Ellie Goulding made an emotional return to the UK stage this week, as her estranged father watched her perform for the very first time after he walked out on her family when she was just all but five years of age.

Her dad, Arthur, watched as she kicked off the UK leg of her Delirium tour at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena as they continue to work on their relationship. The singer, who wrote ‘I Know You Care’ in 2012 about her abandonment, spoke to the Sun ahead of her start of her Delirium tour concert. Ellie said: “I’m nervous for tonight, as I love coming home. Cardiff is the closest venue to home and really close to my heart. Dad’s never seen a show before. This is his first time, which I’m really genuinely shocked and happy about. We’ve forgotten the past.”

Ellie and her father, Arthur were first reunited when she was 19-years-old, but they then didn’t see each other for another ten years, at the christening of her sister Isabel’s baby in December and have since stayed in touch. Ellie had previously admitted that her dad’s decision to leave means she finds it hard to trust men. Speaking in 2014, Ellie said: “I did find it hard to trust people when my dad left. Particularly men. Song writing is a form of therapy, I think.”

Ellie is currently in the middle of her Delirium world tour, which will see her perform all over Europe throughout March, including 11 in the UK, before heading to North America in April for three months.