Real Variety Show

According to The Stage, "JLA's Real Variety Show is known throughout the entertainment industry as being the best in the business.” It has uncovered dozens of stand-ups, musical comedians and visual acts from around the world, and provided an industry ‘premiere’ for the likes of Bill Bailey, Dara O Briain, Alistair McGowan and Michael McIntyre.

THE REAL VARIETY SHOW - 2009

With possibly the strongest line-up in its 18 year history, this year’s Real Variety Show was a huge success. Over 800 event organisers and producers squeezed into Cadogan Hall to witness Mock the Week’s Hugh Dennis introduce a cornucopia of new talent. The next wave of British comedy was abundantly accounted for with Adams and Rea , Jon Richardson, Jack Whitehall, Shappi Khorsandi, Kevin Bridges and Alun Cochrane all providing belly laughs. Musical acts James Rhodes and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers added exciting flavours to old standards while football-freestyling Expansion Team and Strictly’s Fortuna and Rihanoff defied gravity in their own very different ways.

Watch individual clips from the 2009 show in the Video Gallery at the bottom of this page.

LOCATION Cadogan Hall, London

DATE SEPTEMBER 21 2009

THE REAL VARIETY SHOW - 2008

Rob Brydon, star of Gavin & Stacey, hosts the 17th Real Variety Show and pays tribute to fellow Welshman Tom Jones – with the help of Far From Kansas. The line-up includes Manchester’s Jason Manford and the Samuel L Jackson of the comedy circuit, Reginald D Hunter. This year’s top of the bill is the legendary Italian performer Ennio Marchetto, who thrills the Cadogan Hall audience with ‘living cartoons’ of everyone from Mona Lisa to Amy Winehouse.

LOCATION Cadogan Hall

DATE SEPTEMBER 15 2008

THE REAL VARIETY SHOW - 2007

Michael McIntyre and Frankie Boyle, two rapidly rising comics, demonstrate consummate skill in front of 850 event producers and organisers. Bruce Airhead takes the balloon act to new heights. Celloman shows supreme cool, and Lenny Henry struts his stuff with Poor White Trash; but the evening belongs to the Australian shadow puppeteer Raymond Crowe, who reprises the Wonderful World routine that made him a worldwide sensation on YouTube.