Hosts Amanda Holden and Alan Carr. (Image: Christian Vermaak)
Amanda Holden is teaming up with her TV hubby Alan Carr to host the world’s longest running entertainment show The Royal Variety Performance as it returns to the magnificent Royal Albert Hall in London for a spectacular evening, in the presence of His Majesty King Charles III.
The show will feature an award winning performance from singer Sydnie Christmas, the winner of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, who will be accompanied by Dave Arch and The Royal Variety orchestra and there’ll be plenty more stellar performances from the worlds of music, theatre, comedy and variety.
Elton John and David Furnish will introduce an eye-catching number from their brand new musical ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ with star Vanessa Williams and cast.
There will be an exclusive medley from Cameron Mackintosh’s eagerly awaited production of the much loved musical Oliver! and a jaw-dropping performance from the company of Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical Starlight Express.
With more music and making their Royal Variety debuts, this year’s Eurovision winner Nemo, treble Brit Award winner James Bay and disco Queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who will be performing her latest hit and much-loved classic 'Murder on The Dance Floor', will all be taking to the stage.
On the eve of their 50th anniversary, America's world class magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller will be flying in especially for the show, plus, presenter and magician Stephen Mulhern will be wowing the Royals with an incredible illusion.
As they celebrate their 40th anniversary, Cirque Du Soleil will be performing a world exclusive from their Vegas show ‘Ovo’, and the English National Ballet will perform ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ from their eagerly awaited Christmas production of ‘Nutcracker’.
Stand up comedy this year will be provided byEllie Taylor of Ted Lasso fame, political comic Matt Forde who will give a review of the year, plus writer and comic Scott Bennett and award winning Scottish comedian Larry Dean.
Set to make a very special appearance on this year's show is Lorraine Kelly with her Change and Check Choir led by iconic singing star Marti Pellow. They will perform 'Love Is All Around' which is celebrating its 30th anniversary and is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection.
The choir comprises women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Lorraine's trail-blazing campaign. They will also be joined by some surprise special guests.
The team behind the smash hit ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ will be debuting a sneak preview and the first public performance of their hilarious brand new West End show ‘The Comedy About Spies’ which comes to the West End next year. Plus, American actress and singer Marisha Wallace will perform a show stopping number and also lead this year’s National Anthem accompanied by the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Band of the Welsh Guards.
Alan Carr said:
“I am completely thrilled to be asked back to host the Royal Variety Performance so soon, what a compliment and an honour! To be able to host this magical evening with my best friend and tv wife Amanda Holden is the icing on the cake for me. If I have half as much fun as I did three years ago, well we are all in for a real treat.”
Amanda Holden added:
“It truly is such an honour to be hosting the Royal Variety Performance this year. I’m still pinching myself! This is a dream job and Alan is a true friend, we are already bursting with ideas and excitement, it’s going to be such a fun night! I’ve worked on Britain’s Got Talent for 18 years and have been so proud watching all our winners perform for the Royal Family. This year will be no different, so in the words of Sydnie Christmas, let’s av it!”
The event is staged in aid of the Royal Variety Charity. The money raised from the show helps those people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance and this year the charity has launched an initiative to help those with mental health issues.
The Royal Variety Performance, Sunday 15th December at 8pm on ITV and ITVX
Alan Carr and Amanda Holden meeting with Little Alan and Little Amanda who appear on stage with them.
The Royal Variety Performance 2024
Amanda Holden & Alan Carr Interview
How did you feel when you were first asked to host The Royal Variety show together?
Amanda: “I was absolutely over the moon. Alan’s done it before, he’s obviously a pro at it, but I’ve never done it and when I was asked I just thought, ‘Oh my God, Alan, please say yes.’ Because to do it together would just be a dream come true.”
Alan: “Yes, it makes sense because we genuinely have this rapport and are becoming a little double act. I have done it before and I had an absolute scream, so to do it with one of your best friends is just like a dream come true. It’s going to be double the fun.
“In this show, there are so many ‘pinch me’ moments and to share those moments will be great. Sometimes you’re in the wings and you have an out of body experience and think, ‘I can’t believe I’m surrounded by all these legends’, but to be in the wings with your friend and look at each other and take a deep breath and go, ‘wow’, sharing the magic is going to make it extra special.”
Amanda: “One hundred per cent. And we can share the nerves. I’ll have Alan to cling onto.”
Have you been doing anything to prepare?
Amanda: “We’ve both been practising our curtsies. We can go very low.”
What is your favourite genre of performance and who are you looking forward to seeing on the night?
Alan: “We love a musical, don’t we?”
Amanda: “We love a musical. So I’m really looking forward to seeing Devil Wears Prada. I was invited to the gala West End opening on December 1st but I’m out of the country so this will be a great sneak peak!”
Alan: “And Oliver!”
Amanda: “Oliver! Is my all time favourite musical. Every single song is a hit and I never get sick of Oliver!”
Alan: “It’s a traditional one as well. Everyone knows it. It’s going to make me feel very Christmassy.”
Have you met The King & Queen before?
Amanda: “Yes. I performed for King Charles at one of his birthdays and I’ve met him at various things. And Queen Camilla is patron of Battersea Cats and Dogs Home where I’m an ambassador, so she’s been down there quite a lot and I’ve met her.”
Alan: “I’ve met Queen Camilla at a charity do at Clarence House. We were introduced and the man went, ‘This is Alan Carr’, and she said, ‘I know who Alan is’, and I thought, ‘oo, she knows who I am’. She was really lovely and really down to earth and has a great sense of humour.”
Amanda: “They’re really down the earth and a little bird has told us that they have watched our show.”
Have you both any surprises up your sleeve you can tease us with?
Amanda: “There’re a few acts that you might see Alan and I appearing in. We can’t say too much but there will definitely be more than one appearance.”
Alan: ‘Yes, and the opening act, you might recognise a couple of people in that.”
Amanda: “We’ve been doing some very intensive training.”
Alan: “I’m actually fearing for my life. I’ve got an understudy just in case I die during the opening act.”
Amanda: “I hope there’s a crash mat in the orchestra pit.”
Alan: “It’s death defying. Well, for me it is. For normal people it’s ok.”
Will any of your friends or family be there to watch you on the night?
Alan: “My mum and dad. I mean it’s such an event isn’t it? And I remember sitting down with my family watching it, so it’s a real full circle to have my mum and dad there. And it just sets everyone up for Christmas.”
Amanda: “Yes, it’s perfect. My mum and dad will be there and my youngest daughter Hollie (Lexi is away at University). It’s so special for me to have mum and dad there, I’ve always phone them when I get jobs but this is just like the ultimate. They’re such royalists as well. It'll be a really special night.”
What are you doing for Christmas?
Amanda: “Me and Alan are having a Christmas dinner with all our families just before Christmas and then I’m with my family over Christmas and in Scotland for New Year.”
Alan: “I’ve got some lovely time planned with my family but I’m also really looking forward to a good rest with my rescue whippet, Rita.”
Of course, the Britain’s Got Talent winner is performing Sydnie Christmas, Amanda, your golden buzzer – if you did an act on BGT, what would your talent be?
Amanda: “Can I just say Sydnie is amazing! We’ve spent lots of special moments together this year. As Sydnie was my golden buzzer and won the show I’ve actually asked Simon Cowell for a holiday in the Maldives and a renewal of contract as a bonus! He said he’s thinking about the first one! But in terms of a performance on BGT… Mine would probably be a song and dance routine, a bit of tap, a bit of singing. Or sword swallowing.”
Alan: “I’d do beat boxing and street dance. Popping, locking and crumping. People would expect me to do jokes but I’d show a different side of me. A street dance side.”
The Royal Variety Performance, Sunday 15th December at 8pm on ITV and ITVX