Bob Geldof defends Band Aid single: This pop song has kept millions alive

'Why would Band Aid scrap feeding thousands of children dependent on us for a meal?'

Bob Geldof was the driving force behind the original Band Aid single in 1984 (Damien Eagers/PA)

Bob Geldof has said his Band Aid charity single has “kept millions of people alive” after a new 40th anniversary version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? faced criticism.

To mark the song’s milestone, a remix has been created which blends the voices of artists who have featured on previous editions including Harry Styles, George Michael and Bono.