Annual Royal Variety Charity fundraiser hosted by Jason Manford at the Royal Albert Hall, with James Blunt, Andrea Bocelli, Idina Menzel and the cast of 'Billy Elliot the Musical'.
The Royal Variety Performance returns to the Royal Albert Hall on Friday 20 November, hosted by Jason Manford and attended by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. It's the annual fundraiser for the Royal Variety Charity and the world's longest-running entertainment show, staged since 1912. It first ran for the charity in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary, and has played almost every year since, moving between the Palladium, the Hammersmith Apollo and the Royal Albert Hall, where it marked its centenary in 2012. His Majesty The King is the sole Patron, continuing a royal patronage that dates back to George V.
The bill this year leans heavily into musical theatre. Idina Menzel returns as the original Elphaba to mark the 20th anniversary of Wicked, performing The Wizard & I with Stephen Schwartz. There's a West End preview of The Greatest Showman, the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical doing Electricity, musical theatre numbers from Avenue Q, and a medley from Jesus Christ Superstar led by Sam Ryder. The night also brings together the Royal Naval Association Choir with the Bands of the Royal Marines, the Irish Guards and the Welsh Guards for Operation Mincemeat, and the National Anthem led by Alfie Boe.
Beyond the theatre, the line-up is a broad mix. Andrea Bocelli returns 30 years after first becoming an international superstar, alongside James Blunt, Vanessa Williams singing Save The Best For Last, and Jack Savoretti making his Royal Variety debut. Mulaa Joans and the Hawkstone Farmers' Choir add their voices, while the Ramadhani Brothers and Veronika Ivanova bring Cirque Alice. Comedy comes from Milton Jones and Phil Wang. The whole thing is produced by Lifted Entertainment (ITV Studios) and broadcast in the UK and around the world over the Christmas and New Year holidays to a combined global television audience of more than 152 million.
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Proceeds go to the Royal Variety Charity, which supports Brinsworth House, its residential and nursing care home for elderly entertainers in Twickenham, as well as grants and mental health support for performers and crew out of work or unwell. The performance starts at 06:15 on Friday 20 November at the Royal Albert Hall.
