THEY returned this year, their 30th, with a comeback album, The Liberty Of Norton Folgate, but Madness knew what 13,000 people wanted after a soggy day in the park.

There were a few tracks from the latest album, which dipped in to the top five earlier this year and earned them their first few words of critical acclaim in a decade. But from the off, their 90-minute festival closing set was rich with the familiar sounds of hits like One Step Beyond, Embarrassment and The Prince.

Suggs was on form, the frontman delivering a few one-liners throughout. "Any idea how much that house costs?" he quipped, pointing up the hill to Wollaton Hall, which did look magnificent lit-up against the twilight.

Madness may have spent longer on the singles chart in the 80s than any other artist but the Hall, I suspect, is out of even his reach, financially.

It was My Girl that prompted the first audible sing-a-long right to the back of the crowd. Their version, this time, a piano-led ballad.

Pork pie hats off to them, they delivered exactly what was expected as festival headliners. And to be able to do that after three decades is some achievement.

Wonder who will have to top that at next year's Splendour?