The Royal Variety Performance 2020 18 November 2020 by Visit Blackpool The Royal Variety Charity is thrilled to announce that the Royal Variety Performance 2020 will take place at the Blackpool Opera House, within the Winter Gardens complex, on Sunday 29th November and will be hosted by Jason Manford. This will be the third time the Royal Variety Performance has been to Blackpool, having previously been held there in 1955 and 2009, both times being attended by the Royal Variety‘s sole Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. This year, the charity has continued to support current members of the entertainment industry with our own nationwide grants scheme, assisting many people who have found this year a particularly difficult one. Mr. Giles Cooper, Chairman of the Royal Variety Charity said: “The Royal Variety Charity is thrilled that the Royal Variety Performance will be held in Blackpool this year. We have worked relentlessly to ensure that we can produce a Royal Variety Performance in some shape or form to raise much needed funds at this critical time. We are honoured that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has recorded a message of support for our charity, which continues to assist those from the world of entertainment, both young and old, since our formation in 1908. In 2020 our grants scheme has continued to operate throughout the United Kingdom, providing financial help for those from the world of entertainment, in all its forms. The Royal Variety Charity is proud to have been of assistance to those working in the industry during this particularly difficult year”. 2020’s stellar line-up includes the inspirational and much-loved Captain Sir Thomas Moore who captured the nation’s hearts with his fundraising efforts during the pandemic. He will be joining forces from his home for an exclusive performance with legendary singer and entertainer Michael Ball who will be on stage at the Opera House with the NHS choir to perform their chart-topping anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Plus a special solo appearance by British superstar Gary Barlow. The evening will also herald the welcome return of musical theatre with an exclusive performance from the award-winning Sheridan Smith as Cilla in the heart-warming and spectacular Cilla The Musical and a mesmerising exclusive from Frozen the Musical starring leading lady Samantha Barks. There’s more music from Brit Award winner and rising star Celeste, singer and Spice Girl Melanie C and high energy choreography from the eternally popular Steps. Magic from much loved TV presenter Stephen Mulhern, a phenomenal performance from West End sensation Marisha Wallace as well as a high octane and jaw-dropping performance from Kenyan acrobats The Black Blues Brothers. Also taking to the stage with a specially composed and heart-warming performance, musical comedian and Britain’s Got Talent 2020 winner Jon Courtenay. Plus more comedy from stand ups Jo Caulfield and Daliso Chaponda. Jason Manford said: “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, so I hope that for a couple of hours on a cold Winter’s night in Blackpool, we can take people’s minds off things and do what us Brits do best; have a laugh. Due to the current national lockdown restrictions, we are now not able to have a live audience, and all the artists and crew will be strictly observing social-distancing and other safety measures. However, we are pleased to announce that a virtual audience featuring key workers, including NHS staff from the Blackpool region and Royal Variety Charity supporters, will be able to enjoy the show. As usual, the theatrical show will be edited for broadcast on ITV1 a couple of weeks later and then throughout the World, including several Commonwealth countries.