Tenor Pavarotti joins royal show

Pavarotti will join stars including Busted and Daniel Bedingfield

Opera star Luciano Pavarotti will head the cast at this year's Royal Variety Performance, to be recorded for ITV1.

The show, which is expected to be watched by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, will also feature pop band Busted and singer Donny Osmond.

Chart star Daniel Bedingfield, jazz musician Jamie Cullum and Irish pop band Westlife are also expected to feature at the concert.

The show, at Edinburgh's Festival Theatre, takes place on 24 November.

It will be the 75th Royal Variety Performance, and will raise money for the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund.

Pavarotti's performance comes after the tenor, 67, recently admitted he wanted to retire in 2005 and become a singing teacher.

Other singers planned for the event include teenage New Zealand sensation Holly Westenra and former Miami Sound Machine singer Gloria Estefan.

'Honoured'

There will also be a special set from the cast of West End play Thoroughly Modern Millie, which includes actresses Amanda Holden and Maureen Lipman.

The show will be presented by the former SM:tv host Cat Deeley.

"The world's greatest artistes in entertainment have always supported The Royal Variety Performance. This year, its diamond anniversary, is no exception," said executive producer Jeff Thacker.

"We are honoured to have such prestigious guests gather for this special event."

Mr Thacker said the concert would have "something for everyone".

Laurie Mansfield, life president of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, said he hoped the show would "give Edinburgh a night to remember".

Last year's Royal variety Performance included appearances from pop singers Kylie Minogue and Will Young.