Royal Variety Performance viewers furiously branded new hosts Amanda Holden and Alan Carr ‘dreadful’ after they made their debut as hosts on Sunday evening.
The TV personality, 53, and comedian, 48, opened the show with a string of woke jokes, which many branded ‘awkward’ as they demanded the return of Bradley Walsh, 64, who presented the show in 2023.
The annual fundraising event saw a string of famous faces including Sir Elton John, Ted Lasso‘s Ellie Taylor, and Britain’s Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas perform in front of King Charles.
Alan began the Royal Albert Hall show, which was filmed back in November, by poking fun Amanda’s racy gown and declared it was ‘just on the right side of an Ofcom complaint’.
He continued: ‘I feel a great sense of comfort and security sharing a stage with you, well it’s a high profile event and if Just Stop Oil come at the stage, I can use you as my human shield.’
While Amanda quipped: ‘Well, good luck to them because I will end up being their first victim who ends up less orange.’
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Royal Variety Performance viewers furiously branded new hosts Amanda Holden, 53, and Alan Carr, 48, ‘dreadful’ after they made their debut as hosts on Sunday evening
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Racing to X fans fumed: ‘Are Alan Carr and Amanda Holden ruining the Royal Variety for anyone else, or just me?’: ‘We have hit rock bottom I see @ITV with the Royal Variety Carr and Holden? Just not funny. Why are they presenting: ‘Well Alan Carr and Amanda Holden are absolutely dreadful. This opening is so awkward’.
While someone else wrote: ‘Honestly, who thought Alan Carr and Amanda Holden were the right choice for this? They might be great at other things but the Royal Variety Performance needs presenters with the right balance of class and charisma. Bradley Walsh would have been perfect for the job’.
However not everyone was so negative, with one gushing: ‘Amanda Holden is so hot oh God!’
Another chimed in: ‘Talent on the Royal Variety Performance tonight is epic – Amanda Holden and Alan Carr, couldn’t ask for better presenters.#
While a third fawned: ‘Alan Carr and Amanda Holden are really good together.’
It comes after Amanda admitted that her daring outfit for the Royal Variety Performance could spark Ofcom complaints.
Known for her risqué fashion choices, she originally considered a Julien Macdonald dress with a plunging neckline and backless design for the glitzy evening, but ultimately opted for a metallic strapless gown with a winged neckline.
The strapless Lurex dress from Khaled and Marwin couture which retails at over £3,000 boasted a fitted bodice, a long column skirt and a huge embellishment front and centre.
Speaking to The Sun’s TV Mag, Amanda poked fun at her outfit, saying: ‘My outfit is definitely glamorous – hopefully nobody complains to Ofcom!’
It wouldn’t be the first time Amanda’s bold style has sparked complaints, with one dress worn on Britain’s Got Talent in 2017 leading to nearly 700 Ofcom reports.
Talking about their excitement of the evening and being in the same room as a Royal, Alan teased about Amanda’s curtsying plans and quipped that she might not be able to bend low ‘in that outfit’.
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Alan began the Royal Albert Hall show, which was filmed back in November, by poking fun Amanda’s racy gown and declared it was ‘just on the right side of an Ofcom complaint’
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The annual fundraising event saw a string of famous faces perform in front of King Charles
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Sir Elton John (C) and husband David Furnish (R) introduced the cast of his new musical The Devil Wears Prada lead by Vanessa Williams (L)
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CBB and West End star Marisha Wallace also performed
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Racing to X fans fumed: ‘Are Alan Carr and Amanda Holden ruining the Royal Variety for anyone else, or just me?’
Amanda also shared an embarrassing wardrobe mishap from her theatre days, recalling a moment when her dress slipped during a conversation with former Conservative Party leader William Hague.
She joked: ‘He was chatting away, looking me straight in the eye, and one of my boobs was hanging out!
But she reassured fans that: ‘Nothing will be falling out at the Royal Variety!’
Despite Amanda’s wardrobe leading to some controversial moments in the past, she has defended her racy fashion choices in the past saying: ‘Fashion is about taking risks. I encourage everyone to have a little fun and be a little daring. I’d be bored playing it safe.’
She also admits that her ‘sense of humour’ helps her to deal with the backlash.
Four years ago, the star explained that she has her own ‘committee’ of people that come down to check on her outfits before a show.
Although being mindful of viewers’ opinions, Amanda admitted that she ‘can see what people think’.
