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ITV has released the first on-air trailer for this year’s Royal Variety Performance, the annual fundraising event for the Royal Variety Charity.

This year attended by their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales, the 98th annual Royal Variety Performance is broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX this Sunday, 21 December 2025 at 7.05pm.

Hosted by Jason Manford, this year’s Royal Variety Performance took place on 19 November 2025 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and featured a number of West End musicals.

Watch the ITV trailer

West End Shows

West End shows performing at the event include Les Misérables, which celebrated its 40th anniversary with a 400-strong finale led by Michael Ball.

Also, Strictly’s Johannes Radebe sings a number from Kinky Boots the Musical, ahead of him bringing the show back to the West End next year; and Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure introduce the cast of West End show Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical.

Other special guest appearances include Stephen Fry, who appears as Lady Bracknell direct from his acclaimed performance in The Importance of Being Earnest at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.

Paddington at the Royal Variety Performance

Smash-hit new West End show Paddington The Musical is one of the big shows to perform this year at the Royal Albert Hall.

Paddington has now officially opened at the Savoy Theatre in London. Paddington reviews from the critics have been stellar, with five stars from the Guardian, Evening Standard, Daily Mail and more.

Their Royal Highnesses met Paddington Bear for the first time at the show, with Paddington and the cast performing live on stage. The musical is introduced to the audience by the musical’s composer and lyricist, McFly’s Tom Fletcher.

Tom Fletcher’s song ‘One of Us’ from Paddington has been tipped as a Christmas Number One.

Two people and a puppet. Royal Variety Performance 2025 - The Prince and Princess of Wales with Paddington. Photo Jonathan Hordle for ITV

Royal Variety Performance 2025 – The Prince and Princess of Wales with Paddington. Photo Jonathan Hordle for ITV

More photos of The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Variety Performance >

Laufey, Westlife, Jessie J & more

Music and entertainment acts this year include Westlife, Jessie J, Madness, Laufey, Harry Moulding, Tom Davis, Mick Miller, the cast of Dead Ringers, and America’s Got Talent winners Adrian Stoica and his dog Hurricane.

The Royal Variety Charity supports members of the entertainment industry with a nationwide grants scheme, supporting those who’ve worked or are still working professionally in the entertainment industry, but who are in need of financial assistance and other support.

Watching the Royal Variety Performance on TV

ITV broadcast the Royal Variety Performance in the UK, and the show will air on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday 21 December 2025.

Also see: Royal Variety Performance 2025 – What we know so far

Sign-up for news and booking alerts about these shows and more:
Main photo: Royal Variety Performance 2025 - Jason Manford (Photo ITV), Stephen Fry (Screenshot), Paddington with The Prince & Princess of Wales (Photo Andrew Parsons - Kensington Palace), Les Miserables (Screenshot)

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