ABBA is band most Britons want to see reform - with fans also yearning for Oasis and One Direction reunions

Pop icons ABBA, Oasis and One Direction are the bands that British music fans are most eager to see reform, according to a nationwide poll.

Four out of 10 say they want to see a reunion gig from the Swedish legends ABBA, who split in 1982, so classic songs such as Waterloo and Dancing Queen can be performed live once more, according to the survey by ticket marketplace StubHub.

Oasis came second in the poll with 28 per cent of the vote, following tweets from Liam Gallagher encouraging his brother Noel to put on a post-lockdown gig with proceeds going to NHS staff.

Noel and Liam Gallagher (Getty Images)

One Direction placed third, with 16 per cent of the British public voting for a reunion of Harry, Niall, Louis, Liam and Zayn. The X Factor finalists last performed together as a five piece in 2015.

Nineties' favourites The Verve and Boyzone completed the top five, with Destiny’s Child beating Sugababes and Girls Aloud as the girl band Britons most want to see reformed.

Almost half of music fans are feeling nostalgic for their favourite bands during the lockdown.

In fact, almost one fifth (19 per cent) said they’re booking tickets to a live event within one week of the lockdown being lifted.

The study also revealed the bands that Brits would like to see follow in the steps of McFly and Busted and merge to become a new supergroup, with a U2 and Oasis collaboration topping the list, closely followed by boyband rivals Westlife and Boyzone.

A StubHub UK spokesperson said: “It’s heartbreaking for fans when their favourite bands decide to part ways, and our research shows that millions of Brits are eager for incredible musicians such as Oasis and ABBA to perform live once again."

Top 20 bands Brits would like to see reform:

1. ABBA (40%)
2. Oasis (28%)
3. One Direction (16%)
4. The Verve (14%)
5. Boyzone (13%)
6. The Smiths (112%)
7. Destiny’s Child (12%)
8. Crowded House (12%)
9. Sugababes (11%)
10. No Doubt (11%)
11. Blur (11%)
12. Girls Aloud (11%)
13. Savage Garden (9%)
14. East 17 (8%)
15. Atomic Kitten (8%)
16. Blink-182 (8%)
17. Fifth Harmony (8%)
18. The Kooks (7%)
19. Five (7%)
20. NSYNC (6%)