2020
I N A I D O F T H E R OYA L VA R I E T Y C H A R I T Y
R O YA L VA R I E T Y PERFORMANCE O P E R A H O U SE AT THE WINTER GARDENS B L A C K P O O L S U N 2 9 N OVEMBER
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
P HOTOGRAP H OF HER M A J EST Y T HE Q U E E N BY M A RY Mc C A RTN E Y © 201 5
On behalf of the Royal Variety Charity, Laurie Mansfield & Giles Cooper, would like to thank Her Majesty The Queen for her continued support as the sole Patron of our charity. The unwavering presence of the Royal Family at this annual entertainment institution ensures that the Royal Variety Charity is able to continue to assist and support all those in need who’ve professionally served the entertainment industries. For this we are all truly grateful.
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Presented annually in aid of the
Royal Variety Charity Staged at
The Opera House at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool viewed live by a virtual audience in the year of Covid-19
THE R O YA L V A R I E T Y PERFORMANCE
2 0 2 0 Executive Producers, Royal Variety Charity Laurie Mansfield, Giles Cooper & Phil Dale
Executive Producer, ITV Studios, Fiona Clark Series Producer, ITV Studios, Lawrie Jordan Director, ITV Studios, Richard Valentine
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 | 3
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
On behalf of the Royal Variety Charity LAURIE MANSFIELD & GILES COOPER extend our warmest thanks to
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES for his kind support of this evening’s Royal Variety Performance
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 | 5
NICK THOMAS MBE
&
SANDRA THOMAS proud supporters of
Wi s hin g e ve ryo n e a ve ry su c c e ssful Royal Va rie ty Pe r fo rm a n c e 2020
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
THE R O YA L VA R I E T Y PERFORMANCE 2020
CONTENTS CHAIRMAN - WELCOME TO THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE LIFE PRESIDENT - MESSAGE OF THANKS COVID-19 AND THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY VICE-CHAIRMAN & TREASURER BLACKPOOL ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCES MANAGEMENT BODY OF THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY DAME VERA LYNN POSTCARDS FROM BLACKPOOL CHAIRMAN’S CHARITY THANKS BRINSWORTH HOUSE PERFORMERS 2020 ROYAL PATRONAGE OF THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT HOW TO DONATE TO THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 BRINSWORTH HOUSE ITV STUDIOS ITV PRODUCTION STAFF HISTORY OF THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE TRIBUTE TO MALCOLM MAXTED PREVIOUS ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCES CREDITS & THANKS
8-9 10-11 12-17 18 21 24 28 30-31 32 34 35 36-37 38 39-49 50-59 61 62-63 66-75 78 80-87 88-89
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
GILES COOPER CHAIRMAN I can’t express how great it feels to be able to say Welcome to the Royal Variety Performance 2020, as it’s hard to believe that after all the trials and tribulations of this most unprecedented year, that we’ve finally managed to ‘pull it off’ and bring you a Royal Variety Show. As this horrible pandemic developed throughout the year, causing ever-changing restrictions, lockdowns and guidelines, so our plans had to change with every twist and turn and I’ve lost count of the amount of different scenarios that we had to intricately plan for and then alas, start all over again. However, between the Royal Variety Charity and ITV Studios, our guiding mantra never changed, The Show Must Go On, and this typical showbusiness determination, combined with an enormous will between us of wanting to help the thousands of people who work in the entertainment industry finding themselves in really desperate situations, finally resulted in the stars aligning and enabling us to stage this evening’s show. I must pay particular tribute to our core team at ITV Studios, namely Amanda George, Lawrie Jordan and Mark Wagman, but most especially to Fiona Clark, whose enthusiasm and dedication has been inspirational. I must also pay special thanks to Sankalpa Guniyangodage at Buckingham Palace for her wonderful help and support and to our own core team of Katie Boland, Victoria Bond, Peter Hinton and David Pogson KVO, all of whom have made substantial contributions to ensure this evening’s show came to fruition. I’d also like to thank Donna Molyneux and Michael Williams at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, together with Spencer Phillips, Amanda Thompson and Alan Cavill, for all their assistance over such a difficult period. For us at the Royal Variety Charity, not being able to have a ‘physical audience’ means we’re denied the ticket revenue from this evening’s show, but the money we’ll earn from television fees will be a huge help in supporting an industry in unprecedented crisis. In addition, if you are able to help by making a donation to the Royal Variety Charity, your support would be so gratefully received. I’d like to thank my fellow voluntary Officers, Vice-Chairman Phil Dale and Treasurer Ian Freeman and most particularly Honorary Life-President Laurie Mansfield, for all their help and support, together with every voluntary Member of our 33-strong Executive Committee for their dedication, commitment and hard work over what has undoubtedly been the most extraordinary year. Without a ‘Royal presence’, there is no Royal Variety Show and, thankfully, just as the wonders of technology have allowed us to present a ‘virtual’ show and beat the virus in our own way, I’d like to thank most sincerely, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, for his fantastic video message of support which means so much to us all. Above all, I’d like to thank Her Majesty The Queen, for her unwavering support as our sole-Patron. Lastly, but by no means least, a very big thank you to all of the artists performing in tonight’s ‘Royal Command’, all of whom have donated their services in support of the Royal Variety Charity. I’m sure you’ll ‘do us all proud’ and thank you so much for committing your valuable time and energy to this evening’s production. So without further ado, let’s for a couple of hours forget about this horrible year and sit back and enjoy what will undoubtedly be a fabulous night of entertainment.
Chairman & Executive Producer
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Giles Cooper Chairman & Executive Producer
WELCOME ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 | 9
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
MESSAGE OF THANKS
LAURIE MANSFIELD LIFE-PRESIDENT Well, we made it!! In this traumatic and eventful year it was a close call….I need to acknowledge and thank the people who have helped bring the Royal Variety Performance to the stage against all odds. Firstly, the town of Blackpool and all at the Opera House who have believed in this event and without their help and commitment to the Royal Variety Performance, I would not be writing this. I would like to offer our continued thanks to ITV and in particular Fiona Clark and her team, who have been unwavering in their dedication and ability to overcome every obstacle this pandemic could put in their way. I would also like to add, on a personal level, my thanks to our Chairman Giles Cooper who has worked tirelessly to ensure the success of tonight’s show. It is important to acknowledge all the members of the Executive Committee and of course my fellow Trustees. Their combined work and dedication bind our charity together with the great care they have taken during this pandemic. In this history of this charity, we have never been so needed and so essential to help the talent within our industry who are in need, whether it be at Brinsworth House or beyond. At Brinsworth House, I would like to thank our Matron, Tatree Preece RGN, all her staff and everybody who is connected to Brinsworth House for their devotion and effort through this incredibly difficult year. Finally, I would like to thank the Royal Family for their continued support, most especially His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for his support of this year’s show. It is very difficult to put in to words my appreciation to all of the above for the amount of love and care that is put in to the continued longevity and success of the Royal Variety Charity. In the words of Captain Sir Tom Moore....tomorrow will be a good day. We’ll meet again.
Hon. Life-President & Executive Producer
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Laurie Mansfield Hon. Life President & Executive Producer
THANKS ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 | 11
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
COVID 19 AND THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY BY CHAIRMAN GILES COOPER
“A
t the time of last year’s Royal Variety Performance, no-one could have foreseen the terrible impact that Covid-19 would have had on each of our lives over the coming year.
The pandemic’s effect on the Royal Variety Charity has been considerable too. Our remit and ‘reason for being’ is to help and support anyone in need of assistance who has worked professionally in the entertainment industry. Before Covid-19, it was only the top 4.8% of those working in the industry that earned above the average UK wage, but since March, not only has this industry suffered a crisis like everyone else, but in parts suffered complete annihilation. Theatres and music venues have been closed for most of the year, festivals and outdoor concerts were abandoned and tens of thousands of people working in all parts of the industry, mostly on a freelance ‘job-to-job’ basis, have
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
been left to fend for themselves with little or no support from the Government - not qualifying for furlough, or any other scheme that has been offered. Not only did the Royal Variety Charity have this nationwide emergency in entertainment to contend with, but in addition we had to face the demands and challenges of owning and operating our own residential and nursing care home, Brinsworth House, for elderly members of the entertainment profession. On the 18th March, a few days before the nationwide lockdown, we instructed all staff working at our King Street offices to relocate and work from home and ordered Brinsworth House to close its doors to all visitors. On 24th March, I called the first of many Trustee’s Meetings where it was agreed that our first priority should be to spend whatever money it took to keep our residents and staff safe. Unlike many other charities, we had the overheads and responsibilities of running a Care Home and we agreed to focus all our funds and resources into looking after our many residents and staff, whilst at the same time continuing to offer more help and assistance for those in need, throughout the world of entertainment. At the time, the task seemed enormous. Royal Assent to the Coronavirus Act was given some days later and the UK entered full lockdown. We authorised the purchase of laptops and other office equipment to enable our King Street admin staff to work from home and instructed our Operations Manager, Peter Hinton and Administrator, Kirsty Bristow, to do nothing else but to source Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Covid-19 testing kits. It became clear to us that the only way to beat this virus was to be able to test any resident who displayed any symptoms and then to isolate them in their rooms, whilst at the same time having adequate PPE equipment to allow our nurses to care for them.
Since March, not only has this industry suffered a crisis like everyone else, but in parts suffered complete annihilation
At the same time, the Trustees stepped in to ratify grant applications which were being reviewed diligently by our Grants Sub-Committee and were pouring in from all over the UK. This sped up the task considerably and my heartfelt thanks must go to my fellow Trustees, Laurie Mansfield, Phil Dale and Ian Freeman and to all the members of our Grants Sub-Committee, John Logan, Lady Westbury, Gordon Peters and Pat Church.
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
COVID 19 AND THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY BY CHAIRMAN GILES COOPER Continued...
It’s perhaps worth pointing out at this point, that I, along with every other Trustee and Committee member are volunteers and do not get paid for our work for the Royal Variety Charity, but this was not about money - it was about doing all we could to safeguard our many residents and staff and to try our best to assist our thousands of colleagues working in entertainment throughout the UK. Thankfully, Peter and Kirsty sourced sufficient PPE and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Swab test kits for all staff and residents within days which, whilst expensive, saved us from the looming fate that befell many other Care Homes. Two positive cases of Covid-19 occurred amongst residents in April, but thanks to being able to use the testing kits so early on, they were isolated in their rooms, treated with care by nurses wearing full PPE and both fully recovered without the virus spreading throughout the Home. Similarly, three members of staff contracted Covid during the first lockdown, but because we were able to test them as soon as they displayed symptoms, we were able to ask them to self-isolate within the comfort of their own homes until they had fully recovered, enabling Brinsworth House to remain Covid-free. Some goodwill was also shown from local businesses and charities, by donating face-shields and the landlords at King Street suspended rent payments for three months, for which we are very grateful. We made a concerted effort to show to the outside world and residents’ friends and families, what day-to-day life was like at Brinsworth, with intense use of social media and as a result our
We made a concerted effort to show to the outside world and residents’ friends and families, what day-to-day life was like at Brinsworth
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
COVID 19 AND THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY BY CHAIRMAN GILES COOPER Continued...
Facebook followers for the Royal Variety Charity increased to over 630,000 and for the Royal Variety Performance, to over 2.2 million. I’d like to thank our Maintenance Manager, Joe Williams, who kept a video diary which was edited together by Jam and Liam in our social media team at Anglo Digital. Our Executive Committee Member, Kay Carman, did a fantastic job of sourcing artistes, whose performances were then edited on to DVD’s, so as to continue the regular entertainment by professional artistes, which the residents appreciated enormously. Our Head of PR, David Pogson KVO, did a sterling job in handpicking relevant media outlets to show our work in sensitive ways, including a superb piece put together by Sky News. We also launched a very successful TV advertising campaign fronted by our very own Robert Powell, raising thousands of pounds’ worth of donations for those in need. My sincerest thanks
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to Robert and to Executive Committee Member, Martin Jones, for all you both did to organise this fantastic initiative. Entertainment and Activities became such essential factors for the mental well-being of our residents during lockdown and I’m delighted that our efforts to celebrate VE Day, the Queen’s Birthday and International Nursing Day, with all the social-distancing and practical difficulties they entailed, were such a success. I must commend the outstanding work of our Matron at Brinsworth House, Tatree Preece, together with her many nurses, carers, kitchen
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Entertainment and activities became such essential factors for the mental well-being of our residents during lockdown
staff, cleaners and maintenance staff for their amazing dedication during one of the most challenging times any of us have had to face. With the winter months approaching and the continuing uncertainty of what lies ahead, there is no doubt these remain very frightening and desperate times, but what we do know for sure is that at the Royal Variety Charity, we have a team of people that anyone would be proud to call their own and we’ll continue to fight to the best of our ability against whatever is thrown at us.” Giles Cooper – Chairman
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
PHIL DALE VICE-CHAIRMAN
I
t continues to be such a privilege to be actively involved with, not only this great and traditional annual performance, but even more so with its beneficiary, the Royal Variety Charity; allowing us to continue our much needed work at Brinsworth House. Due to your generosity and the generosity of the artistes, sponsors and ITV, we have been in the enviable position of being able to organise a number of improvements at Brinsworth House over the years, bringing it up to the most modern of standards. The registered care home accommodates 38 residents, who are personally taken care of by the finest of nurses and care assistants and it is so heart-warming to see them enjoying these wonderful facilities and especially experiencing their delight when they are visited and entertained by today’s excellent performers throughout the year.
Phil Dale Vice-Chairman
We are so proud to be closely involved with such a wonderful charity and we are richly rewarded for our trouble by the very simple joy of seeing these once so-active and talented ‘old pros’ living in the comfort they deserve and most importantly seeing them safe and with a smile on their faces.
IAN FREEMAN TREASURER
M
ore than ever in this extraordinary year, your support for this spectacular and renowned theatrical event means the world to us all at the Royal Variety Charity. And what a thrill it is for us to be back in Blackpool, the undisputed home of British variety entertainment. We are immensely proud of the fortitude and dedication shown by our wonderful nurses, carers and administrative staff at Brinsworth House. The patronage and benevolence of our supporters and donors is vital in providing the means to make their demanding task so much easier. As Treasurer, I’d like to thank our Finance Director, Martin Dalby for his hard work in keeping the Charity’s finances on track in these unpredictable times. May I also express gratitude to our Grants SubCommittee for their commitment in ensuring that funds earmarked to help those who live in their own homes are distributed so wisely. As we move, hopefully, into less challenging times we thank you once again from the bottom of our hearts for your benevolence and support.
Ian Freeman Treasurer
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Opening 2022
Showtown and Blackpool Council wish everyone a successful Royal Variety Performance 2020 at the Winter Gardens Blackpool Contact and follow Showtown on: showtownblackpool.co.uk
info@showtownblackpool.co.uk
@ShowtownBPL
/showtownblackpool
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Showtown Blackpool
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BLACKPOOL ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCES The Royal Variety Performance has twice before been staged at the Blackpool Opera House, first in 1955 and then again in 2009, both times attended by Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Artists ranged from Arthur Askey, Morecambe & Wise and Eddie Fisher in 1955, to Lady Gaga, Michael Bublé and Bette Midler in 2009. Here are a selection of photos from both previous occasions.
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS
BRING ON THE LIGHT! Blackpool’s world-famous Illuminations are to continue to shine throughout Christmas and New Year for the first time in the resort’s history. This year’s display, which is being presented under a theme of Bring On The Light, is a celebration of the unstinting work of the NHS, key workers and other outstanding individuals during the coronavirus pandemic, with the Golden Mile featuring an uplifting display of hearts and rainbows.
The six-mile stretch of festoons and tableaux were switched on at the start of September by seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes, including frontline nurses, a consultant, fundraisers, a hospital catering manager and a therapy dog and his owner, in a virtual event that took place in the Empress Ballroom within the Winter Gardens. Produced by MTV, the streamed show featured at home performances by Melanie C, Becky Hill, Fleur East, Tom Grennan, Joel Corry, as well as an exclusive performance by Diversity.
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
The live part of the event in the Empress was hosted by Diversity’s Jordan and Perri, and included two songs by Blackpool-born singer-songwriter Rae Morris before Illuminations Creative Curator Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen introduced the Switch-On stars.
Illuminations have been extended by two months, and will shine each night until Sunday 3 January, 2021. For full details including switch-on times, go to www.visitblackpool.com
A further 47 Corona Heroes have illuminated images of themselves included within a special tribute section on the seafront. They were chosen from hundreds of nominations from across the UK. Following more than three months of lockdown within the tourism industry in the early part of this year, the
visitblackpool.com/illuminations
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
MANAGEMENT BODY OF THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY THE
R O YA L VA R I ET Y C H A R I T Y F O R M E R L Y
T H E
E N T E R T A I N M E N T
A R T I S T E S'
B E N E V O L E N T
F U N D
Patron: HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN Hon. Life-President: LAURIE MANSFIELD Chairman: GILES COOPER
Elected Members: Elected Chairman of the Royal Variety Charity: GILES COOPER Elected Vice-Chairman: PHIL DALE, Elected Treasurer: IAN FREEMAN Elected Trustees of the Royal Variety Charity: GILES COOPER (Chair), LAURIE MANSFIELD, PHIL DALE, IAN FREEMAN Elected Members of The Executive Committee: KAY CARMAN • PAT CHURCH • GILES COOPER • DEE-DEE CROSHER PHIL DALE • IAN FREEMAN • PAUL GANJOU • CHERYL GARLAND VALERIE GARLAND • FAWN JAMES • MARTIN JONES • JOHN LOGAN VICKI MICHELLE MBE • GEORGE MURANYI • GORDON PETERS • BABS POWELL • ROBERT POWELL • REV. CANON ROGER ROYLE • KEITH SIMMONS DOWAGER LADY WESTBURY CBE. JP
Honorary Members: Honorary Life-President of the Royal Variety Charity: LAURIE MANSFIELD Honorary Vice-Presidents of the Royal Variety Charity: STUART LITTLEWOOD • JOE PASQUALE • ROGER DE COURCEY ROBERT EARL JNR. • BRADLEY WALSH • NICK THOMAS MBE Honorary Life-Governors of the Royal Variety Charity: LORD MICHAEL GRADE CBE • THE DOWAGER LADY WESTBURY CBE. JP Honorary Chaplain of the Royal Variety Charity: REV. CANON ROGER ROYLE
For more information on the Royal Variety Performance, please visit: www.RoyalVarietyPerformance.org
THE
ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY
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For more information on the Royal Variety Charity please visit: www.royalvarietycharity.org
Qdos Entertainment presents
JULIAN CLARY ELAINE PAIGE ASHLEY BANJO & DIVERSITY PAUL ZERDIN NIGEL HAVERS GARY WILMOT
with CHARLIE STEMP JAC YARROW and Special Guest BEVERLEY KNIGHT
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11 JULY
1878 ROLL OF HONOUR 1951
VERA LYNN
WINTER GARDENS BLACKPOOL OPENS
THE THIRD OPERA HOUSE OPENS 14 JULY 1939 THE THIRD OPERA HOUSE BLACKPOOL OPENS WITH GEORGE FORMBY. THE VENUE NOW BOASTED A CAPACITY OF 3,000, THE LARGEST STAGE IN THE UK, A WURLITZER ORGAN AND THE LATEST IN CINEMA TECHNOLOGY TE
ROLL OF HONOUR 1904
CHARLES CHAPLIN
HER MAJESTY’S OPERA HOUSE 10 JUNE 1889 HER MAJESTY’S OPERA HOUSE OPENS TO THE PUBLIC WITH GILBERT & SULLIVAN’S NEW OPERA “YEOMEN OF THE GUARD”. THE VENUE WAS DESIGNED BY FRANK MATCHAM COSTING £9,098.
ROLL OF HONOUR 1938
STANLEY HOLLOWAY
AUGUST
1911
OCTOBER
ROLL OF HONOUR 1931
1938
GRACIE FIELDS
OPERA HOUSE REOPENS FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE REFURBISHMENT
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OPERA HOUSE CLOSED & DEMOLISHED
PROUD TO HOST THE 2020 ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE
THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 13 APRIL 1955 IN THE PRESENCE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. THE FIRST ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE EVER TO BE STAGED OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITAL.
ROLL OF HONOUR 1967
BRUCE FORSYTH ROLL OF HONOUR 1985
CANNON & BALL
THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 03 DECEMBER 2009 HOSTED BY PETER KAY IN THE PRESENCE OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH K.G.,K.T.
ROLL OF HONOUR 2013
BOB DYLAN ROLL OF HONOUR 2019
JASON MANFORD
NOVEMBER
2020
THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE NOVEMBER 2020
WWW.WINTERGARDENSBLACKPOOL.CO.UK ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 | 27
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
DAME VERA LYNN, CH, DBE, OStJ 1917-2020
G
iven the challenges we have all faced with the pandemic, 2020 will be remembered for being momentous for everyone, including those of us in the world of entertainment. However, this year has also seen the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. And we remember with immense pride the many entertainers who performed for our Armed Forces during that time. Those serving in the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) travelled to many areas of conflict, giving impromptu concerts both overseas and in the United Kingdom.
CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM: ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 1971, LONDON PALLADIUM ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 1951, VICTORIA PALACE EARLY PUBLICITY SHOT RECEIVING HER DAMEHOOD 1975, BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 1975, LONDON PALLADIUM
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Many of these artistes later gave their time freely by appearing at Royal Variety Performances. One famous member of ENSA, Dame Vera Lynn, was a particular favourite. She performed many times for us over her wonderfully long career. With the passing of the “Forces’ Sweetheart” earlier this year at the age of 103, the Royal Variety Charity has lost one of its long-standing ambassadors. But here we recall her great enthusiasm for singing and entertaining us all. Who else could say they sang for people sleeping on the London Underground Tube platforms, at Princess Elizabeth’s 16th birthday party at Windsor Castle, and in the conflict areas of Burma (now Myanmar)? Thank you, Dame Vera, for a lifetime of memories. “We’ll Meet Again”.
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
POSTCARDS FROM BLACKPOOL
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
CHAIRMAN’S CHARITY THANKS
I
“
t continues to be a real privilege to lead this great charity. Our staff and unpaid volunteers work tirelessly to help those in need throughout the entertainment industry, both in our care home in Twickenham and indeed all-across the UK - they are all truly inspirational people to work with. With 63 employed staff and 36 voluntary Members of our Management Body, its impossible to single out everyone, but I’d like to thank all the Members of our Executive Committee, including their elected Officers and Trustees for donating their valuable time throughout the year and for working so hard for those in need within the entertainment industry. Particular thanks must go to the Members of our Grants Sub-Committee, John Logan, Gordon Peters, The Dowager Lady Westbury CBE. JP and Pat Church who have met up regularly throughout the year to review applications for assistance from those who have worked professionally in the entertainment industry. I’d like to pay special thanks to Katie Boland and Victoria Bond in our Events Team, to our Operations Manager Peter Hinton, our Administrator Kirsty Bristow and our Grants Officer Sheila Powell. This year, I’d particularly like to thank our Head of PR, David Pogson LVO, whose work has been truly outstanding. His dedication and efficiency combined with his abundance of creative ideas has made him such a huge and invaluable asset to the Royal Variety Charity. I also give my sincerest thanks to our Financial Director, Martin Dalby, on his commitment, efficiency and dedication during the year and of course, to our elected Treasurer Ian Freeman and Finance Assistant, Myra Harte. I’d like to save my biggest thanks for all the nurses, carers, kitchen and maintenance staff at Brinsworth House, most especially our Matron, Tatree Preece, for providing such excellent care for our many residents during such a difficult and challenging year. They continue to make me and the entire Management Body so proud of their outstanding work.”
Giles Cooper, Chairman
THE
R O YA L VA R I ET Y C H A R I T Y F O R M E R L Y
T H E
E N T E R T A I N M E N T
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A R T I S T E S'
B E N E V O L E N T
F U N D
Theatre • Restaurant • Bar
The Boulevard and Fawn James would like to wish the Royal Variety Charity a hugely successful Royal Variety Performance 2020. The entertainment industry has been so badly affected by Covid-19 and although it is sad to not be able to have a live audience at this year’s Royal Variety Performance, it is so heart-warming that the performers can still come together to perform and raise money for this incredible charity which helps so many entertainers in dire need of support.
6 Walker’s Court, Soho W1F 0BT boulevardtheatre.co.uk
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BRINSWORTH HOUSE PERFORMERS 2020
Above: Happier Days! The performers of the Royal Variety Charity’s Summer Party, back in July 2019, celebrate with a finale on the Brinsworth House stage
We would like to thank all of the Artistes who ‘virtually’ entertained our elderly residents at Brinsworth House, during this year of lockdown: (in order of appearance) STEVE HEWLETT STEPH PARRY STEVE GALLER EMMA JAMES MAZAIKA, IGOR & SARAH JACK FOLEY JAY & JOSS MAGIC OLIVIA GRACE PIPER BERNIE CLIFTON STEVE BARCLAY ANDY EASTWOOD MARK PORTER KAY CARMAN DENISE NOLAN
ELAINE DELMAR KEVIN DEAN MARK ANDREWS CASSIDY CJ. JANSON KATIE LEWIS CAMERON ROLLS TOM CARRADINE SIMEON WOOD UKAYE UKES BILL DARE & KAPLAN KAYE VIVIENNE MCMASTER & SEAN WHITTLE JASON ALLEN CLAIRE BENJAMIN
MAURICE KACHUK CAROL ANNE WELLS & DEL SIMON BASHFORD STEPHEN DICKINSON KARL CHARITY NICK COOPER MIRANDA RICHARDS JAMES HODGSON MARK HEMMINGS SHELLEY ANNE RIVERS DANIEL DEAN KATIE MILTON MICKIE DRIVER
You brought so much happiness to our residents during the toughest of years. Thank you so much for your support and here’s to returning back to ‘physical’ performances in 2021! 34 | ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
ROYAL PATRONAGE OF THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY 1921 1921 - 1936 HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY
T
he Royal Variety Charity has been honoured with Royal Patronage from the reigning Monarch ever since 1921, when His Majesty King George V became the first Patron of the Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (the previous name of the Royal Variety Charity).
1936 - 2002
1936 - 1952
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER
HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI
His Majesty King George V also decreed, in the same year, that the Royal Variety Performance would become an annual event, after the success of the two previous Royal shows in 1912 and 1919. He added that the Monarch, or a senior member of the Royal Family, would attend an annual performance, in aid of Brinsworth House and the Royal Variety Charity, once a year thereafter, to demonstrate the family’s love and support for the entertainment industry and its associated charity.
1952 - PRESENT HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Royal patronage has continued ever since, and the Royal Variety Charity is proud to also have had as its Patrons, His Majesty King George VI, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and of course, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT T he hugely successful, annual ITV television show, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, generously donates a proportion of the money raised from viewers’ telephone votes to the Royal Variety Charity each year. The Royal Variety Charity, in return, arranges for the series winner of the show to appear at the annual Royal Variety Performance, which is held in the presence of a senior member of the British Royal Family and watched by many millions of TV viewers worldwide. The Royal Variety Charity is extremely proud to be associated with ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, and gratefully acknowledges the continued help and support of Simon Cowell and all at Syco and Thames TV. Congratulations to all contestants and to all at Syco and Thames TV for producing another amazing series of ‘Britain’s Got Talent!
PAUL POTTS
GEORGE SAMPSON
DIVERSITY
SPELBOUND
COLLABRO
JULES & MATISSE
RICHARD JONES
TOKIO MYERS
2007 Series 1 The ex-Carphone Warehouse salesman from Port Talbot in South Wales, secured his place on the Royal Variety Performance at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on the 3rd December 2007, held in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
2014 Series 8 Five-piece vocal group, Collabro, won Britain’s Got Talent 2014 and secured their spot on the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on the 13th November 2014, held in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
2008 Series 2 The incredible 14 year old street dancer from Warrington in Cheshire, won his place on the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on 11th December 2008, held in the presence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall.
2015 Series 9 Jules, Matisse and friends won the 9th series of Britian’s Got Talent and won their spot on the Royal Variety Performance, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday 13th November 2015 in the presence of HRH Prince Harry.
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2009 Series 3 The boys, aged between 12 and 25, from Dagenham & Leytonstone in East London won their spot on the Royal Variety Performance at the Blackpool Opera House on the 7th December 2009 - held in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
2016 Series 10 Lance Corporal Richard Jones became the first ever magician to win and won his spot on the Royal Variety Performance, which was staged on 6th December 2016 at the Hammersmith Apollo, in the presence of TRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
2010 Series 4 The 13 amazing gymnasts, originally from Spelthorne in Surrey, won their spot on the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on the 9th December 2010, held in the presence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall.
2017 Series 11 The talented pianist & producer was awarded a place on the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on 24th November 2017 in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
J
on Courtenay was crowned the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2020 after a spectacular final that aired on ITV on October 10th. The semi-finals and final had been postponed from earlier in the year due to the first Covid national lockdown and all of the acts pre-recorded their performances for the final due to social-distancing restrictions. However, the precautionary measures didn’t take away from the excitement of the final, viewed by a huge virtual studio audience. Jon Courtenay, 46, a musical comedian from Mosley, beat 9 other finalists with choir, Sing Along With Us, coming in second and comedian and entertainer, Steve Royle, third. During his audition Jon performed an original comedy song whilst his two nervewracked sons and wife watched from the audience. His eldest son melted hearts running on to the stage and bombing him with a hug, but his biggest fans were waiting in the wings when Ant and Dec stepped in and smashed their Golden Buzzer. His performance in the final was equally entertaining and brought tears and laughter to not only the judges and virtual studio audience, but to millions of TV viewers around the UK.
WINNER:2020
ATTRACTION
JAI MCDOWALL
ASHLEIGH & PUDSEY
2011 Series 5 The 24 year old, from Ayrshire in Scotland performed at the Royal Variety Performance at The Lowry in Salford, Manchester on 5th December 2011, which was held in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
2012 Series 6 Ashleigh Butler, aged 17, from Wellingborough and her performing dog, Pudsey, won their spot on the 100th anniversary of the Royal Variety Performance, at the Royal Albert Hall in the presence of HM The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, on 19th November, 2012.
2013 Series 7 The Hungarian shadow dance troupe, Attraction, won their slot on the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on the 25th November 2013, held in the presence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall.
LOST VOICE GUY
COLIN THACKERY
JON COURTENAY
2018 Series 12 Lee Ridley, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne was the first comedian to win and won his spot on the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on 19th November 2018 in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
2019 Series 13 Chelsea Pensioner, Colin Thackery, won his spot on the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on 18th November 2019 in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
2020 Series 14 The 46 year old musical comedian from Mosley was propelled to this year’s final by Ant and Dec’s Golden Buzzer, earning him a place on tonight’s Royal Variety Performance.
HISTORY OF BGT WINNERS
JON COURTENAY
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 THE
R O YA L VA R I ET Y C H A R I T Y F O R M E R L Y
T H E
E N T E R T A I N M E N T
A R T I S T E S'
B E N E V O L E N T
F U N D
PLEASE HELP US TO HELP OTHERS
T
TO CONTINUE OUR WORK, WE NEED YOUR HELP MORE THAN EVER!
Before Covid-19, it was only the top 4.8% of those working in the industry that earned above the average UK wage, but since March this year, not only has this industry suffered a crisis like everyone else, but in parts suffered complete annihilation.
Please DONATE whatever you can to support us, by visiting: http://easydonate.org/RVP20
Theatres and music venues have been closed for most of the year, festivals and outdoor concerts were abandoned and tens of thousands of people working in all parts of the industry, mostly on a freelance ‘job-to-job’ basis, have been left to fend for themselves with little or no support from the Government - not qualifying for furlough, or any other scheme that has been offered.
Text / SMS donations To donate £10, text RVP10 to 70191 To donate £20, text RVP20 to 70191 To donate £30, text RVP30 to 70191
Not only this but the Royal Variety Charity faces the demands and challenges of owning and operating its own residential and nursing care home, Brinsworth House, for elderly members of the entertainment profession.
Every pound will be so gratefully received.
he pandemic’s effect on the Royal Variety Charity has been considerable. Our remit and ‘reason for being’ is to help and support anyone in need of assistance who has worked professionally in the entertainment industry.
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* Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate. For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org
Presented annually in aid of the
Royal Variety Charity Staged at
The Opera House at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool viewed live by a virtual audience in the year of Covid-19
THE R O YA L V A R I E T Y PERFORMANCE
2 0 2 0 Executive Producers, Royal Variety Charity Laurie Mansfield, Giles Cooper & Phil Dale
Executive Producer, ITV Studios, Fiona Clark Series Producer, ITV Studios, Lawrie Jordan Director, ITV Studios, Richard Valentine
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THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
PERFORMERS YOUR HOST: JASON
MANFORD
GARY BARLOW OBE FROZEN THE MUSICAL STEPHEN MULHERN CELESTE JO CAULFIELD CILLA: THE MUSICAL BLACK BLUES BROTHERS MELANIE C JON COURTENAY MARISHA WALLACE DALISO CHAPONDA STEPS CAPTAIN SIR THOMAS MOORE & MICHAEL BALL OBE NO INTERVAL
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
YOUR HOST JAS ON MA N FORD Training: School of Hard Knocks. Theatre includes: ‘Pirelli’, ‘Sweeney Todd’ at the Adelphi Theatre, ‘Leo Bloom’, the UK tour of ‘The Producers’ and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, ‘Caractacus Potts’, ‘Nathan Detroit’, ‘Guys & Dolls’ at the Royal Albert Hall and the UK Tour and Wyndham’s theatre run of ‘Frank Cioffi’. Television Acting: ‘Scarborough’, ‘Ordinary Lies’, ‘Shameless’, ‘Ripper Street’ and ‘Daisy & Ollie.’ Television Appearances: hosting ‘Sunday Night at the Palladium’, ‘What Would Your Kid Do?’, ‘Bigheads’, ‘QI’, ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’, ‘First & Last’ and ‘Muddle Class’. DVDs: ‘Live at the Manchester Apollo’ 2009, ‘Jason Manford Live at Manchester Arena’, 2011 and ‘Jason Manford First World Problems’ in 2014. Album: ‘Jason Manford: A Different Stage’ 2017. Awards: Perrier Comedy Award Nomination, Edinburgh Festival (2005), Best Comedian on North West circuit (2006), RTS Award Best Actor nominee for ‘Ordinary Lies’, Rose d’Or Award for ‘Bigheads’, ARIAS Best Music Presenter Nominee (Absolute Radio) and Ents24 Hardest Working Comedian 2018. Jason hails from Salford. He is a stand-up comedian, writer,
actor, singer, radio and television presenter. He began his career in 1999, while working at the Buzz Comedy Club in Chorlton, Manchester. Jason was collecting glasses when a performer didn’t arrive for an evening set. Jason, who was 17, stepped in to fill the gap. As a stand up he regular packs out theatres and arenas up and down the country. Playing to over 450,000 fans on his last tour – ‘Muddle Class’. His album, ‘A Different Stage’ reached number 10 in the UK charts. You can hear Jason every Sunday morning on his Absolute Radio breakfast show. Jason is an expert in talking in third person. “After appearing at the Royal Variety Performance three times since 2009 it is an honour and a privilege to be hosting the show this year. It’s been a hugely difficult year for everybody and so I hope that for a couple of hours on a cold November night in Blackpool, we can take people’s minds off things and do what us Brits do best; Have a laugh. The show is going to be incredibly different this year but no matter what, the show will be the famous spectacle it has always been.” - Jason Manford
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
G A RY B A RLOW OBE
G
ary Barlow is one of Britain’s most successful songwriters and record producers. As part of Take That, he has won eight BRIT Awards and sold over 45 million records. He has also co-written and produced music for artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and for musical productions such as ‘Finding Neverland’, ’The Girls’, and ‘The Band’. More recently, Gary has kept the nation entertained with ‘The Crooner Sessions’, which racked up an incredible 94 million views and saw him pair up with talents including Brian May, Chris Martin and Nicole Scherzinger, to record socially distanced duets. His new solo album was recorded with an 80-piece orchestra with collaborators including Michael Bublé, Barry Manilow and Beverley Knight. “Performing at the Royal Variety is always such a highlight for me. The first time I performed was back in 1994 with Take That. This will be my eighth time on the show and it’ll be wonderful to step out on that stage again. Even though we won’t have an audience, it’s still going to be a night to remember.” This evening Gary sings ‘Incredible,’ from his new album ‘Music Played by Humans’.
F R OZ E N TH E MU S IC A L
A
fter breaking Broadway box office records and receiving multiple Tony® Awards nominations, Disney’s ‘Frozen’ is coming to London’s West End, at the newly-restored Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Spring 2021. This evening, we are treated to an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated musical which is based on the phenomenally successful, double-Oscar Award-winning film that melted hearts across the world. With music by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and script by Jennifer Lee – director and co-writer of the film – ‘Frozen’ tells the story of sisters Elsa and Anna whose unbreakable bond inspires them to overcome all the odds. Tonight Samantha Barks, who will create the role of Elsa for London, sings the iconic global hit, ’Let It Go’ as she steps into the role for the very first time. “In normal circumstances, Frozen would now be in performance but like so many at the moment, we’re unable to open our production until next year. It means that this opportunity to share a magical moment with you tonight at the Royal Variety Performance is even more special.” Michael Grandage, Director of ‘Frozen’.
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
ST EPH EN MU L H ERN
S
tephen Mulhern has become one of the most in demand and popular television presenters in the UK, with a string of high rating television shows including ‘Catchphrase’, ‘Rolling in it’ and the hilarious game show ‘In For a Penny’ where Stephen showcases his unique brand of humour and talent on the streets of Great Britain. He also joined the onscreen team on ‘Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway’ in 2016. As well as his presenting career, former redcoat Stephen is also an incredible magician. Having been taught by his father - he became the youngest member of the Magic Circle aged just 14 and has since gone on to perform his very own magic, variety and illusion shows up and down the country. Stephen joins us tonight to present a very special trick he is performing for the first time. “It’s an absolute honour to be performing in the most prestigious variety show in the world. I’m hoping the magic I am bringing to the stage tonight brings a much needed smile and takes the audience out of this world for a moment or two! Anything is possible as you will see in my act tonight!”
C EL ESTE
I
t’s been a busy few years for up and coming, British singer-songwriter Celeste who won the BBC Music ‘Sound of 2020’ award in January after critics described her vocals as ‘timeless soul to tug at your heartstrings’. Celeste joins the likes of Adele, Ellie Goulding & HAIM as previous winners of the title. One month later the 26-year-old also received the trophy for ‘Rising Star’ at the Brit Awards and was listed on Forbes annual 30 Under 30 list. Since 2017, she has performed at many of Europe’s biggest festivals such as Glastonbury & Field Day, supported Janelle Monae, Neneh Cherry and Michael Kiwanuka on tour, released her second EP ‘Lately’, and performed on major television shows including ‘Later... with Jools Holland’, ‘The BRIT Awards 2020’ and the final of ‘The Voice. UK’ Fans eagerly await her self-titled album, which is due for release in 2021. Celeste is joining us tonight to perform her new hit song. “I’m honoured to be performing at the Royal Variety Show this year. To be following in the footsteps of some of my favourite musicians such as Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Duke Ellington is an incredible yet slightly daunting thought. However, I’m also deeply grateful and excited to be here this year, of all years!”
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
J O CAU L FIEL D
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hether you’ve seen her on TV shows such as ‘Have I Got News For You’ or ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’, heard her critically acclaimed Radio 4 comedy show, ‘It’s That Jo Caulfield Again’ or caught her live at one of her awardwinning Edinburgh Festival shows, the chances are you’re already familiar with Jo’s work. Jo can regularly be seen headlining the UK’s biggest and best comedy clubs. Behind the scenes, Jo is also a respected writer, having served on all five series of the BAFTA Award winning ‘So Graham Norton.’ She has also written for, among others – Joan Rivers, Ant & Dec and Anne Robinson. In 2018, she won the ‘SGFringe Stand-Up Comedy Award’ and gained critical acclaim for her performance in the sell-out Fringe run of the play, ‘Brexit’. This summer, Jo also performed a virtual set in Jason Manford’s online comedy club ‘The Weekly Stand Up.’ “I wish I could go back and tell my younger self that I am going to appear on The Royal Variety Performance, she would be very impressed ...and then start worrying about what my older self will be wearing. Genuinely thrilled to be part of this amazing and historic charity event.”
CI L L A : TH E MU S IC A L
S
heridan Smith, OBE first wowed with her portrayal of the late Cilla Black in awardwinning ITV series ‘Cilla.’ Now, Sheridan reprises the role to star in the heart-warming stage production of Jeff Pope’s ‘Cilla The Musical.’ Starting her TV career in ‘Two Pints of Lager’ and ‘Gavin & Stacey’, Sheridan went on to receive critical acclaim for roles including ‘Mrs. Biggs’ landing herself a TV BAFTA. Sheridan also made a name for herself in the West End including, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Legally Blonde’, ‘Flare Path’ and ‘Funny Girl’; winning two prestigious Olivier Awards. ‘Cilla The Musical’, produced by Bill Kenwright & Laurie Mansfield, follows the life of a girl from Liverpool and her incredible rise to fame as singer and national treasure, Cilla Black. The musical will be touring across the UK in 2021, prior to a West End season. Tonight, Sheridan treats us to a preview of the ultimate soundtrack to the 60’s, with some classic Cilla showstoppers. “To perform at The Royal Variety is a dream come true. It’s lovely to be able to perform in Blackpool in these strange times, and to show the country we’re ready to get back on stage”
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BL ACK BLU ES BROTH ERS
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he Black Blues Brothers are five supremely talented acrobats whose shows have entertained and astonished audiences across the world. For them, acrobatics is a strong means of empowerment and unity. Their world tour has seen them clock up 600 dates, visiting 20 countries, 250 cities and perform for more than 300,000 spectators. The troupe hail from Kenya and owe their global success to Alexander Sunny, the artistic director who created their show and Sarakasi, a trust which promotes performing arts for people from disadvantaged backgrounds in East Africa - focusing on acrobatics, dance and music. Through these efforts, the Black Blues Brothers were invited to perform for Pope Francis at the Jubilee of Circus and Street Artists. Showcasing a vast range of highly impressive flips, jumps and skipping skills, tonight watch in awe as they amaze with somersault routines, human pyramids and much, much more. “We are very proud to be part of such a great event. We have been travelling all around the world performing in beautiful theatres, but this is an incomparable honour for us.”
MEL A N IE C
M
elanie C is one fifth of the Spice Girls, the most successful and famous girl band ever. Having first stormed the charts in 1996 with their debut album ’Spice’, it became the best-selling album of all time by a female group. The band went on to sell more than 85 million records and won a host of awards including a BRIT for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. In 2019, the Spice Girls reformed as a foursome for a recordbreaking Spice World Tour of the UK and Ireland. Multi-talented Melanie also found success in musical theatre - starring in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘Blood Brothers’, which gained her an Olivier Award nomination in 2010. Melanie has also had huge UK and international success as a solo artist - achieving over three million album sales and a number of hits including ‘I Turn To You’ and ‘Never be the Same Again’. Most recently, her eighth solo album, Melanie C, received critical acclaim across the globe and hit the Top 10 in the UK album charts as well as topping the independent chart. A thirty date UK and European tour is planned for 2021. Tonight she performs ‘Blame It On Me.’
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
J ON COU RTEN AY
C
omedy pianist Jon Courtenay shot to fame in October 2020 after being crowned champion of ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. During his first audition, Jon was awarded the golden buzzer by presenters Ant & Dec before reducing the judges to tears in the semi-finals with an original song which he penned for his late father. Having scored over 35% of the public vote in the finals - Jon is the first ever Golden Buzzer act to win the series. Jon started his career on stage as a comedy magician before introducing the piano - which he has played since the age of five. As his show evolved gradually the magic made way for the piano, combined with his trademark sense of humour and songs that are always a truly original experience for every audience. “Performing in the Royal Variety Show is something that I’ve dreamt of for as long as I can remember. Having watched it with my Mum and Dad for my whole life and seen so many of my heroes on that stage, I never truly believed my dream would come true. This is for my Dad.”
M A R I S HA WA L L AC E
M
usical powerhouse Marisha Wallace is the woman we’ve been waiting for. Growing up in North Carolina, Marisha first showcased her beautiful voice at Church. Little did she know, years later, she would be one of the most well-known voices in Broadway and the West End having landed jobs in, ‘Book of Mormon’, ‘Aladdin’, and ‘Dreamgirls.’ Her story parallels what’s going on in the world right now. Having suffered Covid19 herself, she spent her recovery putting together a version of the classic ‘Tomorrow’ from musical ‘Annie’ to raise funds for those in the theatre industry affected by lockdown. Eventually recruiting half of Broadway and the West End to join in the video, she went on to land No.2 on the download charts. Now, with the support of Decca Records and an album of songs she is a force to be reckoned with. Tonight Marisha will be performing ‘Tomorrow’, the song that made her a household name. “If someone had told me that in 2020, during a pandemic, I would have the honour to sing for the nation, I wouldn’t have believed them. This is truly a dream come true to be able sing ‘Tomorrow’, a song of hope that helped heal and comfort so many.”
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
DALISO CHAPONDA
D
aliso Chaponda began his comedy career in Canada with the acclaimed one man show ‘Feed This Black Man’. Following this, he began honing his craft in clubs across the country. Daliso is now a regular in comedy venues across the world. Daliso has performed at renowned comedy festivals including Melbourne, Edinburgh, Singapore, Cape Town and Montreal. He has also received rave reviews for two sell out UK tours. Aside from live comedy, Daliso is also a TV and radio favourite, having starred on everything from ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, ‘QI’ and ‘The Apprentice: You’re Fired’ to ‘The Now Show’ on BBC Radio 4. Multi-talented Daliso doesn’t just stop at comedy, he is also a prolific fiction writer and host of his own Rose d’Or nominated BBC Radio 4 show ‘Citizen of Nowhere.’ “I’m extremely excited to be doing the Royal Variety Performance. Especially this year. I NEED THIS. We all need the laughter in these uncertain times.”
STEPS
T
hree years after they staged one of the most successful music comebacks of the decade, British pop legends Steps - better known as H, Claire, Faye, Lee and Lisa are back with their sixth studio album, ‘What the Future Holds.’ After finding fame in 1997, Steps set about reinventing the music landscape with their own brand of high energy and carefully choreographed, joyful pop. Fourteen UK top ten singles and three multi-platinum albums including the number 1 singles, ‘Tragedy’ and ‘Stomp’ followed. Fast forward twenty years, in 2017 the band made a triumphant return to the UK charts with the album ‘Tears On The Dancefloor’, which became the second biggest-selling independent album of 2017, just behind Stormzy. The group are now back with their most ambitious album to date, collaborating with acclaimed writers including Sia. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be returning to the Royal Variety for the first time in twentyone years. The Royal Variety charity is dear to our hearts and we are proud to support the incredible work they do. We can’t wait to deliver a high-energy performance of our new single ‘Something In Your Eyes’ and bring some full-on pop glam to this year’s show!”
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
M I CH A E L BA L L OBE
M
ichael Ball OBE is a much-loved singer, actor, presenter and all-round Royal Variety favourite.
His theatre career took off in 1984, after he landed a lead role in ‘The Pirates Of Penzance’. He soon made the bright lights of the West End, going on to star in ‘Les Misérables’, ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Sweeney Todd’ - landing himself two Olivier Awards and an OBE along the way. In 2019, he released his number 1 album, ‘Coming Home To You.’ In addition to his solo career he has had a number of triumphs with Alfie Boe – winning a pair of Classical Brit awards and landing two number 1 albums. Their fourth album has just been released and they will embark on another arena tour in 2021. In 2020, Michael topped the singles charts with Captain Sir Thomas Moore and the Voices of Care Choir with ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in aid of NHS Charities Together. “Being asked to perform at the Royal Variety Show is a huge honour. For me to be asked to perform again in such an extraordinary year and in such unprecedented circumstances is so thrilling and proof, if it were needed, that the shows not only MUST but WILL go on.”
CA PTA I N S I R TH OMAS MOORE
C
aptain Sir Tom, is a former British Army officer. In 1940 aged just 20, Sir Tom was conscripted for the Second World War into the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. Sir Tom’s war service earned him four medals. Captain Tom was first thrust into the limelight in April 2020, following a pledge to walk the length of his garden 100 times before his 100th birthday to raise money for NHS Charities Together during the Covid-19 pandemic. He originally set out to raise £1,000. However, after his campaign gained momentum in the press, he ended up raising £38.9 million for the charity, leading The Duke of Cambridge to dub him a “one-man fundraising machine.” In July 2020, Captain Tom received his knighthood from The Queen at Windsor Castle for his efforts. Tonight, Captain Sir Tom and Michael Ball join forces for a very special performance of their chart topping single, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. “I could never ever have imagined that one day I would appear at The Royal Variety Performance. Not only that, but to get the chance to do it with Michael Ball, well I consider myself a lucky man indeed and I am very much looking forward to it. It is going to be very special.”
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
FIN A L E The conclusion to this year’s very special ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE will be our famous FINALE, the origins of which can be traced back to the very first Royal Variety Shows, staged over 100 years ago. This year’s Finale will feature a multi-artist rendition of ‘Lean On Me’, where all the key acts from this evening’s show will be invited back to perform together.
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Brinsworth House stands as a place of safety, peace, happiness and tranquility and being exclusively a home for members of the entertainment profession, it means our residents are surrounded by like-minded people who share similar backgrounds and interests.
“In this dear and darling business of ours, the threat of financial and health worries is always present. We, all of us, whatever our standing, live with them side-by-side. It is therefore an enormous comfort and cheering influence to know that Brinsworth House is there. Always. At any time.� RONNIE CORBETT, CBE
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BRINSWORTH HOUSE CARE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
THE
R O YA L VA R I ET Y C H A R I T Y F O R M E R L Y
T H E
E N T E R T A I N M E N T
A R T I S T E S'
B E N E V O L E N T
F U N D
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BRINSWORTH HOUSE CARE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
Dear Royal Variety Charity Supporter, Brinsworth’s umbrella really does span the world of entertainment, both those who have worked on the stage or in the wings, including many performers, writers, directors, backstage technicians and agents. There is no “standard” admission to Brinsworth House as each resident’s admission is unique and person-centred to the individual. However, wherever possible we meet each prospective resident with their family and friends to assess their care needs prior to admission. This is to ensure that all of their needs can be identified and will be fully met by our experienced nurses and trained health care assistants. The home is managed by myself and the other members of Brinsworth’s senior management team that consists of the Operations Manager, Administrator and Finance Director as well as the catering, maintenance, laundry, domestic and activities team that includes four volunteers who so generously give their time. Brinsworth House was purchased with generous charitable donations that would provide a Home for retired members of the entertainment profession in 1911. Many things have changed since then but the primary one, which is the provision of a safe and secure Home using donations from the public, remains unaltered. One of the most significant changes over the years is the high level of nursing care that Brinsworth House provides to a number of our residents. Of the 38 bedrooms, 19 are registered specifically for nursing and we are able to cater for a wide range of nursing care needs including palliative care. The other 19 rooms are for our residential care residents with varying level of low to moderate care needs. We work very closely with our residents to support them to live fulfilling and quality lives and this was evident in our last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection published online, in August 2019. The inspection was thorough with a detailed examination of our systems and observation of our staff’s interaction with our residents. Although potentially daunting, such inspections are a good opportunity to work with CQC in a productive way. Our Honorary Chaplin, Rev. Canon Roger Royle visits us every month, when possible, to help with the spiritual needs of our residents including giving monthly communion. He also spends time bringing the Christmas Spirit in on Christmas Day with carols and presents.
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BRINSWORTH HOUSE CARE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
I would like to say a special thank you to all of the staff and volunteers, for their dedication in actively supporting our residents, by enabling them to lead comfortable and happy lives, with their compassionate care delivery, their fine food creation, and their novel daily activities, including our twice daily bar openings. Some of our special activities were the VE Day Celebrations, a unique Summer Party, Gazebo garden performances and Zoom operated entertainment and performances. For prospective residents, the thought of going into a residential care home can be quite worrying as it is a huge decision that needs careful consideration of how to adapt, as care needs start to change. If we are able to help you by answering any questions you may have on our admissions policy, funding opportunities or room availability then please do contact us on: Telephone: 0208 894 1351 or Email: peter@royalvarietycharity.org We request a biography, followed by completion of our application forms and then an invitation to visit Brinsworth House to give prospective residents an opportunity to gain a better understanding of what we are able to offer and to answer any other questions which may arise. Matron Tatree Preece MA BA (Hons) RGN ONC
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
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HTP Architecture LLP are delighted to be assisting with the design, Planning Applications and renovations at Brinsworth House Listed buildings and Conservation Areas : Private Residences in UK and Overseas : Nursing Homes : Sport and Leisure : Education & Business ; Laboratories
Concept design and feasibility : Planning Applications : Lead Consultant
Management Services ; Sustainable Design ; Full architectural service to completion
Richmond, London, and International www.htparchitecture.co.uk Enquiries: htparchitecture@gmail.com or speak to John Livingston +44(0)7767262585 or +44(0)20 8940 3323
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d u o r p e W e ar t or p p u s to y t e i r a V l a y o R The e c n a m or Perf Uniquely placed in the industry, Smith & Williamson has been combining tax, accounting, financial planning and investment management services for over a century. As everyone’s financial needs are different, we work closely with our clients to provide a bespoke service — with direct access to a team of professionals from each service area, who can give specialist advice on a wide range of financial issues. To find out more, please contact: William Fisher, Partner Smith & Williamson Investment Management LLP 020 7131 4479, william.fisher@smithandwilliamson.com smithandwilliamson.com
y t i r a h C y t e i r a The Royal V & The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and investors may not receive back the original amount invested. © Tilney Smith & Williamson Limited 2020. Smith & Williamson LLP Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. Smith & Williamson LLP is a member of Nexia International, a leading, global network of independent accounting and consulting firms. Please see https://nexia.com/member-firm-disclaimer/ for further details. Smith & Williamson Financial Services Limited authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Smith & Williamson Investment Management LLP authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate all of the products and services referred to in this document, including Tax, Assurance and Business Services
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BRINSWORTH HOUSE CARE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
T
he idea of a ‘home for retired entertainers’ was first suggested by Joe Elvin (the King Rat of the Grand Order of Water Rats) in 1908. The idea was received with great enthusiasm and a considerable sum of money was immediately pledged from across the entertainment industry. Various fundraising events were organised in conjunction with The Music Hall Artistes’ Railway Association and later that year, the Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (the original name of the EABF) was formed for the benefit of artistes across the Music Hall and variety profession. The particulars of a dilapidated mansion near Twickenham were discovered and in August 1911, Brinsworth House was purchased for £2,400. Extensive renovations and alterations were needed, in addition to furnishing the Home and a special ‘Sixpenny Donation Fund’ was organised by ‘The Performer’ newspaper. The work was completed by November and a grand opening reception was held at Brinsworth House attended by many of the day’s leading artistes and journalists. At the reception, Joe Elvin and William McCarthy put forward an idea to establish a Society, to be known as ‘The Noble Six Hundred’ consisting of artistes and friends of the profession, each of whom would make a donation of £2.10.0 (£2.50) to raise the £1,400 required to pay off the mortgage. By the following April (1912), the entire amount had been raised and the mansion and 5 acres of land became the freehold property of the Music Hall profession. A board was erected and placed in the hall of the Home with the names of ‘The Noble Six Hundred’, where it still stands today. By the end of November 1912, there were 10 occupants in residency, including one married couple. In 1912, Alfred Butt, Chairman of the VABF, proposed that an extension be built to Brinsworth House to accommodate the
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Over the years, Brinsworth House has cared for hundreds of residents. To name but a few... Hylda Baker, Charlie Drake, Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman CBE, Dame Thora Hird DBE, Richard O’Sullivan, Ben Warris and Norman Wisdom.
rising demand for the Home and he and Oswald Stoll persuaded King George V and Queen Mary to attend a ‘Royal Command Performance’ in aid of Brinsworth House. King George V and Queen Mary were so impressed by Brinsworth House and the work of the Fund that they became its Patrons from 1921. The Fund has enjoyed Royal Patronage from the reigning monarch ever since and the annual fundraising Royal Variety performance is, this year, celebrating its 106th anniversary. In 1974, the Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (VABF) changed its name to the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (EABF), and then again in 2015 to the Royal Variety Charity to widen its criteria of support and breadth of help to the entire entertainment industry. Over the years, and with the continued help and financial support of the entertainment industry, two new wings have been added to Brinsworth House and on both occasions the care home was honoured by the presence of one of its most ardent supporters, the late HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who performed the opening ceremonies. More recently, a new Conservatory was built, which was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales; also a very keen supporter of the Royal Variety Charity.
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BRINSWORTH HOUSE FACILITIES ACCESSIBILITY Brinsworth House is equipped with ramp access to the house, an elevator, a stair lift, bath hoist facilities, and walk-in shower rooms. LAUNDRY FACILITIES A modern and daily in-house laundry collection facility allows residents to submit their clothing items for return the following day. DINING A fully-staffed kitchen and dining room provides delicious and healthy meals three times each day. Our resident chef caters for a wide variety of special dietary requirements, depending on the needs of each individual resident. THE BAR The lounge bar is fully stocked with requested lines, and is open at both lunchtime and during each evening.
THE SALON The dedicated hair salon is operated by a professional hair dresser, and is open twice weekly. EALTH AND FITNESS H Each week, residents are invited to take part in an exercise programme that helps develop and maintain physical agility through musical movement. IBRARY L Brinsworth House is serviced by a publishing house that generously replenishes and updates our broad library every three to six months. ENTERTAINMENT Brinsworth House is proud of its in-house entertainment, hosting regular performances for the residents. Other regular entertainment includes weekly bingo, day trips and various annual functions such as Christmas parties, Valentine’s parties, Easter functions, visiting farms and in-house clothes shows.
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WISHING EVERYONE A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENING AT THE OPERA HOUSE AT THE WINTER GARDENS
Laurie Mansfield Associates Suite 17, Adam House 7-10 Adam Street London WC2N 6AA T 020 7520 9411 E info@lauriemansfield.co.uk
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
ITV STUDIOS ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT The ITV Studios Entertainment Label is proud to produce The ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 and continue ITV’s long association with this prestigious event.
ITV Studios Entertainment is the largest producer of entertainment programmes in the UK, making popular shows such as:
ANT & DEC’S SATURDAY NIGHT TAKEAWAY COUNTDOWN (C4) DANCING ON ICE DRESS TO IMPRESS I’M A CELEBRITY... GET ME OUT OF HERE! IN FOR A PENNY IT’LL BE ALRIGHT ON THE NIGHT JUDGE RINDER LOVE ISLAND THE BRITISH SOAP AWARDS THE JONATHAN ROSS SHOW THE OLIVIER AWARDS THE VOICE THE VOICE KIDS TOP CLASS (CBBC) UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE (BBC2) YOU’VE BEEN FRAMED
FIONA CLARK Executive Producer RICHARD VALENTINE Director LAWRIE JORDAN Series Producer AMANDA GEORGE Line Producer MARK WAGMAN Talent Executive KIRSTY PROFFITT Assistant Producer GEORGIA HUNT Assistant Producer PETER BINGEMANN Production Designer ANTHONY VAN LAAST CBE Stage Director DAVID ARCH Musical Director DAVE DAVEY Lighting Director KEVIN DUFF Sound Supervisor MIKE CALLAN Camera Supervisor JEREMY TURNER OB Unit Manager SU JUDD Costume Designer
THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE WILL TRANSMIT ON ITV IN EARLY DECEMBER.
NICHOLA BELLAMY Make-Up Supervisor
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
ITV PRODUCTION FIONA CLARK
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Fiona has worked on a range of entertainment shows for the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV. These include ‘Live Aid’, ‘Whistle Test’, ‘Wogan’, ‘The Full Wax’, ‘The Word’, ‘The Big Breakfast’, ‘Children in Need’, ‘Elton John at The Royal Opera House’, ‘One Night with Rod Stewart’ and ‘An Audience With Michael Buble’. As Executive Producer at ITV, her credits have included, ‘Michael Bublé Home For Christmas’, ‘Gary Barlow Journey to Afghanistan’, ‘Sunday Night at the London Palladium’, the BAFTA award-winning ‘The Sound of Music Live’ and the successful return of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ with host Jeremy Clarkson. As a Creative Director at ITV Studios, she also works across a range of shows including; ‘The Voice’, ‘The Voice Kids’, ‘Dancing On Ice’, ‘The Olivier Awards’ and ‘The British Soap Awards.’ Fiona is absolutely delighted to once again Executive Produce this very special show.
AMANDA GEORGE LINE PRODUCER
Amanda George started her television career working for ‘TV-am’ and then went on to work for Sir David Frost and his production company, David Paradine Productions. She joined London Weekend Television in 1996 working as a Production Secretary/Co-ordinator on a variety of programmes. Amanda then moved into Production Management and has worked on many of LWT, Granada and ITV Studios’ high profile entertainment shows such as ‘Blind Date’, ‘Brainiac’, ‘The British Soap Awards’, ‘Nelson Mandela: Happy 90th Birthday’, ‘The Kylie Show’, ‘Michael Bublé: Home for Christmas’, ‘The One and Only Cilla Black’ plus numerous music specials and ‘An Audience with...’ programmes. Amanda is delighted to be Line Producer on her eleventh Royal Variety Performance.
KIRSTY PROFFITT
ASSISTANT PRODUCER Kirsty graduated from the University of Exeter in 2013 with a BA Honours degree in Drama. Whilst travelling Australasia, she began her career in television working for Network Ten in Australia. Since returning to the UK, she has worked on a variety of high profile entertainment programmes including; ‘Tonight at the London Palladium’, ‘Hunted’, ‘All Star Musicals’, ‘Supermarket Sweep’ and ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.’ Kirsty is thrilled to be returning to work on her fifth Royal Variety Performance.
RICHARD VALENTINE DIRECTOR
Richard is a BAFTA and RTS award-winning Multi-Camera Director who has directed some of the biggest live TV events over the last few years including; ‘One Love Manchester’, ‘Sound of Music Live’, ‘Chime for Change’, ‘Live 8’, ‘The Olympic Torch Concert’, ‘Live Earth’, ‘FIFA 2010 World Cup Kick Off Concert’, ‘Help For Heroes Concert’, ‘Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony Glasgow 2014’, Ireland’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, ‘Dancing On Ice’, Princess Eugenie’s Wedding at Windsor and ‘The Royal Wedding & The Diamond Jubilee.’ He has also directed music specials with U2, Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, Duran Duran, Tom Jones, Jamie Cullum, Tim Minchin, Take That and Westlife. This will be the eighth Royal Variety Performance Richard has directed and he is overjoyed to be involved again as it is such a unique show.
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LAWRIE JORDAN SERIES PRODUCER
Lawrie graduated from Liverpool’s John Moores University in 2000 and had the good fortune of beginning his career within London Weekend Televsion’s Entertainment department. He started out on shows such as ‘An Audience With Ricky Martin’ and ‘The Record of the Year’- before going on to work on ‘The Royal Variety Performance 2001’, ‘V Graham Norton’ and ‘All Star Mr and Mrs.’ Programmes he has produced since include; ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: Live’, ‘The British Soap Awards’, ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ and the BAFTA nominated ‘Adele at the BBC.’ Lawrie is delighted to join the supremely talented Royal Variety Performance team for the fifth time.
MARK WAGMAN
TALENT EXECUTIVE Mark started his television career in BBC News and current affairs, before working on daily live shows including ‘The Big Breakfast’ and ‘Richard and Judy.’ He joined ITV in 2004 where he oversaw and developed talent relations across a range of the company’s output, including numerous ‘An Audience with...’ specials featuring Take That, Celine Dion, Kylie Minogue and Joan Rivers. Mark has consulted across a wide range of programmes for ITV including; ‘The Diamond Jubilee Pageant’, ‘Tonight at the Palladium’, music specials including ‘Ball & Boe Back Together’ ‘Sheridan’ and Gary Barlow: A Night at The Museum’ Mark was also part of the BAFTA winning team behind ‘Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration’, oversaw the talent for HRH The Prince of Wales’ 70th Birthday show ‘We Are Most Amused and Amazed’ and the recent VJ Day 75th anniversary commemorations.
GEORGIA HUNT
ASSISTANT PRODUCER Georgia started her career working for Live Nation, on various festivals and live events such as ‘Download’, ‘Wireless’ and ‘Hard Rock Calling.’ Moving into comedy entertainment programmes, she went on to work for panel shows such as, ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ and ‘Qi.’ Since then, Georgia has worked across a variety of programmes including, ‘Alan Carr: Chatty Man’, ’Stand Up To Cancer’ and ‘The Voice UK.’ Georgia is delighted to join the team and be working on her very first Royal Variety Performance.
PETER BINGEMANN
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Peter Bingemann has been the Production Designer of many high profile shows including the ‘Live 8’ concerts and the ‘Concert for Diana’ at Wembley Stadium. He designed ‘The Children’s Party’ at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen’s 80th birthday, and created ‘We Are Most Amused’, for Prince Charles’ 60th birthday. Other recent designs include ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, ‘Celebrity X Factor’, ‘The British Soap Awards’, ‘Bublé at The BBC’, ’The VE Day 70 Concert’, ‘Let’s Sing & Dance for Comic Relief’, ‘The Nobel Peace Prize Concert’ in Oslo’, ‘The BRIT Awards’, ‘Sunday Night at The Palladium’, ‘Popstar to Operastar’, ‘Take That Come to Town’, ‘The Kylie Show’, ‘Neil Diamond: One Night Only’, ‘The BAFTA Film Awards’ at The Royal Albert Hall, ‘The Classical BRIT Awards’ and ‘The Laureus Sports Awards’ in Lisbon. Peter is proud to be taking part in his twelfth Royal Variety Performance.
DAVID ARCH
MUSICAL DIRECTOR David Arch is best known as the Musical Director for ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ which he has worked on with his band and singers since 2006. His extensive recording credits include; Joni Mitchell, Diana Ross, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga and Robbie Williams. David has worked on over two hundred feature films including; Music Oscar winners ‘The Shape of Water’, ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ and ‘Gravity’, Piano Solos for ‘The Kings Speech’ , ‘Aladdin’, ‘Interstellar’, ‘Notting Hill’, ‘Star Wars’ episode three and five films from the ‘Harry Potter’ series. David is honoured to be the Musical Director for this, his ninth Royal Variety Performance.
KEVIN DUFF
SOUND SUPERVISOR Kevin started his career in 1987 at London Weekend Television and cut his teeth on the many music and variety shows that they produced. Since then he has worked all over the world and is now part of the Zen Broadcast team based at their Hampshire studio’s. A four-time BAFTA Award winner and also RTS Craft Award Winner, Kev is thrilled to once again be looking after the audio aspects of The Royal Variety Performance for ITV.
CAROLINE CALEY STAGE MANAGER
Caroline trained and worked as a Stage Manager in theatre before joining the BBC where she was lucky to work on a wide variety of programmes, including two happy years on ‘Blue Peter.’ As a freelancer, she has specialised in both studio and location comedy and live entertainment and events including; ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, ‘Miranda’, ‘The IT Crowd’, ‘Little Britain’, ‘French & Saunders’, ‘Benidorm’ and ‘Horrible Histories the Movie.’ Live TV includes ‘Live 8’, ‘The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert’, ‘Comic Relief’, ‘Children in Need’, ‘Over the Rainbow’, ‘The Magicians’, ‘The Sound of Music Live’, ‘BBC Sports Personality of the Year’, ‘Dancing On Ice’ and ‘The Voice UK.’ This year marks Caroline’s tenth Royal Variety Performance and she is thrilled to be part of the team once again.
SU JUDD
COSTUME DESIGNER Su is Costume Designer for a wide variety of TV Light Entertainment shows, especially those involving dancers somewhere among its highlights. She was the original Designer for BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, working on the first 8 series, which began in 2004. She started Costume life as a trainee Dresser at the BBC, going on to become ‘Mummy Wardrobe’ on ‘The Big Breakfast’. She has since Costumed programmes such as ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, ‘Children in Need’ and a host of Comic Relief projects over the years. A career highlight was to Costume a Live D-Day 75th Anniversary event in Portsmouth in front of service men and women and numerous Heads of State. This is her second Royal Variety Performance as Costume Designer, a relative newbie and so glad to be a part of it again, this year.
DAVE DAVEY
LIGHTING DIRECTOR Dave specialises in large, ambitious entertainment shows and live music events and his lighting can be seen on some of Britain’s biggest and best television series, most recently ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, ‘The Voice UK’, ‘Dancing On Ice’, and ’The National Television Awards.’ Dave has been awarded a BAFTA Craft Award and three RTS Craft Awards. This is Dave’s eighth year on the Royal Variety Performance and he is thrilled to be taking part once again.
ANTHONY VAN LAAST CBE STAGE DIRECTOR
Anthony has luckily managed to work through this very difficult time. Creating a socially distanced production of Tina in Holland. Choreographing a video virtually for Paris Jackson in LA and directing an online concert for Sarah Brightman . Anthony is thrilled to be working on his fourteenth Royal Variety Performance.
SARAH WHITING GRAY STAGE MANAGER
Sarah’s childhood was spent backstage in theatres as her dad appeared in West End shows including ‘South Pacific’ and ‘The Sound Of Music.’ She trained in Stage Management at RADA where fellow students included Imelda Staunton and Timothy Spall. Following RADA she worked in theatre, a highlight being a world tour with The Old Vic starring Timothy West and Prunella Scales, a fabulous experience for a gal who hadn’t been further than Margate. Sarah moved into television light entertainment on shows such as; ‘Pop Idol’, ‘Blind Date’, ‘Des O’Connor Tonight’ and ‘Tonight at the London Palladium.’ She spent five months teaching volunteers to make props for the Olympic 2012 opening ceremony, including 1200 drums made from buckets, one of which now proudly acts as a garden planter. Sarah is enthralled to be back at the London Palladium for her thirteenth Royal Variety Performance.
NICHOLA BELLAMY MAKE-UP SUPERVISOR
Nichola trained in Hair and Makeup in Theatre at The BBC. She has done a wide range of work in Comedy, Light Entertainment and Drama, with her credits including: ‘Men Behaving Badly’, ‘Noel’s House Party’, ‘My Life in Film’, ‘Miranda’, ‘Absolute Power’, ‘Derek’, ‘2012’, ‘ Pulling’, ‘W1 A’, ‘Grandma’s House’, ‘People Like Us’, ‘Fantabulosa’, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert’, ‘You are Most Amused Concert’, ‘Joy to the World’, ‘The 100th Memorial at Thiepval’, ‘Still Open All Hours’ and VE Day celebrations. Nichola is delighted to be working on her fifth Royal Variety Performance.
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lexicon-recruitment
A4O Variety ad 2020.qxp_Layout 1 10/11/2020 16:11 Page 1
H
Acting for Others provides financial and emotional H support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities.
H
“On behalf of the 14 member theatrical Charities of Acting for Others we are proud to support The Royal Variety Performance and the work of The Royal Variety Charity” With Best Wishes
Dame Judi Dench CH DBE President
Member Charities
l Actors’ Children’s Trust l Dancers’ Career Development l Dance Professionals Fund l Denville Hall l Drury Lane Theatrical Fund l Equity Charitable Trust l The Evelyn Norris Trust l King George V Fund for Actors and Actresses l Theatre Chaplaincy UK l The Evelyn Norris Trust l Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund l The Ralph and Meriel Richardson Foundation l The Royal Theatrical Fund l SafetyCurtain l The Theatrical Guild
HH
H H
11 Garrick Street, London WC2E 9AR Tel: 020 7379 6978 email: a4o@trtf.com www.actingforothers.co.uk
Follow us on social media for news, updates and announcements.
ActingforOthers Charity No. 241279
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE
T
he Royal Variety Performance was first staged in 1912, when His Majesty King George V and Her Majesty Queen Mary agreed to attend a ‘Royal Command Performance’ at London’s Palace Theatre in support of the Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (now the Royal Variety Charity) and its proposal to build an extension to its Home for elderly entertainers, Brinsworth House, in Twickenham. No expense was spared at this first Performance with 3 million roses strewn around the auditorium and the Royal Box. The show opened and closed, as would become traditional, with ‘God Save the King’, and performers included the legendary Scottish singer Harry Lauder and male impersonator Vesta Tilley – the Queen reportedly covered her eyes with her programme at the sight of a woman in trousers. Ballerina Anna Pavlova was also in the line-up, having two years earlier caused a sensation in the Palace Theatre by slapping her male dance partner for dropping her by mistake. The controversial dancehall star of the day, Marie Lloyd, was not invited to perform as she was embroiled in a professional dispute and was in any case deemed ‘too risqué’ for royal eyes; she defiantly staged a rival performance at a nearby theatre instead, billing it as ‘By command of the British Public’, but it was not a success. This original show has grown from comparatively humble beginnings into a spectacle watched by a TV audience of over 150 million worldwide in 65 different countries. In Norway, for example, it has even become a New Year’s tradition to watch the Royal Variety Performance, which is broadcast at midnight on January 1st! The second Royal show in 1919 was the first to be given the current billing of ‘Royal Variety Performance’; held at the London Coliseum a year after the end of the first World War, it was declared ‘a celebration of peace’ and featured performers from allied countries including Australia and France. In 1921, His Majesty King George V agreed to become Life Patron of the Royal Variety Charity – the start of an unbroken line of Royal patronage from the reigning Monarch, which continues to the present day. The show subsequently became an annual event when the King decreed after the Performance that ‘the Monarch, or a senior member of the Royal Family would attend a performance in aid of Brinsworth House and the Royal Variety Charity once a year thereafter’. By 1923 the show had become such an established and popular event that tickets would sell out as soon as they were issued. It was therefore decided in 1926 that that year’s Performance should be broadcast on BBC radio, for enjoyment by a wider audience. In the early 1930s the Royal Variety Performance moved to the London Palladium, which was to become its spiritual home for many years. Many stars still
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His Majesty King George V
recognised today as timeless variety names performed in this period, including Max Miller and Gracie Fields; the 1932 show also saw debut performances by six comedians who went on to form the Crazy Gang, one of the most successful comedy troupes in British history. 1935 saw the Silver Jubilee of an ailing King George V and Queen Mary, and that year’s spectacular sell-out show proved sadly to be a fittingly grand end to the great support these Royals had shown the Variety Performance. The Jubilee drew huge crowds to the show, with people from all over the world desperate to get their hands on a ticket; one American millionaire offered a staggering £500 (around £36,000 in today’s money) for a pair. That year’s line-up included Stanley Holloway, Jessie Matthews and the Harry Roy Band, and was an enormous success; but the King who had paved the way for a century of Royal patronage and dedication to the Entertainment’s Industry’s own Charity unfortunately died a few months later, in January 1936. A one-year interlude followed, during which King Edward VIII’s crown had barely touched his head before British rule and the reins of Variety Performance patronage were taken up once more by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the late Queen Mother). The 1937 event was held again at the London Palladium, and it was widely agreed that controversial comedian Max Miller stole the show.
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE
Although no-one could have foreseen it, 1938 turned out to be the final show before World War II stopped play for the next seven years. As if anticipating the dark days ahead, seminal performances were given by an incredible 250 artistes, making it the biggest night in RVP history. Riding high on Hitler’s defeat, Britain channeled the spirit of victory into 1945’s event, billing it ‘The Victory Royal Variety Performance’ and turning it into a national celebration.
CONTINUED OVERLEAF
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Tommy Trinder played host to a cast of acts that included Sid Field and Vic Oliver, and Robert Nesbitt made his debut as director for what was to be an impressive 25 further shows. Our current Queen Elizabeth attended as Princess, aged 19, accompanied by the King and Queen and her younger sister, Princess Margaret Rose. Presenter of the 1947 Performance, Val Parnell, caused controversy by choosing several high-ranking international names at the expense of some rather less familiar, home-grown acts; he defended himself by pointing out that the purpose of the event was to showcase the Variety business to its best possible advantage for their Majesties’ enjoyment, adding as an aside that ‘We cannot afford, when people are paying ten guineas a seat, to experiment too much’. The Royal Variety Performance continued to reach new heights in the ’40s and ’50s, the precocious star of the 1948 show being an enchanting 13 year-old Julie Andrews, who followed up her solo spot by leading the cast in a verse of the National Anthem in the finale. The original TV recording can be seen on our website and Facebook pages. In 1951 Michael Bentine, future Goon, pulled together an eccentric and hugely popular comedy troupe from six acts who had been regulars on the Royal Variety circuit since 1932; The Crazy Gang was born, and raised the rafters. This was also the year in which surprise appearances were made in the Royal Box by an absent King George VI’s two private nurses; Queen Elizabeth reported to his well-wishers that the King was, regrettably, too ill to attend, ’but he is listening in’. Richard Murdoch and Kenneth Horne sang His Majesty’s health. There was much excitement around 1952’s Variety Performance, being as it was the first in the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. No doubt to everyone’s relief, upon seeing the programme the Queen declared it ’the best show of all’ – one which featured the Beverley Sisters, Ian Wallace and Norman Wisdom. The Duke of Edinburgh took a particular shine to comedian Tony Hancock and his impersonation of a French Royal Navy commander. The decision of the Crazy Gang in 1951 to do away with the audience’s long-running fear of becoming too raucous in the presence of royalty proved such a success that in 1954 they took the idea to the next level; before the Royal family arrived, the Gang gave the audience a thorough warm-up by strolling in and out of their Box dressed as cleaners, and selling icecreams in the auditorium. By a stroke of good fortune, two Royal Variety Performances were arranged in 1955; this meant that the country was perhaps not as disappointed as it could have been when 1956’s show was cancelled due to brewing unrest surrounding the Suez Canal. The performers themselves were distinctly piqued, however, and a disgruntled Jimmy Wheeler launched into his act upon hearing the news, announcing ’I’ve rehearsed this bloody act for a fortnight so somebody’s gonna hear it’. Fortunately not the Royals, however, as his impromptu act was somewhat more risqué than the prepared version.
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HISTORY OF THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE
The organisers finally gave in to the lure of televisation in 1960, a year in which the show was utterly eclipsed by Sammy Davis Junior. “In eight electrifying minutes,” the Daily Sketch excitedly reported, “this entertainer made the word ‘star’ seem inadequate”. The year 1963 was the year Beatlemania hit the Royal Variety Performance. The Beatles attracted ecstatic fans outside the Prince of Wales theatre and through the Sunday rehearsals the noise of the throng could be heard by the artistes on stage. It was necessary to construct a screened passageway between the theatre and the hotel next door, where the Beatles were staying, in order to get them in and out of the theatre without being seen. The effect of the crowds obviously affected the other artistes on the bill and Marlene Dietrich made a point of always being in evidence when the photographers were around! The first 1955 show was held at the Opera House in Blackpool, with predominantly regional talent such as Tower organist Reginald Dixon, comic doubleact Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss, and a couple of young comedians by the name of Morecambe and Wise. The London line-up was more traditionally diverse, and included Benny Hill and the Chinese Classical Theatre Company. Independent Television’s bid to broadcast the show that year was swiftly quashed, on the grounds that TV would threaten the variety format. The format began to undergo some changes in 1958 at the hands of Bernard Delfont and Robert Nesbitt, not all of them well received. Delfont decided to cut back on long-established British acts in favour of the big American artistes of the day, Pat Boone and Eartha Kitt, as well as fresh local talent like Roy Castle, Max Bygraves and magician David Nixon. The omission of the adored Crazy Gang from the bill caused minor uproar. Further change was afoot in 1959 when the Performance was held, for the first time, in Manchester Palace Theatre. As well as the traditional comic element in the form of Al Read, an 18-year-old Cliff Richard made an angelic and well-scrubbed appearance.
During rehearsal Paul McCartney managed to get his guitar caught in the curtains, but on the night itself the Beatles took the show by storm and John Lennon passed into Royal Variety history when he made his celebrated suggestion that those in the cheap seats should clap their hands; the rest could just rattle their jewellery. The original TV recording of the Beatles’ performance of three songs can be seen on our website and Facebook pages. A gifted comedy quartet comprising Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers were a massive hit at the 1965 Royal Variety Performance, which returned to the London Palladium. Dusty Springfield and Shirley Bassey were also on hand to provide a quintessentially 60s musical element. The entire English football team took bashfully to the stage after their World Cup triumph in 1966, while the French singer Gilbert Becaud was forced to watch silently from the stalls after having lost his voice.
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GRAND ORDER OF LADY RATLINGS Q U E E N R AT L I N G K AY C A R M A N and the Grand Order of Lady Ratlings are delighted to support the...
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE
2020
FOR DETAILS OF GOLR EVENTS P L E ASE CO N TACT TH E SE CR E TA RY O N : 0795 4 5 6 4 372 www.g o l r.co. u k FOUNDED 1929 70 | ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
HRH PRINCE PHILIP DUKE OF EDINBURGH, K.G., K.T. HRH PRINCE OF WALES K.G., K.T., G.C.B. HRH PRINCE MICHAEL OF KENT G.C.V.O. LORD FREDERICK WINDSOR.
KING RAT DUGGIE BROWN
& A L L M E M B E R S O F T H E G R A N D O R D E R O F WAT E R R AT S . . .
WISH THE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY A VERY SUCCESSFUL AND HAPPY EVENING!
MEMBERSHIP 2020 Mark Andrews, Barry Balmayne, Steve Barclay, Tony Barton, Mike Batt, David Berglas, Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan MBE, Lionel Blair, Stan Boardman, Alfie Boe, John Bouchier, John Boulter, Dave Brock LLB (Hons), Adger Brown, Joe Brown MBE, Frank Bruno MBE, Bryan Burdon, Anthony Bygraves, Wyn Calvin MBE OStJ, David Capri, Johnnie Casson, Tony Christie, Johnny Clark, Bernie Clifton, Con Cluskey, Dec Cluskey, Graham Cole OBE, David Colquhoun, Jess Conrad OBE, Michael Crawford CBE, Neil Crossland, Barry Cryer OBE, Toni Dalli, Martin Daniels, Bill Dare, Kevin Dean, Thomas J Dean, Roger De Courcey, Sid Dennis, Terry Devine, Peter Donegan, Craig Douglas, Mike Doyle, Robert Earl, Robert Earl Jnr, Andy Eastwood, Chris Emmett, Matt Endersby, Steve Etherington, Udo Fontaine, Ian Freeman, Steve Galler, Paul Ganjou, Richard Gauntlett, Gordon Giltrap, Frank Ginnett, Ben Goffe, Rusty Goffe, Cliff Hall, Tony Hatch, Melvyn Hayes, Vincent Hayes MBE, Tim Healy, Steve Hewlett, Vince Hill, Frazer Hines, Nigel Hopkins, Engelbert Humperdinck, Frank Ifield, Ian Irving, Pete James, Jack Jay, Richard Joy, Kaplan Kaye, Gerard Kenny, Ross King, Simon King, Ian Lavender, Johnny Laycock, David Lee, John Lodge, Gary Lovini, Johnny Mans, Terry Marshall, Derek Martin, Mike Martin, Ray Martin, John R. Maxim ALCM, Brian May CBE, Nicko McBrain, Chas McDevitt, Steve McFadden, John McKenzie, Ray McVay, Brian Meaden, Neil Morrissey, Billy Murray, Pete Murray OBE, Dave Myers, Gary Newbon, Duncan Norvelle, Tom O’Connor, John O’Neill, Kev Orkian, Jimmy Osmond, Joe Pasquale, Billy Pearce, Peter Polycarpou, Mark Porter, Bob Potter OBE, Leslie Randall, John Ratcliff CBE, Steve Rawlings, Mike Redway, Ronald Regan, Ian Richards, Bobby Roberts, Bobby Roberts, Jnr., Andrew Robley, Sean ‘Rollo’ Rollason, George Saunders, Don Shearman, Robert Sherman, Alan Simmons, Ben Simmons BA (Hon), Keith Simmons, Ronnie Smart, Colin Spaull, Jerry Stevens, Jeff Stevenson, Clive Stock, John Stokes, John Styles, MBE, Jimmy Tarbuck OBE, Rhys Thomas, John Thurston MB, FRCP, FRCEM, FIFEM, Ian Tough, Andrew Van Buren, André Vincent, Rick Wakeman FRCM, Prof (Hon) LCM, Adam Wakeman, Roy Walker, Adrian Walsh, Roy Wood Hon D Mus, Chris Woodward, Rod Woodward, Mike Yarwood OBE
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Girl Power made its first appearance in the 1967 show, which was crammed to bursting with female entertainers after their absence had led to complaints the previous year – a modest Sandie Shaw was seen to have changed out of her revealing stage outfit to meet the Queen, commenting that ‘I am told it would be more elegant to be presented to the Queen in something a little more special!’ Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, a seasoned music hall and variety afficionado, announced that the 1968 Performance was one of the best ever. Des O’Connor, Englebert Humperdinck and Petula Clark all played their part, and former Supreme Diana Ross used the occasion to make a moving tribute to Martin Luther King, whose tragic assassination had rocked the world earlier that year. By the 1970s the RVP had really got into its stride, pulling the crowds in with line-ups that positively glittered with stardom; national treasures like Ronnie Corbett and Elton John rubbed shoulders with international sensations including the Jackson Five, Carol Channing and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. A rather risque sketch from the popular BBC TV comedy ‘Till Death Us Do Part’ found its way onto the 1972 bill, much to the consternation of a public keen to protect their delicate Royals. In the event, all went smoothly on the night and a rather harried Bernard Delfont reported afterwards that the Queen Mother had said ‘Well, that wasn’t too bad, was it?’ with evident relief. 1974 was the year in which the Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund became the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (EABF), allowing a wider cross-section of showbusiness to fall under the charity’s protective net. The use of ’Crossroads’ star
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Noele Gordon as the show’s first ever female host was an additional landmark for that year. In 1976, after 16 years of pre-recorded broadcasts, the Royal Variety Performance took a nervewracking leap into the world of live television. The long-suffering Bernard Delfont wearily recalls the poltergeist-level disruptions that beset that year’s show, including falling microphones, power outages and a persistent sound fault that rendered poor Mike Yarwood’s voice practically inaudible over a deafening orchestra. After two years in which to retreat and lick their wounds, the organisers braved the live format once again in 1978. Although all went well, the experience and the potential for embarrassment and disaster were deemed overall
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE
too stressful to make it worthwhile, and the show has wisely been pre-recorded ever since. In 1979, a no doubt grey-haired Lord Delfont passed the organisational baton to Louis Benjamin, highly qualified by dint of his position as managing director of Associated Television, chairman of Stoll Moss Theatres and life governor of the EABF. The show was held at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane for the first time. The 1980 Performance marked Her Majesty the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday, and as such was a nod to all the variety show greats of the last 50 years who had kept the Queen entertained throughout her reign.
1981 saw another innovation, stimulated by the need to counter the mounting costs of staging the show. For the first time, sponsorship was introduced to offset the unavoidable production costs and as a less contentious alternative to raising seat prices. Louis Benjamin also alleviated the financial problem by selling advertising spots in the Performance programme, and re-negotiated screening fees in the UK and abroad. 1986 was the BBC’s 50th anniversary, so in a fitting tribute this was the year the company produced and presented the show. From then until 2010, broadcasting and production alternated each year between the BBC and ITV. ITV contractor London Weekend Television staged the Performance in 1987 and a galactic cast included Stephen Fry, Sarah Brightman and Tom Jones. Two breaks from tradition followed a few years later. The 1990 Royal Variety Performance, staged by the BBC, was billed as Queen Elizabeth’s ‘Royal Birthday Gala’ and took place in July in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. Roger Moore, Sir John Gielgud and the Band of the Grenadier Guards all made an appearance. The following year, a performance of the musical ‘Miss Saigon’ was put on for the show at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. After this, the Royal Variety Performance was held in London’s Dominion theatre for the next five years with a roster of household favourites such as Lulu, Cilla Black and Tom Jones. American rabbi-turned-comedian Jackie Mason vastly outstayed his allotted stage time, the adulation he was receiving seeming to blind him to the TV monitor mounted on the theatre’s circle flashing ‘GET. OFF. NOW!’ at him in large red letters. Since 2008, Simon Cowell’s hugely successful ITV show, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ has generously donated a proportion of the money raised from viewers’ telephone votes to the Royal Variety Charity. In return, the Royal Variety Charity arranges for the
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
series winner of the talent show to be awarded with the much-coveted prize of a spot on that year’s Royal Variety Performance. The first winner to perform was opera singer Paul Potts, followed by the incredible 14-year-old street dancer George Sampson, then the ten-strong dance troupe, Diversity. Gymnastic group Spelbound wowed the audience the following year, followed by Scottish singer Jai McDowall in 2011, Ashleigh and Pudsey in 2012, Hungarian shadow dancers Attraction in 2013, Collabro in 2014 and Jules, Matisse & Friends in 2015. In February 2011, the Royal Variety Charity awarded exclusive broadcasting and production rights of the show to ITV1 for the next ten years, securing the future of this great entertainment institution until at least 2021, and further strengthened the Charity’s links with the country’s most prominent commercial broadcaster. The year 2012, saw a very special production of the Royal Variety Performance to mark its centenary year. The event was staged at the Royal Albert Hall for the first time, in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. A spectacular international line-up was presented that included, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Placido Domingo, Bill Bailey, One Direction, Girls Aloud, David Walliams, Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli and Neil Diamond, The 100th anniversary evening was celebrated in style with a further fund raising event at a lavish aftershow banquet at the Hilton Hotel on London’s Park Lane. This one evening of entertainment raised over £700,000 for the charity. The Royal Variety Performance has been hosted by many cities outside London, in its lifetime, including Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Blackpool and Manchester. 2014 was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the first time and was held at the
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HISTORY OF THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE London Palladium. It included a glittering cast including host Michael McIntyre, Bette Midler, Shirley Bassey, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Golding and One Direction. On 26th June 2015, the Executive Committee of the EABF met for an historic Annual General Meeting. Chairman Giles Cooper had previously gained approval from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office to change the name of the charity from the EABF to the Royal Variety Charity and Buckingham Palace and the Cabinet Office followed by awarding the charity the honour of official use of the title ‘Royal’ within the charity’s name. The Executive Committee subsequently voted on that day to change the name of the charity with immediate effect. The 2015 Royal Variety Performance was staged for only the second time at the Royal Albert Hall and marked another first, with the attendance of HRH Prince Harry for his first time. Security was tight for the ever-popular Prince and it got even tighter as the night progressed and news of the numerous terrorist bombs in Paris spread amongst the security services. The show was led by its youngest ever host at 29 years old, Jack Whitehall, who introduced acts including the debut return of Jeff Lynne’s ELO, together with Little Mix, Brandon Flowers from the Killers, Ricky Martin and Sir Elton John. A highlight included a magical show stopping moment from the cast of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s multiaward winning musical Mary Poppins, when Mary flew to the stage suspended by a zip-wire stretching the entire length of the Albert Hall! However, a surprise addition from the relatively unknown cast of the Play That Goes Wrong, for many stole the show, and included some surprise star cameos including participation from Kylie Minogue, Josh Groban and Jack Whitehall! The 2016 show returned to London’s Hammersmith Apollo for only the second time in its history and was attended by TRH The Prince of Wales and The
Duchess of Cornwall. Hosted by David Walliams, highlights included Lady GaGa, Sting, Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow and Barry Gibb. The Royal Variety Charity then staged its official aftershow party and banquet at Grosvenor House on Park Lane for the first time. In 2017, the show returned to the London Palladium and welcomed back the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge for a night of spectacular entertainment hosted by Miranda Hart. The Royal Variety Performance 2018 was ‘a first’ on many fronts and in many respects felt like the beginning of a new era. The show was staged at the London Palladium exactly six months (to the day) following the marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended their first Royal Variety Performance together on 19th November 2018. Her Royal Highness was pregnant with the Royal couple’s first child and huge crowds gathered outside the Palladium, on a wet and windy November night to catch a glimpse of the Royal arrival. On entry to the Palladium, Chairman Giles Cooper, explained to Her Royal Highness that the posy of flowers presented by 7 year old Darcie-Rae Moyse, had been handpicked from the gardens of the Royal Variety’s care home for elderly entertainers, Brinsworth House. A huge effort had been made to tailor the artists to the Duke and Duchess, including the Invictus Games Choir singing the national anthem, the original West-End cast of Hamilton, where the original stage set had been flown in from New York’s Broadway the previous week and the cellist from the Royal Wedding Sheku Kanneh-Mason. 2019 continued the run of spectacular shows, this time with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in attendance. Emile Sande & the Bee Vocal Choir provided a very emotional rendition of ‘You Are Not Alone’, to highlight the plight of mental health and the new Mary Poppins musical made the Duchess remark that the young Prince George and Princess Charlotte had wished they could attend the performance, but alas, it was way past their bedtime! Robbie Williams saved the day by performing twice, the second time replacing Sir Rod Stewart who had unfortunately fallen ill with a throat infection on the morning of the show.
OVER 100 YEARS OF HISTORY For more information on the history of the Royal Variety Performance, please visit: www.RoyalVarietyPerformance.org/history
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
BLACKPOOL:
A RESORT FOR ALL SEASONS Blackpool is a place like no other; an ambitious resort with a sense of pride and history and a unique bond with the British public. Over the past decade, there has been a gradual repositioning with more than £500m of investment helping to create a place with a rich blend of heritage and contemporary attractions. This ongoing programme of resort regeneration has confirmed Blackpool’s status as the most visited seaside destination in the UK. Now, with an enviable track record of delivering an exceptional experience for around 18 million visitors every year, Blackpool is revitalising its business tourism offer. With a new state-of-the-art conference and exhibition centre nearing completion; an unsurpassed range of unique venues; extraordinary delegate experiences; a fusion of next-generation hotels and all-budget accommodation; world-class attractions; outstanding year-round shows and entertainment; great connectivity and direct transport links, we’re ready for the next chapter in Blackpool’s glorious conferencing history.
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NEW CONFERENCE CENTRE
technology, the new build adds a contemporary twist to the Winter Gardens site.
The new Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre will offer a very different experience for event organisers and delegates alike when it opens its doors in 2021.
First opened in 1878, the Winter Gardens features some of the UK’s most distinctive and distinguished event spaces including the worldfamous Empress Ballroom, iconic Opera House, and the Olympia Exhibition Hall, and has an acclaimed heritage of hosting internationallyrecognised political party conferences and other major events.
This £28m, state-of-the-art development has been expertly designed so that it seamlessly integrates with the famous Winter Gardens complex, creating a hub of 12 distinct venues offering almost five acres of connected conference, meeting, event and exhibition space, with the capacity to accommodate up to 7,000 delegates. With an impressive 2,400sq metres of dedicated space set over two floors and equipped with the most advanced audio and visual
The original Winter Gardens buildings are themselves enjoying a multi-million pound upgrade with a new air conditioning system, improved digital connectivity and extensive refurbishments to restore it to its original splendour. In 2021, the magnificent Empress Ballroom will celebrate its 125th birthday!
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
NEXT GENERATION HOTELS To complement the new conference facilities, a number of “next generation” hotels are being built.
The Boulevard
Two of them, The Boulevard and Hampton by Hilton are already trading at South Beach and the Hampton is looking to add another 74 bedrooms by extending on to a vacant neighbouring plot. The construction of the resort’s first five-star hotel, the Sands Venue Hotel & Spa, is well underway and now scheduled for a grand opening in summer 2021. The hotel, which will be managed by the same company that runs The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, has been developed by businessman, Peter Swann.
Hampton by Hilton
The redevelopment of the site, which was once the home of the Palace nightclub, will create a 96-bedroom hotel, with a spa, restaurant, bistro, hair and nail salons, hotel shop and vast penthouse suite. The first floor of the hotel will also house Showtown, the new museum for Blackpool which will celebrate the resort’s status as the home of popular entertainment. The museum is scheduled to open for the 2022 season.
Sands Venue Hotel & Spa
The Premier Inn North Pier, situated in a prominent location in Talbot Square on the site of the former Yates’s Wine Lodge, is scheduled to open before the end of this year. The 150-bedroomed hotel, built at a cost of around £7m, will bring Premier Inn’s total room capacity in Blackpool to more than 450. Work has also started on the demolition of the former Wilko store adjacent to Blackpool North Railway Station. It will make way for a new tram interchange and a four-star Holiday Inn.
Premier Inn North Pier
The new hotels add to Blackpool’s extensive portfolio of visitor accommodation which offers a wide selection of hotels and guest houses to suit all pockets.
Holiday Inn
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TRIBUTE
TRIBUTE TO MALCOLM MAXTED, 1945 - 2020
F
olkestone born artist, Malcolm Maxted sadly passed-away on May 21st at his home in Orpington, aged 74. During his career, Malcom designed a huge variety of posters and adverts for films, TV shows and events, including several brochures for the Royal Variety Performance. He worked as a graphic designer for numerous advertising agencies, including Haymarket Advertising, EAP, M&H, Dewynters, UK Advertising and AKA. His son Michael said that his loss had left a huge hole in the hearts of his whole family, adding “It was just such a shock, one minute you are here and the next you are gone. The paramedics told us that it was a heart attack. He’d had one before resulting in stents being put in, but we found out later that it was caused
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by fluid on his lungs. I’ve still got some of his artwork from when he was 14 or 15 and it is absolutely fantastic. I think it was very clear from a young age what he wanted to do - he was just so passionate about it.” Giles Cooper, Chairman of the Royal Variety commented, “Malcom was a very warm and friendly man with a fantastic eye for design. His time working with Keith Watkins and Barry James at Haymarket Advertising in the mid1990s was a revolutionary period for our Royal Variety programmes and his brochure covers stand out as some of the best in our 108-year history. His enormous talent will be sorely missed by the whole entertainment industry.” Malcom married in 1976, moving to Orpington in Kent, where in recent years he loved doting over his three grandchildren. He leaves a legacy as a loving and generous family man.
ANGLO DIGITAL ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE ANGLO DIGITAL ARE ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY AND PROUD TO SUPPORT THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE ROYALMEDIA VARIETY CHARITY AND WITH SOCIAL ROYAL SERVICES. VARIETY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
C.A.A. INCORPORATING THE CONCERT ARTISTES’ ASSOCIATION
ANITA DOBSON (PRESIDENT), KAY CARMAN (CHAIRMAN) AND THE COMMITTEE & CLUB MEMBERS WISH YOU A SPARKLING ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AND MEMORABLE EVENING.
THE CLUB FOR ACTS AND ACTORS C.A.A. 20 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9HP
T: 02078 363172
E: office@thecaa.org
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ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
PREVIOUS ROYAL PERFORMANCES RVP 92 2019 LONDON, PALLADIUM
Held in the presence of THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE DUKE & DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE Included: Rob Beckett & Romesh Ranganathan, Mary Poppins - Cast Of The West-End Musical, Robbie Williams, Frank Skinner, Colin Thackery, Cirque De Soleil - ‘Luzia’, Mabel, Zurcaroh, Flo And Joan, Emeli Sandé & The Bee Vocal Choir, Kerry Godliman, Luke Evans, Groan Ups, Harry Connick JR, Come From Away - Cast Of The West-End Musical, Lewis Capaldi, The Kanneh-Masons, Robbie Williams & Jamie Cullum.
RVP 91 2018 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF SUSSEX & HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF SUSSEX Included: Greg Davies, Hamilton - Original Cast Of WestEnd Musical, Alex Horne & The Horne Section, Rhod Gilbert, Cirque Du Soleil - Totem, Clean Bandit, The Imitation Game, George Ezra, Ed Gamble, Tina - Cast Of The Tina Turner Musical, Circus 1903, Lost Voice Guy, Sigrid, Rod Woodward, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Rose Matafeo, Rick Astley, Andrea Bocelli & Matteo Bocelli, Take That.
RVP 90 2017 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE & HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE Included: Miranda Hart, 42nd Street, Circus Abyssinia, Tom Allen, Louis Tomlinson, The Script, Colin Cloud, Paloma Faith, Tokio Myers, Cirque Du Soleil - Ovo, Big Fish, Jason Manford, Annie, Leading Ladies, Seal, The Killers, Ball and Boe.
RVP 89 2016 LONDON, HAMMERSMITH EVENTIM APOLLO Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES & HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL Included: David Walliams, Robbie Williams, Diversity, Rob Beckett, DNCE, The Beatles Love by Cirque Du Soleil, OneRepublic, Joe Lycett, Tom Fletcher’s The Christmasaurus, ABC, Lady Gaga, An American in Paris, Alan Davies, Gary Barlow, Lance Corporal Richard Jones, Emeli Sandé, Sting, Amber Riley, Barry Gibb.
RVP 88 2015 LONDON, ROYAL ALBERT HALL Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE HENRY OF WALES Included: Jack Whitehall, One Direction, Ricky Martin, Chris Ramsey, Kacey Musgraves, Cirque du Soleil, Josh Groban, Little Mix, Matt Forde, Kylie Minogue, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Mary Poppins, Romesh Ranganathan, Jules, Matisse and Friends, Brandon Flowers, The Play That Goes Wrong, The Corrs, Beverley Knight, Elton John.
RVP 87 2014 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE & HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE Included: Michael McIntyre, Bette Midler, English Gents, Simply Red, Jack Whitehall, Demi Lovato, McBusted, Stephen Mulhern, Pumeza, Sarah Millican, Ed Sheeran, Dame Shirley Bassey, Miss Saigon, Trevor Noah, Ellie Goulding, Collabro, Hamish McCann, Rod Woodward, Inala, Russell Kane, Alfie Boe, One Direction.
RVP 86 2013 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES & HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL Included: John Bishop, Gary Barlow, Torvill & Dean, Rizzel 80 | ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Kicks, I Can’t Sing X-Factor musical introduced by Harry Hill, Jessie J, Jason Byrne, Mary J Blige, Flavia Cacace & Dance ‘Til Dawn, Olly Murs, Robbie Williams, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Jimmy Carr, Attraction, Seann Walsh, Gareth Malone & Voices, Hal Cruttenden, John Newman, Bryn Terfel, Dame Edna Everage, Stephen Ward musical, Caro Emerald, Chas & Dave.
RVP 85 2012 LONDON, ROYAL ALBERT HALL Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: David Walliams, Circus Space, Girls Aloud, Jimmy Tarbuck, Amanda Holden, Britain’s Got Talent Celebration - Diversity, Spelbound, Paul Potts & Stavros Flatley, Bradley Walsh, One Direction, Des O’Connor, Rhod Gilbert, Ronnie Corbett, Alicia Keys, Katherine Jenkins & Placido Domingo, The Bodyguard - Heather Headley, Robbie Williams, Alan Carr, Matilda, Bill Bailey, Ashleigh & Pudsey, Rod Stewart, Ballet Revolución, Sir Bruce Forsyth, Andrea Boocelli, Kylie Minogue, China’s Three Tenors, Neil Diamond.
RVP 84 2011 MANCHESTER, LOWRY Held in the presence of HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS ROYAL & VICE-ADMIRAL SIR TIMOTHY LAURENCE Included: Leona Lewis, Nicole Scherzinger, Tony Bennett, Cee Lo Green, Barry Manilow, Jason Manford, Pixie Lott, Jai McDowall, Penn & Teller, Peter Kay, Greg Davies, Jimeoin, Tim Minchin, David Garrett, Omid Djalili, The Boy With Tape on his Face, Il Divo, Phantom of The Opera, Hayley Westenra, Rolland Villazon, Base Berlin, 3run, The Dhol Foundation, Stomp, Royal Marines, Kodo.
RVP 83 2010 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES & HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL Included: Adele, John Bishop, Susan Boyle, Chelsea Pensioners, Cheryl Cole, Jamie Cullum & Rumer, Ray Davies & Paloma Faith, Micky Flanagan, Sarah Millican, Kylie Minogue, N-Dubz, Spelbound, Michael McIntyre, Take That, Russell Watson & The Royal Ballet, Daniel Whiston, Jack Whitehall, The Cast of Les Misérables, Band of Blues and Royals, The Cast of The Wizard of Oz.
RVP 82 2009 BLACKPOOL, OPERA HOUSE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Michael Bublé, Alexandra Burke, Hal Cruttenden, Miley Cyrus, Peter Kay, Diversity, Adam Hills, Lady Gaga, Bob Golding as Eric Morecambe, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, Katherine Jenkins, Paddy McGuinness, Jason Manford, Pilobolus, Mika, Bette Midler, André Rieu, Faryl Smith and The Soldiers, Paul Zerdin, The Heavy Cavalry & Cambrai Band, The Cast of Sister Act the Musical, The Cast of Here Come the Girls.
RVP 81 2008 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES & HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL Included: Jimmy Carr, Brian May & Kerry Ellis, John Barrowman, Josh Groban, Leona Lewis, Rhod Gilbert, Rihanna, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Armstrong & Miller, The Pussycat Dolls, Naturally 7, Duffy, Take That, Only Men Aloud!, Peter Kay, George Sampson, Michael McIntyre, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, La Cage Aux Folles, The Lion King, Zorro.
PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES RVP 80 2007 LIVERPOOL, EMPIRE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: The Heavy Cavalry & Cambrai Band, Seal, Viva la Diva, Al Murray - The Pub Landlord, Enrique Iglesias, Big Howard, Little Howard, The Cast of Hairspray, James Blunt, Russell Brand, Simon Cowell, Philip Schofield, Kate Thornton, English National Ballet, Raymond Crowe, David Jordan, MOMIX - The White Widow, Paul Potts, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Bon Jovi, Lang Lang, Kanye West, Joan Rivers, Dany Daniel & Edina, Teatro, Stephen K. Amos, Philip Achille.
RVP 79 2006 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES & HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL Included: John Barrowman with The Puppini Sisters & Capital Voices, The Cast of Spamalot, Omid Djalili, The Cast of The Sound of Music, Sugababes, Meat Loaf, Jamelia, David & Dania, Jason Byrne, Take That, The Cast of Wicked, Barry Manilow, The Cast of Avenue Q, James Morrison, Jump, Ken Dodd, Rod Stewart, Michael McIntyre.
RVP 78 2005 CARDIFF, MILLENNIUM CENTRE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Seventy-six Trombones led by Bradley Walsh, Blue Man Group, Katherine Jenkins, Catherine Tate, Charlotte Church, Joe Pasquale, Guys & Dolls, The Skating Willers, Il Divo, Alan Carr, Will Young, Funny Girls, Andre Portasio, Cliff Richard, Michael Parkinson, Sharon Osbourne,Ozzy Osbourne, Nicola Benedetti, Tomasz Reichelt, Caesar Twins, Dave Spikey, McFly, Andrea Bocelli & Bryn Terfel, Dame Shirley Bassey.
RVP 77 2004 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES Included: Shane Richie, Natasha Kaplinsky, Funny Girls, Jamelia, Jimmy Carr, Brian McFadden & Delta Goodrem, Round The Horne Revisited, Girls Aloud, The Producers, Josh Groban, Ennio Marchetto, Michael Bublé, Lemar, Sir Elton John, Billy Elliot the Musical, Dara Ó Briain, Royal Variety Dancers and Capital Voices, Denise van Outen, David Omer & Yamil Borges, Will Smith, Shane Richie, Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne, Gwen Stefani, Liza Minnelli, English National Opera, Cliff Richard.
RVP 76 2003 EDINBURGH, FESTIVAL THEATRE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, Scottish Power Pipe Band, The Drambuie Kirklston Pipe Band, Laine Theatre Arts Dancers, Flur na H-alba, Rachel Stevens, Ronnie Corbett, Cat Deeley, Daniel Bedingfield, The Oriental Swan (Hua Wong, Chen Wen and Wen Xiaoyan), Busted, Danny Bhoy, Hayley Westenra, Donny Osmond, Gloria Estefan, Al Murray - The Pub Landlord, Jamie Cullum, Katie Melua, Cirque du Soleil, Westlife, Luciano Pavarotti.
RVP 75 2002 LONDON, APOLLO Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES Included: Bond the Legend, Will Young, Liberty X, Paul Zerdin, Shania Twain, Stomp, Men In Coats, Diana Krall & Natalie Cole, Bombay Dreams, Jimmy Carr, Kylie Minogue, Our House, Lee Mack, Elaine Stritch, Contact, Omid Djalili, Enrique Iglesias, Bob Monkhouse, Gareth Gates, Ronan Keating, Anastacia.
RVP 74 2001 LONDON, DOMINION Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Included: Julian Clary, Hear’Say, Jethro, Cher, Anatoliy Zalevsky, Adam Watkiss, Samantha Mumba, Vinnie Jones, Charlotte Church and Robert Meadmore, Alessandro Safina, Denise van Outen, Donny Osmond, Jon Culshaw, Craig David, The Full Monty, Cirque du Soleil, Al Murray - The Pub Landlord, The Corrs, Russell Watson, Jennifer Lopez, Gypsy: A Musical Fable, Jackie Mason, Elton John.
RVP 73 2000 LONDON, DOMINION Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES Included: Hey Pachuco - Martin Crewes and the RVP Dancers, Jane McDonald, Ben Elton, Kylie Minogue, Blast!, Jane Horrocks, Martin Clunes, Mark Williams, Cirque du Soleil, Tim Vine, Ronan Keating, The King and I, Elaine Paige, Notre Dame de Paris, Ronnie Corbett, Dame Shirley Bassey, African Footprint, Richard Stilgoe & Peter Skellern, Star for a Night - Celestine Walcott-Gordon, Bryn Terfel, Dominic Holland, Lionel Richie, The Beautiful Game, Westlife.
RVP 72 1999 BIRMINGHAM, HIPPODROME Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Included: The Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Jean Butler & Colin Dunne, Brian Conley, Steps, Bradley Walsh, Billy Geraghty, Paul Zerdin, Charlotte Church, Ed Byrne, Westlife, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Ken Dodd, The Shaolin Monks, Terry Alderton, Andrea Bocelli, LeAnn Rimes, Joe Pasquale, Barry Manilow.
RVP 71 1998 LONDON, LYCEUM Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES Included: Paulette Ivory, Laine Theatre Arts Dancers, Lily Savage, B*Witched, Peter Kay, Ulrika Jonsson, Eclipse, Oklahoma!, Jim Tavaré, Martine McCutcheon, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Barry Manilow, Annie - the Musical, Phil Cool, Boyzone, Rambert Dance Company, Ennio Marchetto, Roberto Alagna & Angela Gheorghiu, Stomp, Spice Girls.
RVP 70 1997 LONDON, VICTORIA PALACE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Chicago featuring Ruthie Henshall, Henry Goodman, Ute Lemper & Nigel Planer, Joe Pasquale, Enya, Barbara Cook & Michael Ball, Jonathan Ross, Des O’Connor Andy Leach, Stephen Mulhern, Andy Ford, Lydia Griffiths, Vladimir, Fame – The Musical, Dr Trevor James, Andi Peters, Spice Girls, Aleggria House Troupe, Harry Hill, Michael Bolton, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake featuring Adam Cooper and Scott Ambler, Jim Davidson, Celine Dion.
RVP 69 1996 LONDON, DOMINION Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES Included: Bob Monkhouse, Moscow State Circus, David Strassman, Eternal, Pauline Quirke & Linda Robson, Robson & Jerome, Steve Coogan, Victor Borge, Joaquín Cortés, Des O’Connor, Brian Conley, Jim Davidson, Vik & Fabrini, Darcey Bussell & Jonathon Cope, Joan Rivers, Martin Guerre, Jackie Mason, Tom Jones.
RVP 68 1995 LONDON, DOMINION Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Included: Carol Kenyon, Des O’Connor, Allan Stewart, Robson & Jerome, The Pendragons, Mack & Mabel, Alistair McGowan, Marvin Hamlisch, Bob Downe, Elaine Paige, Cirque du Soleil, Hale and Pace, The Cast of Riverdance, Joe Pasquale, Jolson - Brian Conley, Des O’Connor, Cliff Richard. ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 | 81
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 RVP 67 1994 LONDON, DOMINION Held in the presence of HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES Included: Brian Conley, Ria Jones, Laine Theatre Arts Dancers, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Choir, Ronnie Corbett, The Passing Zone, Lulu, Billy Pearce, The Cast of Oliver!, Dame Shirley Bassey, Cilla Black, Gary Wilmot, Jim Tavare, Gareth Rowan, Clive Anderson, Angela Gheorghiu, Viviana Durante & Zoltan Solymosi, Frank Skinner, Tony Bennett, Terry Wogan, The Cast of Riverdance, Take That.
RVP 66 1993 LONDON, DOMINION Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Grease with Craig McLachlan and Debbie Gibson, Cilla Black, Frank Carson, Jim Henson’s Muppets, Right Said Fred, Lesley Garrett, Brian Conley, Simon Drake, Grigorovich Ballet of the Bolshoi Theatre, Bee Gees, Forever Plaid, Bradley Walsh, Darren Day, Joe Pasquale, Lulu, Pickwick with Sir Harry Secombe & Roy Castle, Michael Barrymore, London Community Gospel Choir.
RVP 65 1992 LONDON, DOMINION Held in the presence of THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE PRINCE & PRINCESS OF WALES Included: The Cast of Cats, Kiki Dee with Ria Jones, Jacqui Scott, Philip Gould, Paul Gyngell, Brian Conley, Phillip Schofield and the children of Ocklynge Junior School & Kentwood Junior School Choirs, Reva Rice & Lon Satton, Jimmy Tarbuck, Chinese State Circus, Chris Tarrant, Gloria Estefan, Steve Coogan, Jim Bailey, Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones, Barry Manilow, Michael Ball, London Community Gospel Choir, Jim Tavaré, The Nigel Kennedy Ensemble, Sharon Gless, Mike Michaels, Leslie Caron, Tim Rice, Montserrat Caballé, Rita Rudner, Tom Conti, Bolshoi Ballet with Yuri Klevtsov & Nadezhda Gracheva, Gloria Hunniford, Michael Crawford with the London Choral Society.
RVP 64 1991 LONDON, VICTORIA PALACE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Included: Sir David Frost – Host, Diana Ross, Kenny Andrews, Michael Ball, Simon Bowman, Linda Mae Brewer, Beverly Craven, Jim Dale, Les Dawson, Clinton Derricks Carroll, John Diedrich, Mike Doyle, Chip Esten, Rosemarie Ford, Ann Howard, Roy Hudd, Lisa Hull, Gloria Hunniford, Eric Idle, Barry James, Peter Land, Cherida Langford, Patti Lupone, Jillie Mack, Gareth Marks, Jackie Mason, Paul J Medford, Claire Moore, Julia Mckenzie, Omar Okai, Elaine Paige, Billy Pearce, The Roly Polys, Frances Ruffelle, Lea Salonga, Ned Sherrin, Scott Sherrin, Wayne Sleep, Dig Wayne, Marti Webb, Colm Wilkinson, Sandy Strallen, Susan-Jane Tanner, The Cast Of Buddy, The Dagenham Girl Pipers, The London Community Gospel Choir, The Sixties Tiller Girls, The Stephen Hill Singers, The Sylvia Young Theatre School, The Young Voronezh Balalaikas, Cast Of Les Miserables, Cast Of Cats, Cast Of Phantom Of The Opera, Cast Of Miss Saigon, Cast Of Evita, Tribute To Cameron Mackintosh : “ Hey Mr Producer”
RVP 63 1990 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER, HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS MARGARET & THE COUNTESS OF SNOWDON Included: Sir John Mills, Wayne Dobson, Janet Jackson, Sir John Gielgud, Lisa Maxwell, Hayley Mills, Lionel Blair, Jeffrey Holland, Angharad Rees, Christopher Cazenove, Robert Meadmore, Bonnie Langford, Anneka Rice, Mark Curry, Jonathon Morris, Anita Harris, Jill Gascoine, Band of the Grenadier Guards, Geraldine McEwan, Wayne Sleep, Stephen Fry, Michael Denison & Dulcie Gray, Marilyn HillSmith, Arthur Davies, James Galway, Bernie Winters, Leslie 82 | ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Crowther, Simon Cadell, Patricia Hodge, Robert Hardy, Dame Vera Lynn, Howard Keel, Willard White, Roger Moore, Michael Caine, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Rowan Atkinson, Cliff Richard, Sir Richard Attenborough, Darcey Bussell, Irek Mukhamedov, Elaine Paige, Plácido Domingo, Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Sarah Brightman.
RVP 62 1989 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Michael Ball, David Essex, Rosemarie Ford, Paul Nicholas, Lisa Waddingham, George Marshall, The Cast of Coronation Street, Chris de Burgh, Nigel Kennedy, Freddie Starr, Melvyn Bragg, Frank Bruno, Harry Carpenter, David Frost, Hinge and Bracket, Diana Rigg, Selina Scott, Kenny Seagrove, Edward Woodward, Tina Turner, Northern Ballet Theatre, Elayne Boosler, Joe Longthorne, Julian Lloyd Webber, The Cast of Folies Bergère, The Argentine Gauchos, Lance Burton, Jerry Lewis, Sir John Mills.
RVP 61 1988 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: Ronnie Corbett, Bruce Forsyth, Mickey Rooney & Ann Miller, The Chongqing Troupe, Brian Conley, Kylie Minogue, The Cast of Neighbours, Mel Smith & Griff Rhys Jones, Cliff Richard, The Cast of Bread, Jackie Mason, Julio Iglesias, Bananarama, A-ha, The Golden Girls, Bob Monkhouse, Russ Abbot, Bella Emberg, Paul Daniels & Debbie McGee, Rick Astley, Michael Feinstein.
RVP 60 1987 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Anthony Newley, The Alan Harding Dancers, Jessica Martin, Gary Wilmot, Peter Goodwright, Hilary O’Neil, Allan Stewart, Bernie Winters, Leslie Crowther, George Carl, Bobby Davro, Johnny Logan, Les Dawson, Dolores Gray, Cannon & Ball, Eartha Kitt, Hale & Pace, James Galway, Jimmy Tarbuck, Shirley Bassey, Five Star, Ronn Lucas, Les Misérables, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Mel Tormé, George Shearing, Michael Barrymore, Sarah Brightman, Mike Yarwood, Johnnie Ray, Rosemary Clooney, Harry Secombe, Tom Jones, Vladimir Orchinikov, Evelyn Glennie, Michael Mcguire, Alan Brind.
RVP 59 1986 LONDON, THEATRE ROYAL Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: Alan Randall, Su Pollard & Ruth Madoc, Kit & The Widow, Marti Webb, Bob Monkhouse, Marti Caine, Angela Rippon, Petula Clark, Rory Bremner, Peking Opera, Victoria Wood, The Bluebells, Carolyn Pickles, Stéphane Grappelli, Nana Mouskouri, Victor Borge, Frank Carson, Valerie Masterson, Max Bygraves, Lulu, Michael Davis, Ronnie Corbett, Peter Ustinov, Paul Nicholas, Lesley Collier, Stephen Jefferies, Peggy Spencer, Latin American Formation Team, Cyd Charisse, Simon Howe, Tyne Daly, Sharon Gless, Ken Dodd, Huddersfield Choral Society, Val Doonican, Gloria Hunniford, Aled Jones, Paul McCartney, Nicholas Parsons, Paul Daniels.
RVP 58 1985 LONDON, THEATRE ROYAL Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Babes on Broadway, Show Boat, Gary Wilmot, The Screen Goddesses, Rolf Harris, Jean Simmons, Guys and Dolls, On the Town, Triplets, 42nd Street, Doreen Wells & Tudor Davies, Ron Moody, Sarah Brightman, Norman Wisdom, Su Pollard, Joan Collins, Roni Page, Steve Devereaux, Celeste Holm & Paul Nicholas, Frankie Vaughan & Barbara King, Martin Shaw & Simon Bowman, Liz Robertson, Gigi, Dennis Waterman & Maureen Lipman, José Carreras, Elisabeth Welch.
PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES RVP 57 1984 LONDON, VICTORIA PALACE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER & THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES Included: Leslie Crowther, Billy Dainty, Paul Nicholas, Bernie Winters, Jimmy Cricket, The Dancers, Mr Magoo, Brian Andro, Stuart Fell, The Acrobats, Anthony Gatto, Keith Harris, Denis Norden, The Bell Ringers, Les Dennis & Dustin Gee, Angharad Rees, Matthew Kelly, Charlie Drake, Russell Grant, Frank Finlay, Simon Callow, Eileen Atkins, Jean Marsh, Harvey and the Wallbangers, Paul Eddington, The Tillers, Ronnie Corbett, On Your Toes, Roy Hudd, Terry Wogan, James Galway, Henry Mancini, Bill Owen, Peter Sallis, Brian Wilde, David Jacobs, Howard Keel, Paul Daniels, The Cast of Me and My Girl.
RVP 56 1983 LONDON, THEATRE ROYAL Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Included: Scott Sherrin, Gillian Gregory, Gene Kelly, Royal Ballet School, Bonnie Langford, The Frank & Kay Mercer Latin American Formation Team, The Jukebox Company, Steve Merritt, Michael Barrymore, Wayne Sleep, Graham Fletcher, Fred Evans, Tony Kemp, Sarah Kennedy, Billy Dainty, Monica Mason, Merle Park and David Wall, Kelly Monteith, Sheila White, Grace Kennedy, Clarke Peters, Finola Hughes, The Roly Polys, Claude Paul Henry, Sheila O’Neill, Gemma Craven, James Smillie, Julia McKenzie, Twiggy, Tommy Tune, Diana Moran, The British Amateur Gymnastics Team, Rock Steady Crew, George Carl, The Dancin’ Company, Natalia Makarova, Anthony Dowell, Les Dawson.
RVP 55 1982 LONDON, THEATRE ROYAL Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: Richard Harris, Chris Power & Howard Keel, Helen Gelzer, Anna Dawson, Tony Adams, The Pirates of Penzance, The Pirate King, Roy Hudd, Christopher Timothy, Joe Black, Peter Glaze, Tommy Godfrey, Billy Gray, Lesley Collier, David Wall, Richard Stilgoe, Don Smoothey, Ami McDonald, Ruth Madoc, Isla St Clair, Kenneth Connor, Leslie Crowther, Billy Dainty, John Inman, Pete Murray, Bernie Winters, Karen Kay, Suzanne Danielle, Joyce Blair, John Hanson, Gloria Hunniford, Jan Leeming, Esther Rantzen, Vince Hill, Diane Langton, Lorna Dallas, Dennis Waterman, Liz Robertson, Topol, Wall Street Crash, Anton Rodgers, Bonnie Langford, Sylvester McCoy, Michael Praed, Chris Langham, Peter Skellern, Jim Casey, Roy Castle, Ele Woods, George Cole, Pamela Stephenson, Tim Curry, Sheena Easton, Moira Anderson, Bucks Fizz, Victor Spinetti, Amanda Redman, Robert Longden, Jack Jones, Angela Rippon, Millicent Martin, Ethel Merman.
RVP 54 1981 LONDON, THEATRE ROYAL Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Included: Thais Clark, Vernel Bagneris, Ylvia Williams, Topsy Chapman, Patti Boulaye, Pearly Gates, Precious Wilson, The Clark Brothers, Kenny Lynch, Jim Davidson, Lenny Henry, Itzhak Perlman, John Inman, Tim Rice, Lonnie Donegan, Marty Wilde, Acker Bilk, The Searchers, Dickie Henderson, Donovan, Lulu, Suzanne Danielle, Alvin Stardust, Adam & The Ants, The Shadows, Cliff Richard, Cambridge Buskers, Anita Harris, Jimmy Tarbuck, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephanie Lawrence, Julian Lloyd Webber, Elaine Paige, Mireille Mathieu.
RVP 53 1980 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: The Joe Loss Orchestra, Una Stubbs and Lionel Blair, Roy Hudd, Arthur Askey, Chesney Allen & Billy Dainty, Charlie Chester, Charlie Drake, Arthur English, Cyril Fletcher, Richard Murdoch, Sandy Powell, Tommy Trinder, Ben Warriss, Paul Squires, Bruce Forsyth, Grace Kennedy, Sheena Easton,
Rowan Atkinson, Wall Street Crash, Harry Worth, Cleo Laine, Harry Mancini, Peggy Lee, Victor Borge, Sammy Davis, Jr., Larry Hagman, Danny Kaye, Aretha Franklin.
RVP 52 1979 LONDON, THEATRE ROYAL Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Included: Elaine Stritch, Jim Davidson, James Galway, Red Buttons, Ned Sherrin, Millicent Martin, David Kernan, Julia McKenzie, Marti Caine, Elisabeth Welch, Dr Evadne Hinge & Dame Hilda Bracket, Noel Edmonds, Amii Stewart, Boney M., Bill Haley & His Comets, Bernie Clifton, Vladimir Vasiliev & Ekaterina Maximova, Pas de deux, Les Dawson, Yul Brynner and Virginia McKenna, Maize Williams, Lis Mitchell, Marcia Barrett, Bobby Farrell.
RVP 51 1978 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: Arthur Askey, Lionel Blair, Leslie Crowther, Bobby Crush, Charlie Drake, Cyril Fletcher, Rolf Harris, John Inman, David Nixon, Beverley Sisters, Marti Caine, Wendy Craig, Sandra Dickinson, Esther Rantzen, Dilys Watling, June Whitfield, Pepe and his friends, Paul Daniels, Harry Secombe, The King Sisters, Mary O’Hara, Showaddywaddy, Danny La Rue, The Krankies, Andy Stewart, Moira Anderson, Scottish Ballet, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Max Bygraves, The Kaye Sisters, The Nolan Sisters, Anne Shelton, Wayne Sleep, Lesley Collier, Diane Langton, Max Boyce.
RVP 50 1977 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Bob Hope, Julie Andrews, Paul Anka, Pam Ayres, Harry Belafonte, Brotherhood of Man, Tommy Cooper, Alan King, Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, John Williams, Little and Large, Shirley MacLaine, Jim Henson’s Muppets, Rudolf Nureyev, Jack Parnell.
RVP 49 1976 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: Max Bygraves, Lionel Blair, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Los Reales Del Paraguay, Roger De Courcey, Lena Zavaroni, Arthur Mitchell, Gilbert Bécaud, Tom O’Connor, Dawson Chance, Wayne King, Mike Yarwood, Shirley Bassey.
RVP 48 1975 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Bruce Forsyth, KwaZulu, Kris Kemo, Dad’s Army, Count Basie Orchestra, Larry Parker, Michael Crawford and the cast of Billy, Dukes & Lee, Ruth Welting, Telly Savalas, Charles Aznavour, Rhos Male Voice Choir, Harry Secombe, Vera Lynn.
RVP 47 1974 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: Noele Gordon, A Salute to Vaudeville, Ted Rogers, The Hungarian State Dance Company, Billy Dainty, Josephine Baker, Paul Melba, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Paper Lace, George Carl, Roy Castle, Perry Como, Jack Parnell & His Orchestra.
RVP 46 1973 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Dougie Squires’ Second Generation, Dick Emery, Francis Van Dyke, Cliff Richard, Phillipe Genty & Company, Les Dawson, Rudolf Nureyev, Lynn Seymour, José Luis Moreno, Peters & Lee, Ronnie Corbett, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, Nana Mouskouri. ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 | 83
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 RVP 45 1972 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: Los Diablos Del Bombo, Dickie Hend https://open. spotify.com/artist/4w3QqrcmBv8dasemwBXmxf erson, Mike Yarwood, Elton John, Danny La Rue, Trio Hoganas, Rod Hull & Emu, The Jackson 5, Jack Jones, Ken Dodd, Warren Mitchell, Tony Booth, Una Stubbs, Dandy Nichols, Carol Channing, Liberace.
RVP 44 1971 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Included: The Young Generation, The Villams, Bruce Forsyth, Dailey and Wayne, The Stupids, Lovelace Watkins, Norman Collier, Hughie Green, The Little Angels of Korea, Jack Parnell & His Orchestra, The New Seekers, The New Dollys, Ken Goodwin, Sacha Distel, Stéphane Grappelli, Tommy Cooper, Shirley Bassey.
RVP 43 1970 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: The Pamela Devis Dancers, Max Bygraves, Peter Noone & Herman’s Hermits, Freddie Starr, Rostal and Schaefer, Sandy Powell, Kay White, Max Again, Bob Dixon, Dionne Warwick, The Doriss Girls, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Des O’Connor, Leslie Crowther, The Black light theatre of Prague, Caterina Valente, Marty Feldman, Andy Williams.
RVP 42 1969 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Des O’Connor, The Veterans, Roy Castle, Cilla Black, Danny La Rue, Shari Lewis, Harry Secombe, Ginger Rogers, Buddy Rich, Moira Anderson, Scènes de ballet, Ronnie Corbett, Mireille Mathieu, Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass, Frankie Howerd, Johnnie Spence and his Orchestra, The Mike Sammes Singers, Tom Jones.
RVP 41 1968 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER, PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCESS ANNE, PRINCESS MARGARET & THE EARL OF SNOWDON Included: Aimi MacDonald & Lionel Blair, Arthur Askey, Valente Valente, Morecambe & Wise, Sacha Distel, Czechoslavakian State Song & Dance Ensemble, Ted Rogers, Manitas de Plata & Company, Engelbert Humperdinck, Des O’Connor, Agnes O’Connell’s London Irish Girl Pipers, Val Doonican, Petula Clark, Ron Moody, Andre Tahon & Company, Diana Ross & The Supremes.
RVP 40 1967 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: The Bluebell Girls, Tanya, Rolf Harris, Lulu, Sandie Shaw, Val Doonican, Tommy Cooper, Romanian National Dance Company & Orchestra, The Rockin’ Berries, Ken Dodd, Vikki Carr, Mireille Mathieu, Dickie Henderson, Tom Jones, Bob Hope.
RVP 39 1966 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: The Bachelors, Bal Caron Trio, Gilbert Bécaud, The World Cup winning England football team, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jack Douglas, Hugh Forgie, Christopher Gable, Nadia Nerina, Juliette Gréco, Des O’Connor, Frankie Howerd, Jerry Lewis, Kenneth McKellar, Henry Mancini, Marvo & Dolores, Matt Monro, Wayne Newton, The Pietro Brothers, Gene Pitney, The Seekers, Tommy Steele. 84 | ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
RVP 38 1965 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett, Jack Benny, Max Bygraves, The Carmenas, The Dave Clark Five, Peter Cook, Ken Dodd, Johnny Hallyday, Arthur Haynes, Hope and Keen, Frank Ifield, The Kaye Sisters, Neville King, Spike Milligan, Dudley Moore, Peter, Paul & Mary, Peter Sellers, Dusty Springfield, Sylvie Vartan.
RVP 37 1964 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II Included: The John Tiller Girls, Tommy Cooper, The Bachelors, Gil Dova, Cilla Black, Millicent Martin, Kathy Kirby, Brenda Lee, Dennis Spicer, Morecambe & Wise, Gracie Fields, The Moiseyev Dance Company, David Jacobs, Ralph Reader’s Gang Show, Jimmy Tarbuck, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Bob Newhart, Lena Horne with the Chico Hamilton Quartette.
RVP 36 1963 LONDON, PRINCE OF WALES Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER & HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS MARGARET Included: The Clark Brothers, The Beatles, Luis Alberto del Paraná, Los Paraguayos, Charlie Drake, Tessa Davees & The Eight Charlies, Susan Maughan, Dickie Henderson, Francis Brunn, Buddy Greco, Nadia Nerina, Dickie Henderson, The Sleeping Beauty Cast, Joe Loss & His Orchestra, Larry Gretton, Ross MacManus, Rose Brennan, The Billy Petch Dancers, Wilfrid Brambell, Harry H. Corbett, Pinky & Perky, Jan & Vlasta Dalibor, Eric Sykes, Hattie Jacques, Michael Flanders, Donald Swann, Marlene Dietrich, Tommy Steele & West End Half a Sixpence Cast, Harry Secombe & Pickwick Cast, Marlene Dietrich with Burt Bacharach.
RVP 35 1962 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: The Black and White Minstrels, Norman Vaughan, Rudy Cardenas, Rosemary Clooney, Dickie Henderson, Frank Ifield, Eartha Kitt, Cleo Laine, Johnny Dankworth, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Harry Secombe, Andy Stewart, Sophie Tucker, Mike & Bernie Winters Bob Hope with Edie Adams.
RVP 34 1961 LONDON, PRINCE OF WALES Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball & The Temperance Seven, Shirley Bassey, Jack Benny, George Burns, Lionel Blair, Max Bygraves, Maurice Chevalier, The Crazy Gang, Sammy Davis, Jr., Arthur Haynes, Bruce Forsyth, The McGuire Sisters, Morecambe and Wise, Nina & Frederik, Andy Stewart, Frankie Vaughan.
RVP 33 1960 LONDON, VICTORIA PALACE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Max Bygraves, Nat King Cole, Russ Conway, Billy Cotton & His Band, The Crazy Gang, Sonia Rees, Lonnie Donegan, Diana Dors, Jimmy Edwards, Adam Faith, Bruce Forsyth, Bud Flanagan, Benny Hill, Robert Horton, Frankie Howerd, Hattie Jacques, Liberace, Vera Lynn, Bob Monkhouse, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Tiller Girls, Norman Wisdom, Harry Worth, Sammy Davis, Jr.
RVP 32 1959 MANCHESTER, PALACE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Included: Paddy Glyn, The Eight Mitchell Singers, The 20 John Tiller Girls, The Pietro Brothers, Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard, Harry Robinson, Lord Rockingham’s XI, Cherry Wainer, Benny Hill, Al Read with Jimmy Clitheroe, Tommy Trinder, Jean Louis
PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES
Bert and Ilonka, The Dior Dancers, Belinda Wright, Jelke Yuresha, Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss, Roy Castle, BBC Northern Dance Orchestra with Sheila Buxton, Russ Conway, Ronnie Hilton, Jill Day, Marion Ryan, Dickie Henderson, Dora Bryan, Aileen Cochrane, Anne Shelton, Terry Wilson, Blackpool Tower Ballroom Children’s Ballet, Michael Medwin, Alfie Bass, Bill Fraser, Ted Lune, Norman Rossington, Liberace, Arthur Askey, The Hallé Orchestra, Tommy Trindor.
RVP 31 1958 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Talk of the Town Girls and Boys, The Stargazers, Yana and Max Bygraves, Shirley Ambrose, Margo Mitchell, Dawn Hughes, Terry James, Mary Mitchell, Gloria Kaye, Judith Harvey, Fay Laurie, Jane Burton, Christine Pocket, Jacqueline Warrell, Helen Wright, Gloria Davidson, Doreen Hermitage, Joan Jemison, Paddy James, Joyce White, Ruth Lawson, Roy Genson, Robert Lamont, Ray Tanva, Ian Kaye, Bill Harvey, Willie Martin, Karl Morley, Boyd MacKenzie, Peter Elliott, Paul Christian, The King Brothers, The Mudlarks, Beverley Sisters, The Charlivels, Tony Hancock, Cyril Stapleton & His Show Band, Frankie Vaughan, Bruce Forsyth, Bernard Bresslaw, Antonio and his Spanish Ballet Company, Roy Castle, Harry Secombe, Mantovani, Harry Worth, Lynette Ray, Hattie Jacques, Max Russell, G. H. Elliott, Hetty King, The George Carden Dancers,The George Mitchell Singers, The Ford Motor Works Military Band, The Dior Dancers, Victor Silvester and his Ballroom Orchestra, The Mecca Formation Dancers, David Nixon, Charlie Drake, Pat Boone, Mantovani, Adele Leigh, Eartha Kitt, Kenneth More, Norman Wisdom, Jerry Desmonde, Pip Hinton, Marion Grimaldi, Pamela Gale, Felix Felton, Terence Cooper, June Bronhill, Thomas Round, Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews, Stanley Holloway.
RVP 30 1957 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: The Kaye Sisters, Bob Monkhouse, Max Bygraves, The George Carden Dancers, The George Mitchell Singers, The Goofers, Jimmy Logan, Harry Secombe with the Morriston Orpheus Choir, The Crazy Gang, Leo De Lyon, Gracie Fields, Dickie Henderson, Count Basie & His Orchestra, Ralph Reader & his Gang Show, Judy Garland, Jimmy Brooks, Bud Flanagan, Ben Lyon, Jerry Desmonde, Alfred Marks, Brian Reece, Mario Lanza, Norrie Paramor’s Big Ben Banjo Band, Ronnie Hilton, Dickie Valentine, Malcolm Vaughan, Teddy Johnson, Dennis Lotis, Frankie Vaughan, David Whitfield, Herschel Henlere, Arthur Askey & Vera Lynn, Alicia Markova, Alma Cogan, The John Tiller Girls, Tommy Cooper, Winifred Atwell, Tommy Steele & His Steelmen.
RVP 29 1956 LONDON, VICTORIA PALACE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Tommy Trinder, Latona, Graham and Chandel, The Victoria Palace Boys and Girls, Dave King and Julia Channing, The Crazy Gang, Ruby Murray, Benny Hill with Olivia Dale, Jeremy Hawk and Ronnie Brody, Patricia Kirkwood with Robert Beatty, Douglas Byng, George Carden, Walter Crisham, John Gregson, Bobby Howes, Hugh McDermott, Terence Morgan and Brian Reece, Cyril Stapleton with the BBC Show Band and The Stargazers, Lena Horne, John Warner, Eleanor Drew, Dorothy Reynolds, Newton Blick, Yvonne Coulette, James Cairncross, Michael Meacham, Christine Finn, Michael Aldridge, Pat Heywood, Joe Greig, Bob Harris, Johnnie Ray, Robert Dhery, Colette Brosset, Jacques Legras, Christian Duvalein, Pierre Olaf and Company, Alfred Drake, George Jessel, Doretta Morrow and Company, Leslie Henson, Jimmy Edwards, Richard Attenborough, Diana Dors, Edmund Willard, Bruce Selton, Emrys Jones, Lauri Lupino Lane, The Chinese Classical Theatre Company, Moscow State Folk Dance Company, Brian Reece.
RVP 28 1955 BLACKPOOL, OPERA HOUSE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Reginald Dixon, Lupino Lane, George Truzzi, Peter Glaze, Kenneth Sandford, Pamela Bromley, Vera Day, The John Tiller Girls, The Victoria Palace Girls & Boys, Kathryn Moore, The Flying De Pauls, The Barbour Brothers & Jean, The Amandis, The Crazy Gang, Morecambe and Wise, Bill Waddington, Josephine Anne, The Showgirls, Arthur Askey, Geraldo and his Orchestra, Jewel and Warriss, Littlewoods Girls Choir, Joan Regan, Alma Cogan, Five Smith Brothers, George Formby, 1st Battalion The Liverpool Scottish, Beryl Grey with John Field, Jack Tripp with the John Tiller Girls, children from the Blackpool Tower Ballet, Charlie Cairoli with Paul, Wilfred & Mabel (Pickles), Albert Modley, Flanagan and Allen, Eddie Fisher with the BBC Northern Orchestra, Al Read.
RVP 27 1954 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: Fay Lenore and the Palladium Boys & Girls, Schaller Brothers, George Mitchell Choir, Jimmy Wheeler, Eric Robinson Orchestra & Singers, Eddie Calvert, Joan Turner, Richard Hearne, Howard Keel, Chesney Allen, Arthur Askey, Max Bygraves, Bud Flanagan, Billy Russell, Donald B. Stewart, Brian Reece, Harry Green, Katie Boyle, Jack Hylton, Al Read, Norman Wisdom, Gillian Moran, Herbert Hare, Florence & Frederic, The Crazy Gang with Paul Cutts & Shirley Eaton, David Whitfield, Frankie Laine, Jack Parnell & His Orchestra, Ted Heath and his music, Dawn White and her Glamazons, John Tiller Girls, Rudy Horn, Noël Coward, Diana Churchill, Jack Buchanan, Joan Sims, Frankie Howerd, Gladys Cooper, Binnie Hale, Peter Sellers, Donald Wolfit, Hastings Girls Choir, Elsie Randolph, Thora Hird, Leslie Henson, Dick Bentley, Michael Denison, Nigel Patrick, Thorley Walters, Anthony Steel, Brian Reece, Walter Crisham, Bruce Trent, Peggy Cummins, Shirley Eaton, Dulcie Gray, Shani Wallis, Bob Hope with Moira Lister, Jerry Desmonde & the Hope Repertory Company.
RVP 26 1953 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH & PRINCESS MARGARET Included: Peter Knight’s Merry Makers, Harry Dawson, Jean Campbell, Pearl Carr, Dick James, Mackenzie Reid and Dorothy Elizabeth Webb, Alfred Marks, Edmund Hockridge, Tommy Cooper, Eve Boswell, Jack Warner, Stubby Kaye with members of The Cast of Guys and Dolls, Jo, Jac & Joni, Anne Shelton, Max Bygraves, Sheila O’Neill & Veit Bethke, Danya and Alvarez, Gloria Nord, Len Liggett and Pam Murray with members from the Corps de Ballet and the Empire Pool Festival Choir, John Tiller Girls, Ethel Revnell, Henry Cotton, Jimmy James, Ronnie Ronalde, Vivian Blaine, Jimmy Edwards, Eamonn Andrews.
RVP 25 1952 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Included: The Victoria Palace Tiller Girls, The Three Barbour Brothers, Medlock and Marlowe, Crompton, Three Monarchs, Billy Cotton and his Band, Norman Wisdom, Winifred Atwell, Vic Oliver, Beverley Sisters, Deep River Boys, Billie Worth, Jeff Warren, Donald Burr, The Crazy Gang, Gracie Fields with the Ilford Girls Choir and the George Carden Ensemble, Warren, Latona and Sparks, Rob Murray, Terry-Thomas, Gerry Brereton, John Ellison, George Cameron, Ted Ray, Beniamino Gigli, Arthur Askey, Max Bygraves, Zoe Gail, Reginald Dixon, Patricia Kirkwood, Jimmy Edwards, Jack Jackson, Vera Lynn, Jewel & Warriss, Josef Locke, Joy Nichols, Fred Russell, Maurice Chevalier, Ian Wallace, The Band of the Coldstream Guards, Tony Hancock. ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 | 85
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 RVP 24 1951 LONDON, VICTORIA PALACE Held in the presence of HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II & PRINCESS MARGARET Included: The Gang and ‘Monsewer’ Eddie Gray, The Cavendish Singers, The John Tiller Girls, Erica Yorke, The Victoria Palace Girls, The Marie De Vere Dancers, Vera Lynn, Harry Secombe, The Wiere Brothers, Stanley Black and the Dance Orchestra, Tony Fayne, David Evans, Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Arthur English, Sally Ann Howes, Jimmy Edwards, Florence Desmond, Norman Evans, Alan and Blanche Lund, Pearl Primus and her Company, Hoops The Boys, Joaquin Pérez Fernandes and his Latin American Company, The Mary De Vere Dancers, Johnny Hutch and the Seven Volants, Sam Browne and his Singers, The Keyboard Quintette, Carroll Gibbons, Billy Thorburn, Ivor Moreton & Davy Kaye, Charlie Kunz, Patricia Morison, Barbara Bruce, Nervo and Knox, Naughton and Gold, Bud Flanagan, Miklos Gafni, Vera Lynn and Michael Dalton, Frances Day, Florence Desmond, Sally Ann Howes, Adelaide Hall, Sylvia Peters, Carole Lynne, Valerie Tandy, Anona Winn, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Gold, Gracie Fields, George Mitchell Choir, Jack Radcliffe, Cicely Courtneidge, Flanagan & Allen.
RVP 23 1950 LONDON, VICTORIA PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI & HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH Included: Tommy Trinder, Sheila Matthews, The 20 John Tiller Girls, The Three Bentley Sisters, The Debonairs, Terrys Juveniles, Norman & Ladd, Max Bygraves, Billy Cotton & His Band, Frankie Howerd, The Five Smith Brothers, Kaye Ballard, Helen Gallagher, Carole Lynne, Allan Jones, The Merry Macs, Gracie Fields, The George Mitchell Glee Club, Jonathan Lucas, David Lober, Donald Peers, Jack Benny, Dinah Shore, Binnie Hale, Nat Jackley, Naughton & Gold, Max Wall, Nervo & Knox, Max Miller, Flanagan and Allen, The Band that Jack Built, Bud Flanagan.
RVP 22 1949 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI & HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH, PRINCESS ELIZABETH & PRINCESS MARGARET Included: John Sanger, Arthur Bell, Eric Coates, Phil Parke, Johnny Lockwood, Les Charlivels, Joy Nichols, Michael Bentine, Bill Johnson, Peter Cavanagh, Marilyn Hightower, Elsa & Waldo, Peggy Ryan and Ray McDonald, The Tiller Girls, Reginald Dixon, Band of the Royal Marines, Harvey, The Seven Ashtons, Wilfred Pickles, Dolores Gray, Borrah Minnevitch’s Harmonica Rascals featuring Johnny Puleo, Maurice Chevalier, Noele Gordon, Ted Ray.
RVP 21 1948 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI & HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH Included: The Blackpool Tower Circusettes, The Cromwells, Kirsta and Kristel, The Myrons, Warren Latona and Sparks, Charlie Chester and his Radio Gang, Daphne Kiernander, Sky High Corps De Ballet, Jayne and Adam Di Gatano, The Colstons, Nicholas Brothers, The 24 John Tiller Girls, Ted Ray, George and Bert Bernard, Stewart McPherson, Randolph Sutton, Nellie Wallace, Billy Danvers, Ella Shields, Talbot O’Farrell, Gertie Gitana, G. H. Elliott, Ted Heath and his Band, Derek Roy, The Radio Revellers, The Melachrino Strings, Julie Andrews, The Luton Choir Girls, The Great Alexander Troupe, Arthur Askey, Buster Shaver and his trio of Lilliputians, The Crazy Gang, Danny Kaye, The Skyrockets Orchestra.
RVP 20 1947 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI & HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH, PRINCESS ELIZABETH & PRINCESS MARGARET Included: Hy Hazell, The Alec Thomas Quartet, Marilyn Hightower, Three Shades, Valerie Tandy, Bobbie Tranter, Tony Hulley, The Three Astaires, Hortobagyi Troupe, Billy Russell, 86 | ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
Wilson, Keppel and Betty, Norman Evans, Borrah Minnevitch’s Harmonica Rascals, Mervyn Saunders, Mona & Oliver & The Girls, Wally Boag, Bud Flanagan, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton, Jimmy Gold, Frank Holloway, Willie Carlisle, Freddie Malcom, Jack Durrant, Robert Wilson, The Dagenham Piper Girls, Vic & Joe Crastonian, James Currie’s Water Spectacle, Alan Bailey, Terri Carol, Cynthia & Gladys, The Three Garcias, Levanda, Marie Louise, Mariora, Olga Varona, Eva May Wong, Bobbie Kimber, Dolores Gray & Bill Johnson, The Zoris, Tommy Trinder, Gracie Fields, Laurel & Hardy.
RVP 19 1946 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI & HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH Included: From High Time - The Girls, Tony Hulley, Barbara Bentham, Brent Fields, Billy Castle, Bobby Tranter and Mary Naylor, The Cairoli Brothers, Nat Jackley with Harry Moreny, Dick Beamish, Arthur Vollum, Sammy Curtis, Bob Bromley and his puppets, Terry-Thomas Dance Ensemble with Alan & Blanche Lund, Gil Johnson, The Three Ross Sisters, Halama and Konarski, The Cabana Accordion Six, Nat Mills & Bobby, Robert Lamouret, Arthur Askey, Harry Lester & His Hayseeds, Tessie O’Shea, Charlie Chester, Dick Henderson, Jimmy Jewel, Charlie Naughton, Jimmy Gold, Eddie Gray, El Grenadas and Peter, Jack Jackie, Koba and Kalee, Reggie Redcliffe, Rene Strange, Henri Vadden, Sid Field with Jerry Desmonde, Alfie Dean, The Wallabies and the Palladium Boys & Girls, Ben Warriss, Marianne Lincoln, Oscar Natzka, Band of the Training Ship.
RVP 18 1945 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI & HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH Included: Roy Mitchell, Jill Manners, The Nine Avalons, Jules Adrian, Grace Spero, Beryl Kaye, Vic Oliver, Maurice Colleano, George Doonan, Will Hay, Douglas Wakefield, Chuck O’Neil, Billy Nicholls, Peter Byrne, Michael Hunt, Billy Nelson, Roy Jeffries, Delya, Sid Field, Jerry Desmonde, Stella Moya, Denise Clifford, Wilson, Keppel & Betty, Webster Booth & Anne Ziegler, Tommy Trinder, Chappie D’Amato, Van Phillips, Reginald Burston.
RVP 17 1938 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI & HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH Included: The Crastonians, The Two Leslies, Murray and Mooney, Evelyn Laye, Renée Houston and Donald Stewart, Ken Davidson and Hugh Forgie, From Running Riot - Richard Hearne & Rosalind Atkinson, The Stuart Morgan Dancers with Lita D’Oray, Harold Hart, William Kat, Jack Payne’s Orchestra, Peggy Cochrane, Mary Lee, Betty Kent, Biddy Barton, Teddy Foster, Ronnie Grearder, Rob Ashley, The Dagenham Girl Pipers, Three Aberdonians, Les Allen, Laurie Day, Roy Willis, Will Hatton, Ethel Manners, Elsie and Doris Waters, The John Tiller Girls, the cast of Me and My Girl (Lupino Lane, George Graves, Betty Frankiss and Teddy St. Denis), Jack Barty, George Carney, Claphan and Dwyer, Harry Champion, Kate Carney, Will Fyffe, Florrie Forde, Gaston and Andree, Tommy Handley, G. S. Melvin, Talbot O’Farrell, Gillie Porter, Harry Tate, Vesta Victoria, Bransby Williams, Anona Winn.
RVP 16 1937 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI & HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH Included: From London Rhapsody, Len Lewis, George Lane, Raymond Newell, Henry Carlisle, Serge Ganjou, Henry Carlisle, Mary Young, Rosarito, George Ganjou, The Gypsy Boys Band, Norman Evans, Florence Desmond, Señor Wences, George Formby, Cicely Courtneidge with the Harry Dennis Dance Sexette and the Sherman Fisher Girls, Max Miller, Jack La Vier, Ethel Revnell & Gracie West, Ralph Reader’s Gang Show, The London Palladium Gang Show, Gracie Fields, Will Fyffe.
PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES RVP 15 1935 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: Hannah Wyatt, Jeanne Devereaux, Nervo & Knox, Naughton & Gold, Flanagan and Allen, Ernie Gerrard, The Six Lias from round about Regent Street, The Diamond Brothers, Joe Jackson, Stanley Holloway, Anton Dolin, Jessie Matthews, J. Sherman Fisher’s Palladium Girls, The Western Brothers, Harrison & Fisher, Myles Williams, The Harmony Revellers, Bea Hutten, Syd Railton, Del Foss, Boy Foy, Sandy Powell with Jimmy Fletcher & Joy Jeffries, Three Cossacks, Elsie Carlisle & Sam Browne, Will Mahoney, Arthur Reece, Kate Carney, Gus Elen, Florrie Forde, Harry Champion, Harry Roy & His Band.
RVP 14 1934 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: Kafka, Stanley and Mae Quartette, The Three Bonos, Frank Boston, J. Sherman Fisher’s Palladium Girls, The Three Sailors, Arthur Lucan & Kitty McShane, Elsie & Doris Waters, Cedric Hardwicke, Osmund Wilson, Cicely Oates, George Robey, Henry Hall and the BBC Dance Orchestra, Jack Holland & June Hart, Murray & Mooney, George Clarke, Bert Platt, Alec Dane, Norah Dwyer, Billy Bennett, Jack Hylton & His band.
RVP 13 1933 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: The London Palladium Crazy Gang, J. Sherman Fisher’s Palladium Girls, Omar, Billy Russell, Geraldo & His Tango Orchestra, Gaston & Andree, The Ganjou Brothers & Juanita Richards with Billy Hendrix, Aline Fournier and Vittorio Togo, Cardini, The Company, The Carlo Medini Six, Wilson, Keppel & Betty, William & Joe Mendel, Billy Bennett, Evelyn Laye, Jack Hobbs, Roy Fox & His band.
RVP 12 1932 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: Stetson, Christoper & Columbus, The Bells, Levanda and the Nine Diamonds, Billy Danvers, George Clarke with Madge Aubrey, Flanagan & Allen, Eugene’s Magyar band, Jack Buchanan, Will Fyffe, Errol Addison, Iris Kirkwhite, Nervo & Knox, Naughton & Gold, J. Sherman Fisher’s Palladium Girls, Lawrence Tiller Girls, G. S. Melvin, Jasper Maskelyne, Cicely Courtneidge, Jack Hylton & His band, Little Doreen, Harry Champion, Vesta Victoria, Fred Russell, Marie Kendall.
RVP 11 1931 LONDON, PALLADIUM
Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: P.L. Clark, Mona Grey, Norman Long, The Victoria Girls, Jack Edge, Debroy Somers & His band, Albert Whelan, Lily Morris, Georgie Wood, Dolly Harmer, Tom Blacklock, Mr. Flotsam and Mr. Jetsam, The Three Huxster Brothers.
RVP 10 1930 LONDON, PALLADIUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: Sixteen Palladium Girls, Harry Prescott & His seven Hindustans, Tom Payne and Vera Hilliard, George Clarke, Julian Rose, De Groot with David Bor, Reginald Kilbey & Gillie Potter, Max Wall, Chilton & Thomas, Howell Harger, Naldi, Nervo & Knox, Coram, Odali Careno, Totò, Will Hay with Will Hay Jnr & H. Gordon Saunders, Gaston Palmer, Jack Payne & His BBC band.
RVP 09 1928 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: Larry Kemble, Stanelli & Douglas, The Victoria Girls, A.C. Astor, Lillian Burgess, Noni & Horace, Victor Andre, Clarkson Rose, Anton Dolin, Gracie Fields, Will Hay, Jack Hylton & His band.
RVP 08 1927 LONDON, VICTORIA PALACE Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: P.L. Clark, Mona Grey, Norman Long, The Victoria Girls, Jack Edge, Debroy Somers & His band, Albert Whelan, Lily Morris, Georgie Wood, Dolly Harmer, Tom Blacklock, Mr. Flotsam & Mr. Jetsam, The Three Huxster Brothers.
RVP 07 1926 LONDON, ALHAMBRA PALACE Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: The Twelve Famous Tiller Girls, Dick Henderson, Robb Wilton, Lillian Burgess, Jack Hylton & His famous band, Conn Kenna, Carr & Parr, Bransby Williams, The Houston Sisters, Billy Bennett, Rick Hayes.
RVP 06 1925 LONDON, ALHAMBRA PALACE Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: George Hurd, Mr & Mrs Tree, Will Hay, Ethel Hook, J. Milton Hayes, J.W. Jackson’s Twelve English Dancers, G. H. Elliott, Will Fyffe, Nervo and Knox, Talbot O’Farrell, Harry Tate & Company.
RVP 05 1923 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: Bobbie Hind & His all-British Sonara Band, Rupert Hazell, Katrina & Joan, The Griffith Brothers, The Samurai with Lola Karsavina, Sessue Hayakawa, Lewis Gilbert, Ann Trevor and Dora de Winton, Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Brighter London with Billy Merson, Reg Sharland, Eddie Jaye, Bernard Dudley, Laddie Cliff & Rena Hall, Russian Blue Bird Players, Alfred Lester, Loie Fuller Band, Marimba Band, The Disorderly Room with Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, Tommy Handley, Jamieson Dodd, Cecil Bainbridge & Fred Kemp, Louis Parker, Barclay Gammon.
RVP 04 1922 LONDON, HIPPODROME Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V, HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY & HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF NORWAY Included: The Flemings, Will Fyffe, Kharum, Du Calion, Lorna & Toots Pound, P. T. Selbit, Muriel George & Earnest Butcher, Tom Webster, Arthur Prince, Harry Weldon, Trix Sisters, The Mirthful Jovers.
RVP 03 1921 LONDON, HIPPODROME Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: Frederick Sylvester & Co, Norah Blaney & Gwen Farrar, G. S. Melvin, Renee and Godfrey, Malcolm McEachern, Rebla, The Peep Show with Annie Croft, Reginald Sharland, Fred Allandale, Albert Darnley & Mary Gibbs, J. Milton Hayes, Billy Merson, The Five Petleys.
RVP 02 1919 LONDON, COLISEUM Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: Sir Edward Elgar & His Orchestra, The Flying Banvards, Ernest Hastings, George Robey and Violet Loraine, Sam Barton, Arthur Prince, Harry Tate, Clarice Mayne, Grock, Du Calion, Ethel Hook.
RVP 01 1912 LONDON, PALACE THEATRE Held in the presence of HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V & HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARY Included: George Robey, Arthur Prince, Pipifax and Penlo, Barclay Gammon, The Palace Girls, George H. Chirgwin, The Bogannys, Fanny Fields, Paul Cinquevalli, Harry Tate, Ida Crispi &Fred Farrn Vesta Tilley, La Pia, Little Tich, Alfred Lester, Clarice Mayne, Charles Aldrich, David Devant, Wilkie Bard, Harry Lauder, Cecilia Loftus. ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020 | 87
ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE 2020
THANK YOU
LAURIE MANSFIELD AND GILES COOPER WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND FANTASTIC CONTRIBUTION TO THIS EVENING’S SHOW: ROYAL HOUSEHOLD
Sankalpa Guniyangodage, Sir Edward Young, Hannah Howard, Julian Payne, Jonny Thompson, Trisha Windsor
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AGENTS / MANAGEMENT / PR
Lisa Thomas – Lisa Thomas Management, Molly Ladbrook-Hutt, Nirvana Chelvachandran, Becky Collins – Decca, Steve Anderson, Ste Softley, Phil Bowdery, Sarah Donovan – Live Nation, Hannah Ingram-Moore, Gemma Huddleston – The Captain Tom Foundation, Fiona Pearce, Sophie Arendt – Disney, Kate Morley – Kate Morley PR, Peter Taylor – Cuffe & Taylor, Bill Kenwright, Julius Green & Anthony Hollis - Bill Kenwright Ltd, Laura Ohnona, Joe Marshall – Lux Music, Rachel Drake, Peter Lorraine, Adam Klein – Fascination Management, Jessica Spaine, Claire Close – Polydor Records, Claire Dundas, Nader Dehdashti – YMU, Nicola Campostori & Alessandro Serena – Circo e Dintorni, Vivienne Clore, Shelley Devlin – Vivienne Clore Management, Jen Littlewood – Blue Book Management, Jo Allan - Green Fairy Productions, Pippa Evers, Chris Dempsey – Dawbell PR, James Hawkins & NHS Voices of Care and The Royal Hospital School Corps of Drums Display Team, Philip Welsh, Head of Tourism and Communications, Blackpool Council.
MARKETING / PHOTOGRAPHY / CREATIVE / SECURITY / EXTERNAL SUPPLIERS
Soho Media Group - Patrick McNamee, Anglo Digital - Liam Jones, Jam Chalmers, Spencer Phillips from Showtown Blackpool, Amanda Thompson from Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Arena TV, Creative Technology, DLM Events, STS, Plus 4 Audio, Potion Pictures, PRG, Scott Fleary, The Farm Group, Zen Broadcast and Bobby Warans, BCQ Group, Ally.
VENUES AND SPONSORS
Blackpool Winter Gardens - Michael Williams, Anthony Williams, Donna Molyneux, Lynda Baker and all the staff at the Opera House Blackpool, Blackpool Council - Alan Cavill, Mandy Tythe-McCallum, Greg McLenahan and Philip Welsh, Amanda Thompson, Tim Bailey and Fabio Vidotti from Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
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THANK YOU
ITV STUDIOS
Executive Producer – Fiona Clark, Director – Richard Valentine, Head of Production – Sue Dunford, Line Producer – Amanda George, Series Producer – Lawrie Jordan, Talent Executive – Mark Wagman, Assistant Producers – Kirsty Proffitt, Georgia Hunt and Amber Pyott, Production Designer – Peter Bingemann, Art Director - Emily Fain, Lighting Director – Dave Davey, Script Supervisor – Michelle Arnold, Production Manager - Gabrielle Houghton, Production Coordinator – Lizzie Cooper, Production Secretary – Bethany Miller, Production Runner –Jordan Cope, Costume Designer – Su Judd, Make-up Supervisor – Nichola Bellamy, Production Buyer – Bobby Warans, Camera Supervisor – Mike Callan, Sound Supervisor – Kevin Duff, Mark Ballard – Plus 4 Audio, Vision Mixer – Hilary Briegel, Video Editors – Mark Wybourn, Mark Goodwin, Damian O’Neill and Steve Rix, Senior Floor Manager – Roger Dempster, Technical Stage Director – Simon Bourne, Stage Managers – Caroline Caley and Sarah Whiting Gray, Production Accountant – Donna Ferris, VT Producer - Jamie Wiggins, Stage Director – Anthony Van Laast CBE, Musical Director – David Arch, The Royal Variety Orchestra and ITV Music Team.
ROYAL VARIETY CHARITY
Hon. Life President - Laurie Mansfield, Chairman - Giles Cooper, Vice-Chairman - Phil Dale, Treasurer - Ian Freeman, The Executive Committee (elected): Kay Carman, Pat Church, Dee-Dee Crosher, Paul Ganjou, Cheryl Garland, Valerie Garland, Fawn James, Martin Jones, John Logan, Vicki Michelle MBE, George Muranyi, Gordon Peters, Babs Powell, Robert Powell, Rev. Canon Roger Royle, Keith Simmons, Dowager Lady Westbury CBE. JP, Vice-Presidents (honorary title): Jim Davidson OBE, Roger De Courcey, Robert Earl Jnr, Bradley Walsh, Peter Jay, Stuart Littlewood, Joe Pasquale, Nick Thomas MBE, Life Governor (honorary titles): Lord Michael Grade CBE, The Dowager Lady Westbury CBE. JP, Cdre. RNR, Hon. Chaplain (honorary title): Rev. Canon Roger Royle, Management employed by the Royal Variety Charity: Finance Director – Martin Dalby, Matron of Brinsworth House – Tatree Preece RN, ONC, BA (HONS) MA, Administrator – Kirsty Bristow, Head of PR - David Pogson LVO, Operations Manager – Peter Hinton, Grants Officer – Sheila Powell, Clinical Lead - Suhasini Raja, Senior Nurse – Muriel de Silva, Events Co-Ordinator – Katie Boland, Events Assistant – Victoria Bond, Finance Officer – Myra Harte, Catering Manager – Henry Sheerin, Head Chef - Stuart Jones, Maintenance Manager – Joe Williams, Brinsworth House Staff: Alina Gurung, Anita Gasu, Anita Horvath, Anni George, Ariel Madronio, Caesalia B Fernandes, Cecilia Marston, Coral Campbell, Dawn Good, Deepti Uniyal, Dorothy Atkins, Dudi Dollani, Ecaterina Duda, Emese Juhasz, Emilinda Canlas, Estha Idahosa, Flona Brown, Geena Martin, Gemma Bishop, Golda John, Hawa hashim, Janice Stedman, Jill Curley, Karuna Kandel, Kate Geoffrey, Kay Howden, Kelly Ward, Khamar Hussein, Lena West, Malar Kavya, Manju Tamang, Mark Lester, Rachel Preston, Mary Walsh, Michele Wells, Millie McLeod, Mo Atia, Mohinder Panesar, Muriel De Silva, Patricia Smith, Pedro Barretto, Remelda James, Sheila Forde, Stewart Carmichael, Stuart Jones, Sue Amory, Winnie Ellis.
BROCHURE
Graphic design by Patrick McNamee at Soho Media Group Printing by Stephen Kirkham at Principal Colour This brochure is printed on ‘Heaven 42’ & ‘Arcoprint 1 EW’ and certified in accordance with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Copyright © Royal Variety Charity 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Registered Trademarks ® The Royal Variety Performance, The Royal Variety Show and the Royal Variety Charity are Registered Trademarks throughout the world, owned by the Royal Variety Charity.
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Patron Her Majesty The Queen Founded 1908, Registered Charity No. 206451 Life-President Laurie Mansfield, Chairman Giles Cooper www.royalvarietycharity.org