Tommy Cooper, a comedian who was always full of surprises, had a special one for the organisers of the show. After rehearsing his act, Robert Nesbitt checked with him that what they had just seen was exactly what he was going to be doing on the night. "It's going to run for five minutes?" questioned the director. "You haven't left anything out, have you? That's what we'll be getting?"
Tommy Cooper said that was what he was going to be doing. Imagine Robert Nesbitt's astonishment, then when, come the evening performance, Tommy went on and did just three minutes - something almost unheard of among comedians at a Royal Variety Performance in this era.
Tommy Cooper said that was what he was going to be doing. Imagine Robert Nesbitt's astonishment, then when, come the evening performance, Tommy went on and did just three minutes - something almost unheard of among comedians at a Royal Variety Performance in this era.
Norman Collier found himself £100 out of pocket when he was asked to perform on the show. He had been booked at another venue by the Black & White Minstrels for that night and in order to take part in the Royal Variety Performance he had to pay fellow comedian Derek Dene to take his place.