Comics, magicians and a follow-up to Play That Goes Wrong

Comedians Ellie Taylor, Matt Forde,  Scott Bennett and Larry Dean will all be appearing at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.

The show is being recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Friday for later broadcast on ITV1, giving a huge profile boost to the stand-ups taking part. 

It will be hosted by Alan Carr and Amanda Holden, his pal and co-presenter on the BBC One makeover series Amanda & Alan's Italian Job.

Carr previously hosted the show in 2021 and said: ‘I am completely thrilled to be asked back to host the Royal Variety Performance so soon, what a compliment and an honour 

‘To be able to host this magical evening with my best friend and TV wife Amanda Holden is the icing on the cake for me. If I have half as much fun as I did three years ago, well we are all in for a real treat.’

The King and Queen will be at the show, which raises money for the Royal Variety Charity for people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance.

The line-up also includes Elton John introducing his new West End show The Devil Wears Prada, magicians Penn and Teller, and Lorraine Kelly with the Change And Check Choir, performing Love Is All Around to raise awareness for breast cancer detection.

Mischief Theatre, the team behind Play That Goes Wrong will be giving the first public performance of their follow-up show The Comedy About Spies, which opens in the West End next year. Although no other details of the show have yet been announced.

Also on the bill are the London casts of Oliver! and Starlight Express;   musicians James Bay, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Marisha Wallace and Eurovision winner Nemo;  Cirque Du Soleil; the English National Ballet; and  presenter and magician Stephen Mulhern.

Britain’s Got Talent champion Sydnie Christmas will also be performing as part of her prize for winning the ITV talent show.

Holden said: ‘This is a dream job and Alan is a true friend, we are already bursting with ideas and excitement, it’s going to be such a fun night! I’ve worked on Britain’s Got Talent for 18 years and have been so proud watching all our winners perform for the Royal Family. This year will be no different, so in the words of Sydnie Christmas, let’s av it!’

Published: 20 Nov 2024