The Royal Variety Show will air on ITV on Sunday 15, hosted by Alan Carr and Amanda Holden – pictured alongside Little Alan and Little Amanda.
Here they tell Entertainment Now about why it’s still one of the biggest shows on television.
How did you feel when you were first asked to host The Royal Variety show together?
Amanda: “I was absolutely over the moon. Alan’s done it before, he’s obviously a pro at it, but I’ve never done it and when I was asked I just thought, ‘Oh my God, Alan, please say yes.’ Because to do it together would just be a dream come true.”
Alan: “Yes, it makes sense because we genuinely have this rapport and are becoming a little double act. I have done it before and I had an absolute scream, so to do it with one of your best friends is just like a dream come true. It’s going to be double the fun.
“In this show, there are so many ‘pinch me’ moments and to share those moments will be great. Sometimes you’re in the wings and you have an out of body experience and think, ‘I can’t believe I’m surrounded by all these legends’, but to be in the wings with your friend and look at each other and take a deep breath and go, ‘wow’, sharing the magic is going to make it extra special.”
Amanda: “One hundred per cent. And we can share the nerves. I’ll have Alan to cling onto.”
Have you been doing anything to prepare?
Amanda: “We’ve both been practising our curtsies. We can go very low.”
What is your favourite genre of performance and who are you looking forward to seeing on the night?
Alan: “We love a musical, don’t we?”
Amanda: “We love a musical. So I’m really looking forward to seeing Devil Wears Prada. I was invited to the gala West End opening on December 1st but I’m out of the country so this will be a great sneak peak!”
Alan: “And Oliver!”
Amanda: “Oliver! Is my all time favourite musical. Every single song is a hit and I never get sick of Oliver!”
Alan: “It’s a traditional one as well. Everyone knows it. It’s going to make me feel very Christmassy.”
Have you met The King & Queen before?
Amanda: “Yes. I performed for King Charles at one of his birthdays and I’ve met him at various things. And Queen Camilla is patron of Battersea Cats and Dogs Home where I’m an ambassador, so she’s been down there quite a lot and I’ve met her.”
Alan: “I’ve met Queen Camilla at a charity do at Clarence House. We were introduced and the man went, ‘This is Alan Carr’, and she said, ‘I know who Alan is’, and I thought, ‘oo, she knows who I am’. She was really lovely and really down to earth and has a great sense of humour.”
Amanda: “They’re really down the earth and a little bird has told us that they have watched our show.”
Have you both any surprises up your sleeve you can tease us with?
Amanda: “There’re a few acts that you might see Alan and I appearing in. We can’t say too much but there will definitely be more than one appearance.”
Alan: ‘Yes, and the opening act, you might recognise a couple of people in that.”
Amanda: “We’ve been doing some very intensive training.”
Alan: “I’m actually fearing for my life. I’ve got an understudy just in case I die during the opening act.”
Amanda: “I hope there’s a crash mat in the orchestra pit.”
Alan: “It’s death defying. Well, for me it is. For normal people it’s ok.”
Will any of your friends or family be there to watch you on the night?
Alan: “My mum and dad. I mean it’s such an event isn’t it? And I remember sitting down with my family watching it, so it’s a real full circle to have my mum and dad there. And it just sets everyone up for Christmas.”
Amanda: “Yes, it’s perfect. My mum and dad will be there and my youngest daughter Hollie (Lexi is away at University). It’s so special for me to have mum and dad there, I’ve always phone them when I get jobs but this is just like the ultimate. They’re such royalists as well. It’ll be a really special night.”
What are you doing for Christmas?
Amanda: “Me and Alan are having a Christmas dinner with all our families just before Christmas and then I’m with my family over Christmas and in Scotland for New Year.”
Alan: “I’ve got some lovely time planned with my family but I’m also really looking forward to a good rest with my rescue whippet, Rita.”
Of course, the Britain’s Got Talent winner is performing Sydnie Christmas, Amanda, your golden buzzer – if you did an act on BGT, what would your talent be?
Amanda: “Can I just say Sydnie is amazing! We’ve spent lots of special moments together this year. As Sydnie was my golden buzzer and won the show I’ve actually asked Simon Cowell for a holiday in the Maldives and a renewal of contract as a bonus! He said he’s thinking about the first one! But in terms of a performance on BGT… Mine would probably be a song and dance routine, a bit of tap, a bit of singing. Or sword swallowing.”
Alan: “I’d do beat boxing and street dance. Popping, locking and crumping. People would expect me to do jokes but I’d show a different side of me. A street dance side.”
