the Royal Variety Performance
LEE RIDLEY, aka lost Voice Guy, performs for the duke and duchess of sussex
ENTERTAINMENT ITV HD, 7.30pm Greg Davies hosts this year’s show from the London Palladium where Take That and Rick Astley will be among those performing.
COMEDIAN LEE RIDLEY, best known as Lost Voice Guy, shot to fame in June when he triumphed on this year’s Britain’s Got Talent after winning the votes, and hearts, of the nation with his hilarious stand-up routine.
Since then, Ridley’s life has been a whirlwind and, this week, he will be one of the performers taking to the stage at the London Palladium in front of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan.
Here, 37-year-old Ridley, who has a neurological form of cerebral palsy and communicates using a text-to-speech app on an ipad, reveals why it’s a dream come true…
DID YOU WATCH THE Royal Variety Performance AS A CHILD? Yes, we always watched it together as a family when I was little, so it has some very special memories for me. A lot of my heroes have performed on that stage at the London Palladium, so it’s amazing to be following in their footsteps.
CAN YOU HINT AT WHAT YOUR ROUTINE WILL INVOLVE? It will be cheeky, mischievous but most of all funny. There may be one or two jokes especially for the Duke and Duchess; I can’t wait to meet them. They’re definitely the coolest royals at the moment.
TAKE THAT, RICK ASTLEY AND THE CAST OF Hamilton ARE SOME OF THE PERFORMERS TAKING PART. WHO ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT MEETING? Take That! I’m secretly hoping they’ll let me be the new Robbie Williams and we can have a No.1 hit together. I’ve got a great singing voice, after all! And I’m excited about meeting Greg Davies, who’s hosting. I love his stand-up. HOW NERVOUS WILL YOU BE ON STAGE? It’s going to be a nerve-racking experience – never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be performing in front of the Royal Family. It’s been a great year for me and this is going to be the icing on the cake. I just hope I don’t hit the wrong button and swear in front of Harry and Meghan.
HOW HAS WINNING Britain’s Got Talent CHANGED YOUR LIFE? Massively! Winning the show has opened a lot of doors for me. I’m going on a big UK tour next year and I’m also writing a book called I’m Only in It for the Parking, which has always been a dream of mine. Next year is going to be even busier. I’m writing another series of my Radio 4 sitcom Ability. I just hope my batteries don’t run out in between all of that.
WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY TO YOU WHEN THEY SEE YOU OUT AND ABOUT? I get recognised a lot, especially in my home city of Newcastle. Mostly it’s people asking for selfies and congratulating me on my success. I’m really flattered by it all.