The red carpet will be rolled out for the top names in entertainment and Her Majesty at the Royal Variety Performance next month.

But before that, here in Hackney, a different type of queen – half-cut and a round in hand – will be at the Hackney Empire.

The Un-Royal Variety is back on November 3 and 4 following last year’s sell-out success and so too is international drag star Jonny Woo – co-owner of The Glory.

Jonny will be doing his signature take on variety, helped by a rock band, a 30-strong dance troupe and the Kate Middleton Choir, created and conducted by Jonny and Richard Thomas, who scored Jerry Springer The Opera.

“This is the accumulation of 20 years working around the east London queer community,” said Jonny. “I held the 10-year anniversary of Gay Bingo at the Empire and as it is such a beautiful, historic venue traditionally used for variety shows, I wanted to host another extravaganza there.”