Frozen The Musical, Marisha Wallace and Sheridan Smith for Royal Variety Performance

A host of musical performances have been confirmed for the Royal Variety Performance 2020.

This year’s show will be hosted by Jason Manford at the historic Blackpool Opera House in the Winter Gardens Complex, the first time the Royal Variety Performance has left London since 2011.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will deliver a special message to the charity and the artistes performing in the show, as he looks forward to this exceptional evening of entertainment.

The star studded spectacular will air on ITV on Tuesday 8 December 2020 in front of a virtual audience and following the latest government guidelines.

Confirmed performances include Frozen the Musical starring Samantha Barks as Elsa and the award-winning Sheridan Smith as Cilla in the heart-warming and spectacular Cilla The Musical.

Samantha Barks as Elsa in Frozen The Musical. Photographer: Matt Frost
Samantha Barks as Elsa in Frozen The Musical. Picture: ITV/Matt Frost
Marisha Wallace performing Picture: ITV/ Matt Frost
Marisha Wallace performing Picture: ITV/Matt Frost

West End singing sensation Marisha Wallace will also appear as will Michael Ball, joining Captain Sir Thomas Moore and the NHS choir to perform their chart-topping anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.

Further confirmed guests are Gary Barlow, Celeste, Melanie C, popular Steps, Stephen Mulhern, and Kenyan acrobats The Black Blues Brothers.

Sheridan Smith as Cilla performing. Picture: ITV/Matt Frost
Sheridan Smith as Cilla performing. Picture: ITV/Matt Frost
Captain Sir Thomas Moore joins forces from his home for an exclusive performance with legendary singer and entertainer Michael Ball on stage at the Opera House with the NHS choir. Picture: ITV/Matt Frost
Captain Sir Thomas Moore joins forces from his home for an exclusive performance with legendary singer and entertainer Michael Ball on stage at the Opera House with the NHS choir. Picture: ITV/Matt Frost

They’ll be joined by musical comic and Britain’s Got Talent 2020 winner Jon Courtenay, plus 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.

The event is staged in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, whose patron is Her Majesty The Queen. The money raised from the show helps those people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance.

About the author: Rachel Wise

UK based freelancer journalist Rachel contributes regularly to Stageberry with features and interviews from the hottest new shows and stage stars.