Debut for Seann Walsh

The stand-ups taking part in this year's Royal Variety Performance have been announced.

Seann Walsh is to make his debut on the show, which provides an important springboard to mainstream success, while Jimmy Carr will be returning for a fourth time, following appearances in 2002, 2004 and 2008.

Carr joked: 'It's a great honour and privilege to have me at the Royal Variety. I can't believe their luck.’

Both Jason Byrne and Hal Cruttenden will be returning to the bill for a second time. Byrne, fresh from his BBC One sitcom Father Figure, first appeared in 2006, while Cruttenden was on the bill in 2009.

The show, at the London Palladium next Monday, will also feature the first public performances from Harry Hill’s I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical.

As previously announced, this year's show will be hosted by John Bishop and feature a performance by Dame Edna Everage, currently performing her farewell show in London's West End.

Also on the bill are Mary J Blige, Gary Barlow, Jessie J and Chas & Dave.

The show will be broadcast on ITV in December. Last year's Royal Variety Performance averaged an impressive 8.5million viewers in the UK. It has not yet been announced which member of the Royal Family will attend the show. The event is staged in aid of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund, whose patron is The Queen.

Published: 18 Nov 2013