The children’s charity Variety has announced the winners of its annual Variety Club Showbusiness Awards.
Now in their 70th year, the awards were announced last night, 21 November 2022, at a glittering ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane, hosted by Amanda Holden.
The fundraising and awards event honours those who have made outstanding contributions to theatre, music, television, fashion and philanthropy in the last year.
Singer-songwriter Gary Barlow of Take That received the award for outstanding achievement in theatre and music. Gary is currently playing another series of his Gary Barlow – A Difference Stage concerts in London, this time at the Savoy Theatre until 28 November 2022.
West End star Beverley Knight was recognised for her outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Beverley recently starred in The Drifters Girl in the West End and Sister Act at the Eventim Apollo. She is about to star in new musical Sylvia at the Old Vic in London from 27 January 2023.
Judy Craymer, producer of worldwide hit musical Mamma Mia!, which is currently playing at the Novello Theatre in London, received the award for global achievement in cinema, theatre, and music for her work on Mamma Mia!
Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins picked up the inaugural Variety Club Duke of Edinburgh gold heart award for national excellence.
The awards also celebrated the BBC’s 100th year, and Variety Club’s along association with the BBC. BBC director general Tim Davie issued a statement ahead of the awards saying that: “I am delighted that the BBC will be celebrating its 100th birthday with Variety, the Children’s Charity, marking a centenary of world broadcasting.”
Chair of the Variety charity, Jonathan Shalit, said: “This year, perhaps more than ever, the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards, are a shining beacon casting a celebratory light on so much that is great about the UK in every sense, from cultural to charitable and from entertainment to endeavour. We are particularly delighted to be sharing our return to London after the Covid years with a BBC 100th birthday celebration, the world’s oldest and best-loved global broadcaster.”
The first Variety Silver Heart Showbusiness awards were presented in 1952 and they were first broadcast on BBC television in 1960.
