The special was the fifth most-watched programme on ITV that week.
During 1981, the fledgling Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) were only publishing the chart positions of programmes per individual channel, with no viewing figures attached. However, the Reading Evening Post (10th December 1981) reported that while the special performed extremely well in the charts, the first hour saw more viewers tuning in to the first and fifth ranked shows on BBC1: Back to the Manor (1981) and If Wet-In the Ballroom (1981).
During 1981, the fledgling Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) were only publishing the chart positions of programmes per individual channel, with no viewing figures attached. However, the Reading Evening Post (10th December 1981) reported that while the special performed extremely well in the charts, the first hour saw more viewers tuning in to the first and fifth ranked shows on BBC1: Back to the Manor (1981) and If Wet-In the Ballroom (1981).
This was the first Royal Variety Performance to use sponsorship to help with the costs of production.
This special was recorded on 23rd November 1981.
Various newspapers speculated over the Queen's reaction to Mike Yarwood and Suzanne Danielle performing a sketch as Prince Charles and Diana. While some suggested she was amused, other tabloids gave the opposite view.
Alister Martin wrote in the Daily Mirror (24th November 1981) that: "She sat stony-faced through a take-off of the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Variety Performance in London. [...] When the audience noticed her displeasure, it stopped laughing altogether. At the end the Queen clapped only for seconds. Charles and Diana were not present. After the show, at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, Yarwood was presented to the Queen. He said later: "Responding to something like that is very difficult for her. She has to be very cautious. If she didn't like it I don't suppose she would have told me.""
While the audience falling silent is not apparent on the broadcast, this could have been covered with canned laughter. However, the Liverpool Echo reported on the same date that the Queen had spoken to Mike Yarwood about it quite enthusiastically, asking: "Have you been impersonating my son for long? [...] I hadn't seen it before."
As Royal protocol would dictate the Queen's actions to a large extent - the Liverpool Echo reported that she did not applaud can can dancers - a lot of reporting regarding her reaction could only be speculation.
Alister Martin wrote in the Daily Mirror (24th November 1981) that: "She sat stony-faced through a take-off of the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Variety Performance in London. [...] When the audience noticed her displeasure, it stopped laughing altogether. At the end the Queen clapped only for seconds. Charles and Diana were not present. After the show, at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, Yarwood was presented to the Queen. He said later: "Responding to something like that is very difficult for her. She has to be very cautious. If she didn't like it I don't suppose she would have told me.""
While the audience falling silent is not apparent on the broadcast, this could have been covered with canned laughter. However, the Liverpool Echo reported on the same date that the Queen had spoken to Mike Yarwood about it quite enthusiastically, asking: "Have you been impersonating my son for long? [...] I hadn't seen it before."
As Royal protocol would dictate the Queen's actions to a large extent - the Liverpool Echo reported that she did not applaud can can dancers - a lot of reporting regarding her reaction could only be speculation.