Robbie Williams sang with Take That last night for the first time since the band broke up 13 years ago — but we’ll have to wait a little longer for the proper reunion.

Williams took the stage at the end of this three-hour musical extravaganza for Children in Need, along with its full cast of performers including Sir Paul McCartney and Dame Shirley Bassey, to join Take That in singing Hey Jude.

As he stood arm-in-arm with Gary Barlow, it looked as though it was only a matter of time before Robbie’s back in the band for good.

In pictures: Stars perform for Children in Need

Not that the boys are ready to forgive and forget just yet. When Barlow invited Williams to join the band on stage, it seemed that they were finally going to perform together again — only for the rest of the boys to march off in a pretend huff.

Unperturbed, Williams launched into the electro-rock of Bodies. Backed by a tight band and the BBC Concert Orchestra, it was the best he’s sounded since returning to the stage after three years.

He then led the crowd in a mass handclap over the singalong chorus of new single You Know Me, before going into the audience to hug a female fan. The resounding hysteria must have made ominous viewing for boyband JLS, who watched from the circle. Other stars on the night included Paolo Nutini, who had the crowd on their feet for the rasping, horn-led soul of Pencil Full of Lead. when he sounded like a young Rod Stewart, before melting hearts with the husky ballad Last Request.

Elsewhere, Katherine Jenkins and Annie Lennox delighted with their voices, while Cheryl Cole won outfit of the night for a fetching naval number.

The second half of the show was full of collaborations — none more entertaining than that of Dame Shirley Bassey and Dizzee Rascal, who performed together on Diamonds are Forever.

After Dizzee delighted the Dame with his rapid-fire rapping, he returned for the hip-hop strut of Dirty Cash. It’s probably the first time the Albert Hall has played host to grime music — and certainly the first time a performer has taken to its stage in a bomber jacket — but Dizzee was electrifying.

Sir Paul McCartney is a much safer bet for these kinds of things. Indeed, no charity event would be complete without an appearance from the former Beatle. Rattling through Back In The USSR and Get Back, Macca had the crowd singing his timeless melodies.

As melodies go, they don’t get much better than Hey Jude’s. Take That appeared on stage to help Sir Paul sing his classic ballad, with Robbie returning for its extended finale. It wasn’t quite the reunion we were hoping for, but it was hard to feel disappointed by an evening with so many other musical highlights.

In pictures: Stars perform for Children in Need