Bob Geldof was ''blown away'' by the performance of One Direction on the Band Aid 30 single.

The 'Steal My Girl' hitmakers - made up of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Liam Payne - were among the impressive array of stars who helped record the song in London earlier today (15.11.14), and Bob, 63, revealed he was moved by their part in the much-anticipated tune.

He reflected: ''It's beautiful, seriously. That is the hardest one to do because people know the song so they are worried they're going to mess it up and they didn't at all.

''It was so sad what they did. I never expected that from them.

''Harry Styles wanted to play it back so I did and it's very moving. They are whispering.''

The lyrics of the new song have been penned by Midge Ure and Emeli Sande, who revealed Bob helped to inspire the various acts before they started recording.

She explained: ''Bob gave a really touching speech before we started singing so I think that really got everybody in the mind-frame that we needed to be in to remind us it's fun, but that we're here for a really serious reason.''

The lyrics to the new song - which will raise money to fight Ebola - show a few minor tweaks have been made to the original 'Do They Know It's Christmas'.

A new line reads: ''Where a kiss of love can kill you - And there's death at every tear.''

Another reads: ''Well tonight we're reaching out, and touching you.''