West End shows dominate Royal Variety line-up

Published Tuesday 7 November 2006 at 18:35 by Liz Thomas

Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow and Take That will appear alongside stars from West End shows Spamalot, The Sound of Music, Avenue Q and Wicked, at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.

The annual show, in aide of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund and now in its 78th incarnation, takes place at the London Coliseum on December 4 in the presence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Rocker Meatloaf will be making his Royal Variety debut singing songs from his new album and a classic duet with a surprise guest. Pop stars the Sugababes, the Puppini Sisters and James Morrison will also feature.

At the event BBC winner Connie Fisher and the Von Trapp children will perform a medley from The Sound of Music, while Doctor Who and Torchwood’s John Barrowman will put on a forties-style performance.

Comedians Ken Dodd, Omid Djalili and Jason Byrne will appear at the event, while other guests include Katie Price and Peter Andre, Paul O’Grady, Vernon Kay, Noel Edmonds and Patrick Swayze.