Tom Cruise is the latest star to join the Coronation Concert line-up

Virgin Radio

29 Apr 2023, 16:05

It all takes place in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Sunday, May 7th.

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and Dame Joan Collins have been announced as some of the latest stars to feature in the Coronation Concert on May 7th.

Bear Grylls and Sir Tom Jones will join them in pre-recorded sketches to celebrate the crowning of the King and the Queen Consort. Speaking about the event, BBC director Kate Phillips said: "Against the stunning backdrop of Windsor Castle, it's going to be a jam-packed evening of memorable moments, that Their Majesties and everyone in the UK can enjoy."

The concert will take place in front of a crowd of 20,000 members of the public - as well as being broadcast across BBC television and radio. Other names will appear in pre-recorded sketches that are being billed as revealing little known facts about the monarch - including former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse.

Perhaps most exciting of all is the news that Winnie the Pooh will make an appearance that could match that of the Platinum Party At The Palace in 2022, where the late Queen shared tea with Paddington Bear.

Cruise, Collins, and the other celebrities join a billing that already includes Take That, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, Paloma Faith, Olly Murs, veteran rock guitarist Steve Winwood, Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls, Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Nigerian singer-songwriter Tiwa Savage, DJ Pete Tong with his Ibiza Classics project, and the teenage winner of The Piano TV talent show, Lucy.

Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor has also been chosen to deliver a spoken performance, which she said she would be "honoured" to do.

Last week it was announced that the King would be anointed behind a private screen during his crowning. The three-sided, embroidered screen will offer the monarch more seclusion than his predecessors enjoyed while the Archbishop of Canterbury uses holy oil to make the sign of the cross on the King's hand, breast and head.

About 150 people were involved in producing the embroidery, including some from the Royal School of Needlework, livery companies, and fabric firms.

But Winnie the Pooh, though!