The Royal Variety Performance 2024's biggest moments from Ofcom joke to Sydnie Christmas complaints

On Sunday, December 15, the Royal Variety Performance dominated the evening programming on ITV1, with King Charles III making an appearance by himself while Queen Camilla stayed home to recuperate from her illness.

Held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, this star-studded annual event featured a lineup of talented performers, including Elton John, Penn & Teller, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Stephen Mulhern, and Cirque Du Soleil. The show also showcased Britain's Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas and Eurovision contestant Nemo, along with cast members from the London productions of Starlight Express, The Devil Wears Prada, and Oliver!

Here are the highlights from the RVP...

The opening section referenced Amanda Holden's past complaints to Ofcom (as shown in the ITV1 screenshot).

The evening's hosts, Alan Carr and Amanda Holden, kicked things off with a lively exchange that set a great tone for the event.

"We might want to let go of each other’s hands now; folks might assume you’re looking after me," Carr suggested after intertwining their fingers in front of the audience. "Or even worse, they might believe we've emerged as champions of a really underwhelming season of Love Island," joked Holden.

That’s when the Chatty Man himself couldn’t resist making a playful jab, remembering all the Ofcom complaints that had been aimed at his co-star’s outfits while they judged BGT over the years.

“Oh Amanda, you really aren’t my kind of person—either in writing or in reality! However, I must admit, your dress is stunning! Just daring enough to raise an eyebrow!” he remarked.

Going along with the conversation, Holden said, "That's a letdown..."

Stephen Mulhern Honors Late Father With Magic Show

Stephen Mulhern, the magician and television host, performing on stage (screenshot from ITV1).

TV magician Mulhern made an appearance at the RVP, bringing along his signature lighthearted act. He included three different illusions that left the audience at the Royal Albert Hall completely bewildered.

In his first act, the 47-year-old appeared to rip a newspaper into numerous shreds, only to astonishingly show it in its complete, untouched state moments later. He then invited Carr and Holden to join in—making a cup of orange juice vanish from above Carr's head before lifting Holden into the air.

As he took his long-awaited bow at the end of the show, Mulhern exclaimed, "That was for you, Dad!" in tribute to his late father, Christopher Mulhern.

Fans Disappointed By Sydnie Christmas's Song Choices

Sydnie Christmas performed the song "Believer" by Imagine Dragons (screenshot from ITV1).

After winning BGT 2024, singer Christmas performed a rendition of the 2017 song "Believer" by Imagine Dragons. However, fans on the social media platform X expressed that the song might not fit her unique style.

One user expressed disappointment, saying, "Sydnie Christmas didn’t perform my favorite song." This likely referred to her earlier performances of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and Frank Sinatra's "My Way."

"That was a really disappointing song choice for Sydnie Christmas. It was such a letdown compared to her previous performances on BGT," one tweet noted. Another person chimed in, saying, "That song wasn't the best fit for Sydnie Christmas."

I'm curious why, after establishing Sydnie Christmas as a musical theatre performer on BGT, they chose to have her perform a song by Imagine Dragons for her major moment in front of the King.

She has an amazing voice, but that particular song just didn't work. #RoyalVarietyPerformance

— Mica Blackwell (she/her) (@INA_TheatreSnob) December 15, 2024

At least the feedback wasn't entirely negative, as you can see in the comments below.

Matt Forde's Risqué Take On UK PM

Matt Forde, known for his role in Spitting Image, showcased a range of impersonations (screenshot from ITV1).

Matt Forde, known for his work on Spitting Image, entertained both the audience and those watching with a variety of hilarious impersonations. He expertly mimicked figures like Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Boris Johnson, US President-elect Donald Trump, and Rishi Sunak, leaving everyone in stitches.

The memorable highlight came when he characterized Starmer's "unique, nasal, tight-lipped voice" and speculated on how he would market his skills in the intimate realm.

Amanda Holden's heartfelt encounter with Sydnie Christmas, the champion of Britain's Got Talent.

Guest judge KSI on Britain's Got Talent stirs up a lot of excitement and vows to play the role of the antagonist.

Amanda Holden believes that a contestant from Britain's Got Talent has the potential to become the next Stephen Mulhern.

"My friend remarked, 'He can't really bring the charm, can he?'" Forde shared with everyone. "What does that even imply? If you had to choose between two politicians for a night of romance, would you go for [Johnson or Starmer]?"

After nailing his spot-on, all-over-the-place impression of Johnson, the comedian continued with, "Do you pick the person who says, 'I’m not making any guarantees, but I plan to meet your needs as thoroughly as I can within the time we have'?"

Penn & Teller Fall Short Of Expectations

The iconic magicians Penn and Teller included Vanessa Williams in their performance (screenshot from ITV1).

Las Vegas legends Penn and Teller made a brief appearance with Vanessa Williams later in the lineup.

Nevertheless, many fans took to social media to express their disappointment with the magic trick. They weren't impressed by the act of destroying Williams's credit card, only to have it magically reappear inside a burger box that was sealed in a trash bin.

Following such lofty expectations, their lackluster performance received widespread criticism. Take a look for yourself...

I was a bit let down by Penn & Teller; it felt like their performance was thrown together in just five minutes. Maybe that’s why it lasted about that long. #RoyalVarietyPerformance

Certainly! Here’s a rephrased version of the blog section: — Claire (@XxLadyClaireXx) December 15, 2024

Amy Dowden Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness On Strictly

Claire Sweeney and Amy Dowden joined in on a huge singalong event (screenshot from ITV1).

At the conclusion of the RVP, special guests including Amy Dowden, Claire Sweeney, Penny Lancaster, Shaun Dooley, and Sally Dynevor made an appearance. They helped promote awareness for the early detection of breast cancer in collaboration with Lorraine Kelly, Marti Pellow, and the Change and Check Choir. Together, they are re-releasing "Love Is All Around" by The Troggs to support a charitable campaign.

A large crowd of them came up on stage to perform it live and join in with applause.

Dowden battled breast cancer and returned to participate in this year's edition of Strictly Come Dancing. However, her comeback took a hit a few weeks later when she had to withdraw due to an injury.

The 2024 Royal Variety Performance was broadcast on ITV1.