Royal Variety Performance 2023 FIRST LOOK: Hannah Waddingham, 49, takes to the stage in a gorgeous gold gown while leather-clad Cher, 77, belts out her new single at the annual event

Hannah Waddingham joined music superstar Cher as they both took to the stage in a first look clip at this year’s star-studded Royal Variety Perfomance at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The British actress, 49, looked sensational in a gorgeous gold gown as she performed a breathtaking rendition of the classic carol Oh Holy Night.

Hannah’s sparkly frock hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure while entertaining the audience with her incredible vocals.  

Meanwhile Cher, 77, looked her usual youthful and stylish self a black leather corset and sparkly trousers.

Joined by leggy backing dancers the music icon oozed confidence as she strutted around the stage belting out her latest festive release DJ Play a Christmas Song. 

Hannah Waddingham, 49, (pictured) joined music superstar Cher as they both took to the stage in a first look clip at this year’s star-studded Royal Variety Perfomance at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Joined by leggy backing dancers Cher, 77 (centre) oozed confidence as she strutted around the stage belting out her latest festive release DJ Play a Christmas Song

This year’s concert, which was filmed last month, will be hosted by Bradley Walsh and air on ITV and ITV Sunday 17th December at 8pm.

With the event held in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince and Princess of Wales and The Crown Princess and Prince Daniel of Sweden.

Other musical guests  include Paloma Faith, Rick Astley, Zara Larsson and McFly, as well as Spice Girls’ Mel C who will be performing a very special tribute to late theatre producer Bill Kenwright.

The show will also include a  100th Anniversary celebration from Disney Theatrical, showcasing a medley from musicals The Lion King, Frozen, Aladdin, Hercules and Beauty & The Beast.

Stand-up will come from the likes of Tom Allen and Ellie Taylor while Simon Cowell will introduce Britain’s Got Talent latest winner comedian Viggo Venn.

Host Bradley said: ‘I am so excited to be presenting this year’s show. It’s been 30 years this year since I first performed at The Royal Variety Performance, so what an absolute honour to be hosting’. 

‘The line-up is incredible and I can’t wait for you all to see what I have in store.’

The event is staged in aid of the Royal Variety Charity with  money raised from the show helps those people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance.

The British actress looked sensational in a gorgeous gold gown as she performed a breathtaking rendition of the classic carol Oh Holy Night

Hannah’s sparkly frock hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure while entertaining the audience with her incredible vocals

The Ted Lasso star beamed as she took to the famous stage 

Meanwhile Cher (C) looked her usual youthful and stylish self a black leather corset and sparkly trousers

The songstress will perform a string of songs from her new festive album entitled Cher Christmas  

Her dancers dazzled in spakrly mini dresses and knee-high boots

This year’s host Bradley Walsh joined Cher on stage after her incredible peformance 

It comes after Hannah  detailed being bullied when she was at school because of her height.

The actress  who is 5ft 11in tall, recalled how she was ‘quite shy’ when she was in school and suffered with ‘terrible’ bullying.

She shared that she was teased by her classmates for being taller than them as she gave out a defiant message to her school bullies.

Speaking on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she said: ‘I was properly bullied. I got it terrible. I was quite shy, we’re called introverted extroverts that’s what it is. 

‘They used to tease me about my height when they were much much smaller but… in your face… look at me now!’

Hannah has skyrocketed to global fame in recent years, securing roles on Ted Lasso, Game of Thrones and Sex Education, and went on to host Eurovision this year.

Host Bradley said: ‘I am so excited to be presenting this year’s show. It’s been 30 years this year since I first performed at The Royal Variety Performance, so what an absolute honour to be hosting’

Other musical guests include Paloma Faith, Rick Astley, Zara Larsson and McFly, as well as Spice Girls’ Mel C (pictured) who will be performing a very special tribute to late theatre producer Bill Kenwright.

With event was held in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince and Princess of Wales (pictured) and The Crown Princess and Prince Daniel of Sweden 

But before finding fame on the big screen, Hannah starred in West End musicals including Into the Woods and The Wizard of Oz, and returned to her singing roots in her Apple+ special Home For Christmas.

Hannah – who has a daughter Kitty, nine, from a previous relationship – admitted she became overcome with emotion performing festive classics at the London Coliseum, where her opera singer mother Melodie Kelly used to perform.

Hannah recalled: ‘My mum was a mezzo-soprano opera singer at the London Coliseum for 30 years. I know that building…from being a little kid at the age of eight until she retired when I was 38.’

‘It was amazing to be back there and for one of the songs I do, O Holy Night, the International Opera heard I was going to be there for a special and they offered to come to sing with me,’ she went on.

‘Some of them are still there who were there when my mum was there so that was pretty emotional.’

The Royal Variety Perfomance is on ITV and ITVX  Sunday 17th December at 8pm

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