Barry Manilow and Tony Bennett on Royal Variety line-up

Barry Manilow will travel to Salford in the middle of an 11-date run in Las Vegas

US music legends Barry Manilow and Tony Bennett will top the bill at this year's Royal Variety Performance.

Pop stars Nicole Scherzinger and Pixie Lott will also perform, as will Forget You singer Cee Lo Green.

The performance, to be held at The Lowry theatre in Salford on 5 December, will be hosted by comedian Peter Kay in front of the Princess Royal.

It will be the first time in 20 years that the event has not been attended by the Queen or the Prince of Wales.

They have taken it in turns to watch the annual shows since 1991. The prince attended in London last year.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen receives many invitations and she cannot accept them all, and the Princess Royal is happy to attend this year."

Special celebrations are expected next year to mark the event's centenary.

Comedians Jason Manford, Greg Davies and Tim Minchin are also on this year's bill alongside operatic group Il Divo, magicians Penn & Teller and Britain's Got Talent winner Jai McDowall.

The show will be screened by ITV later in December. Tickets are available from the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, a charity that will benefit from the proceeds of the event.