Royal Variety Performance dragging its feet on female comics

UK producers have announced the line-up of the 2016 Royal Variety Performance which will see the Prince Of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall entertained by the likes of Alan Davies, Joe Lycett, Rob Beckett and host David Walliams.

However as comic and actress Sandy Foster has pointed out on social media it’s “an all-male line-up” for comedians.

Chortle reports that only two female stand-ups have appeared in the 20 Royal Variety shows from 1997 to 2016 – Sarah Millican in 2010 and 2014 and Catherine Tate in 2005.

In the same time, three drag acts have appeared: Barry Humphries as Dame Edna in 2013; Peter Kay as talent show contestant Geraldine McQueen in 2008, and Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage in 1998.

Extending the range to 30 shows levels the playing field adding Joan Rivers in 1996 and Rita Rudner in 1992; but also drag act Hinge and Bracket in 1989.

A woman has not hosted the show since Cat Deeley in 2003.

Sting, Robbie Williams, Emeli Sande, Sheridan Smith, Barry Gibb, One Republic, DNCE and Gary Barlow, will also perform on December 6 at the Hammersmith Apollo.