Season 83
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family.
The performance showcases a variety of family entertainment including comedy, singing, dance, magic and other speciality acts. The event is organised on behalf of the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund of which Queen Elizabeth is patron. All proceeds are donated to the fund.
The Royal Variety Performance traditionally aired annually in South Africa on M-Net on New Year's Eve. The show moved to DStv's BBC Entertainment channel for 2010 and back to M-Net and DStv's M-Net HD channel in 2011.
The 83rd Royal Variety Performance aired on M-Net and M-Net HD on Saturday 31 December 2011, at 21h45. The special was two-and-a-half hours long.
83rd Royal Variety Performance
The Stars head to Manchester for The Royal Variety Performance 2011.
Award-winning comedian Peter Kay hosted The Royal Variety Performance 2011 which comes from the birthplace of many of Britain's greatest entertainers, Manchester.
The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays played host to this gala evening in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
Peter Kay presided over the show which promised to be an unforgettable evening of the best UK and international musical performances, show-stopping theatre, comedy and speciality acts as well as a number of sensational surprises.
Tony Bennett and Barry Manilow, two of the world's biggest music superstars, jetted in especially for the Royal Variety Performance to give a one night only performance.
US X Factor judge and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and US singer songwriter Cee Lo Green took centre stage and lit up this year's Royal Variety Performance.
The very best of British talent and an international galaxy of stars from around the world of entertainment lined up to appear on the show, including:
Pop sensation Pixie Lott, Britain's Got Talent winner Jai McDowall, direct from Vegas the masters of magic Penn & Teller, record-breaking classical phenomenon Il Divo, Adam Cooper and the cast of Singing In The Rain in an exclusive performance ahead of its opening in the West End in 2012, critically acclaimed comedians Jason Manford, Greg Davies and Tim Minchin.
The star studded spectacular took place on 5 December, 2011. Previous shows have been hosted in Blackpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Liverpool.
As is customary, the event was staged in aid of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund. The money will help maintain Brinsworth House in Twickenham, Middlesex – the entertainers' retirement and nursing home which is run by the EABF.
The 2011 Royal Variety Performance was commissioned by ITV's Controller of Entertainment John Kaye Cooper and executive produced by ITV Studios' Lee Connolly and Fiona Clark.