katie he did not think hers was one of the weddings he was singing at.

Groom Stephen, speaking as he packed for the couple’s honeymoon to Gran Canaria, said: “I had no idea. That’s why I arranged for Tony Lewis, the Robbie tribute, to make a surprise appearance – and then made a fool of myself by singing a bit of Robbie myself before Tony took over.”

The 43-year-old, who tied the knot with his wife at Loughborough Register Office, added: “It was amazing. It made the day even more perfect than it had already been.”

The couple, who have three children – Kymberlee, Ben and Jessica – said Gary arrived without fuss and no security, just his personal assistant and driver.

“Afterwards, he stayed on for the wedding photos,” said Katie. “I can’t believe it’s me in them.”

She added: “He follows me on Twitter, so he’s obviously read the last few tweets I’ve posted.

“I’ve had a slipped disc, so I’ve been in bed and so he asked me about that.

“He was very thoughtful and caring, and said ‘How’s your back?’ and ‘Are you okay?’”

Katie’s childhood friend and fellow fan, Gemma Lawal, said she had to tell Gary’s people to drive the star around the block after he arrived at the reception venue a few minutes earlier than planned.

She said friends also engineered the singer getting a hand-delivered invitation to the wedding when he was at the red carpet London premiere of the film Kingsman.

“One of the girls had won a competition to be there, so they were able to give him the invitation personally,” said Gemma.

She added: “It was brilliant. When Gary came out, her face was a picture.”