Queen Elizabeth II will be honoured at the Royal Variety Performance next month
(Picture: PA Archive)Queen Elizabeth II is to be honoured at this year’s Royal Variety Performance by the show’s host Lee Mack next month.
The comedian and actor, 54, will be leading a very special celebration in honour of the late Queen, who had a long association with the Royal Variety Performance, as he is joined by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gary Barlow and Gareth Malone.
Members of the royal family will be present at the show, and musical trio Lord Lloyd-Webber, 74, Barlow, 51, and Malone, 46, will perform a unique tribute to the Queen as they are accompanied by the London Youth Choir for a special version of Sing.
Speaking about hosting, Mack said: “I was actually going to buy tickets for this year’s Royal Variety Performance, so not only is it a real honour to be asked to host it, it’s also saved me a few quid.
“I now just have to work out the logistics of introducing these brilliant acts and also rushing back to my seat to watch them.”
The Queen attended the Royal Variety Performance, held in aid of the Royal Variety Charity supporting people in need, for years, and famously greeted featured stars backstage.
This year’s Royal Variety Performance promises a spectacular show, including outstanding performers, world class theatre, extraordinary singers and hilarious stars of British comedy.
Musicians set to appear are Disco Soul legends Nile Rodgers and Chic, Brit Award-winning artist George Ezra, singer Ellie Goulding, Eurovision star Sam Ryder and pop sensation Becky Hill.
There will also be an exclusive performance given by the record-breaking Cabaret musical cast, who received an incredible seven awards for their show, and Disney’s Newsies will also perform their Tony award-winning musical, which debuts in London later this month.
The star-studded show also features Hollywood actress Rita Wilson, who is performing a duet with Grammy Award-winner Gregory Porter, plus Frank Skinner, David Baddiel and The Lightning Seeds , who are set to get the audience going with their special rendition of hit song Three Lions.
Cirque du Soleil will return to the Royal Variety Performance stage as they carry out another death-defying display from their show Kurios, along with a nail-biting performance from Giffords Circus.
This year’s Britain’s Got Talent winner Axel Blake will also appear onstage next month.
