The Royal Variety Performance: Who's performing, and all you need to know

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, attend the Royal Variety Performance which is to be aired from 7.30pm on ITV on Tuesday night (13 December).

Comedian David Walliams is set to host the annual event from London's Hammersmith Apollo in the presence of royalty.

The star-studded line-up is set to include Barry Gibb, Sting, Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow (should we be expecting a mini Take That renunion?), Emeli Sande, DNCE, OneRepublic, ABC and Britain's Got Talent winner Lance Corporal Richard Jones.

There will also be performances by the cast of the Beatles Cirque du Soleil's LOVE show, along with previews of Gershwin's musical An American in Paris, and The Girls, which are both set to open in the West End next year.

As always, there is a prime spot for the Britain's Got Talent winner, which will be magician Richard Jones this time around. We'll also be treated to a return visit from Diversity, the street-dance group who won the series back in 2009, for a special performance.

Walliams, 45, caused a few belly laughs when he made a spectacular entrance for the 2012 show, flying down to the stage with a jet pack strapped to his back like James Bond.

And it looks as though viewers should expect the same level of lunacy for tonight's extravaganza, as the comedian tweeted today: "The @RoyalVariety Performance starts with a bang tonight at 7:30pm on ITV."

In short, The Royal Variety Performance is an annual gala evening which celebrates the best of Britain's variety performers from across the arts. It is staged in aid of the Royal Variety Charity – and its patron is the Queen.

The money raises from the show helps those people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance.

It is always attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, and initially it was always the reigning monarch who attended. Now, other senior members go on behalf of the Queen, with guests in recent years including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Tune into The Royal Variety Performance at 7.30pm on ITV.