(ROYAL) VARIETY IS STILL THE SPICE OF LIFE
THE nights are getting longer, the days are colder and The Royal Variety Performance is about to pop up on TV – with those three events lining up, it can only be one time of year.
Yes, that’s right, it’s early December, when apparently we all need cheering up by watching celebrity-laden programmes.
Variety used to be de rigueur back in the day, but apart from it forming part of, say, The Michael McIntyre Show, it tends not to turn up on TV all that often these days.
So, if you’re a fan of this cosily old fashioned form of entertainment, then this should be the highlight of your televisual year.
King George V and Queen Mary were the royal attendees for the first show back on July 1, 1912.
The King must have enjoyed it a lot because he said from then on he would attend an annual variety show provided the profits went to the Variety Artistes Benevolent Fund.
Now renamed the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund, it has enjoyed royal patronage ever since. Unfortunately, the event didn’t take place for 16 years due to the World Wars and various periods of royal mourning, but for the past few decades, it’s been a mainstay in our calendars.
This year, it was the Duke and
Duchess of
Cambridge who took their places in the royal box at the iconic London Palladium, where they were treated to an incredible evening featuring A-list talent.
The event took place three weeks ago, with Robbie Williams as the headliner. He was due to appear alongside Rod Stewart, who sadly had to drop out through illness, although Jamie Cullum joined the former Take That member on stage for an unforgettable duet.
Last year, cellist Sheku Kanneh Mason (some may remember his performance at the
Duke and
Duchess of Sussex’s wedding) wowed the crowd, and so he returned by popular demand, this time sharing the limelight with his equally talented six siblings who range in age from 10 to 23.
Also on the bill are Zurcaroh, an Austrian acrobatic dance troupe who, since becoming Tyra Banks’ Golden Buzzer Act on America’s Got Talent 2018, have performed all over the world.
Look out too for a supercalifragilistic appearance by the cast of West End hit Mary Poppins, including Petula Clark, as well as tunes from Harry Connick Jr, Emeli Sande, Lewis Capaldi and Mabel. Plus Hollywood star Luke Evans, who recently appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, exercises his vocal chords too.
There are laughs aplenty from Frank Skinner, Kerry Godliman and double act
Flo & Joan, while the evening itself is hosted by good pals Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.
And don’t forget to watch out for Britain’s Got Talent winner and Chelsea pensioner Colin Thackery in action too.
“The Royal Variety Charity is grateful to all the performers who are giving their time freely to support the charity at our main fundraising event of the year,” says Giles Cooper, Chairman of the Royal Variety Charity.
It’s certainly a mixed bag of entertainment, and those people who claim that variety entertainment isn’t their thing should think again, because with this kind of line-up, there’s something for everybody.