Hello, Dolly! with Imelda Staunton | Jim Carter, Michael Ball and more hit the red carpet

Yesterday evening WhatsOnStage attended a star-studded opening night at The London Palladium.
Finally, the much-anticipated revival of Hello, Dolly! - led by two-time WhatsOnStage Award winner Imelda Staunton (Sweeney Todd, Gypsy), back on stage where she belongs - is up and running in a production that's been hailed as a "staggering spectacle of a show" in our glowing review.
We spoke to a parade of VIP guests on the red carpet (including Staunton's daughter and husband, Bessie and Jim Carter), alongside director Dominic Cooke and producer Michael Harrison, and were generally living our best Golden Age lives.
Check out all the highlights from the official opening in the video!
Hello, Dolly! runs at The London Palladium until 14 September 2024.

[@redtailights1721]

Saw it on 4th September. Absolutely fabulous. What a joy to come out of the theatre on a cloud instead of feeling wrung out. Imelda was stunning. She may be tiny but what a presence and what a voice. The whole cast is superb, the set...oh would love to work on a set like that, the colour and that West End glitter. We were in the royal circle near the centre back, not near enough to see all facial expressions but a fantastic view of the whole stage and didn't feel we missed a thing. Would like to go again to make sure😉Wonderful.

[@karenhibbert218]

Saw Hello Dolly last night it was spectacular. Imelda is amazing I could watch it over and over.

[@LouiseRandall-in5nv]

I absolutely loved this show. Brilliant cast! I went three times and would happily have watched it more! So much fun. Thank you! ❤️ I loved Imelda and Andy and the two young men who worked at the store!

[@evalynnchristiansen9430]

I so happy you got to attend 3 times -- I am envious. Imelda is simply amazing in anything she does.

[@LouiseRandall-in5nv]

@@evalynnchristiansen9430 She is! ☺️

[@michaellove4131]

Saw it 17th July… didn’t want to leave the theatre. I could’ve watched it all over again the whole thing just fabulous.

[@phredmadsen-vallee8375]

Just had the privilege this week to have wonderful seats in the stalls for this show... IT IS SPECTACULAR! Imelda and the entire cast are superb! Bravo!

[@lcharles5909]

Saw this today. It's absolutely stupendous. The whole cast and production are brilliant. I saw Ginger Rogers on Broadway in the role when I was a kid. Also one of my cousin's was one of the waiters! I thought Barbara Streisand was too young, although, of course, her voice was wonderful. Imelda Staunton had more of the style of Shirley Booth who played Dolly Gallagher Levi in the movie of The Matchmaker. Staunton has so much heart, and what a voice. Andy Nyman was great as Horace Vandergelder, and Jenna Russell, Harry Hepple, Tyrone Huntley and Emily Lane all have excellent voices and the whole cast are such talented dancers and performers. I loved the set Go see it

[@AmandaMiller-qz4iq]

Saw this show on the 21st August, absolutely loved it, Imelda was amazing and the rest of the cast. The scenery was fabulous with the help of amazing technology and the band were just incredible too! well worth going to see😀

[@бмд-г2н]

I cried when found out that Imelda was going to be in this production and I wouldn't be able to be in London in the summer of 2024. She's incredible 🥹🥹

[@merrylmarsh9037]

Imelda is stellar in whatever she takes on. Wish I could see it. Love from Australia !❤

[@lilliandowling8622]

I adored this show, everything was brilliant ❤

[@Jasonoakley-u7h]

Fabulous. Imelda was stunning. ❤

[@TrishJohnston-d1k]

Top class entertainment with an amazing cast and of course Imelda was absolutely stunning. Such a versatile performer. Didn't want it to end!

[@ezwriter101]

Jerry Herman and Carol Channing are beaming from heaven. I'm sure they love it!

[@ej3016]

first broadway show I ever saw was Hello Dolly - thanks to Carol Channing I fell head over heels in love with musical theatre - almost fifty years later and nothing much has changed - I still love musicals - for those of you able to attend this production: enjoy 🇨🇦

[@vickifriend9285]

Seen it three times now. I just love it

[@angelikakowalska2312]

It's amazing❤ I loved it and truly enjoyed. Imelda shines as Dolly. All casts, costiumes and set was fantastic

[@barbarataylor6338]

Saw it this week - fab u lous! Loved it and the cast greatly deserved their standing ovations, cheers, whistles etc.

[@Apw-h7h]

It is absolutely wonderful. The full cast and Imelda are just fantastic and for all I enjoyed Bette Midler in the Broadway revival, this tops it

[@georgecooper8776]

Just the very best. A truly memorable production and incredible performances by all the cast. Bravo

[@arthurhazeldine1887]

Go and see it! Was worth the wait! Loved every minutes.

[@ashleycase644]

It was a great show last night, well worth going to see.

[@missycruz]

It was absolutly awesome! The whole production and of course Imelda were absolutly amazing. Seeing her live was just such a dream come true. But all the others were awesome as well. An absolutly must see. It was worth flying in from germany for that. I would do it any time again.

[@rosecavalier5020]

she was amazing

[@dianesilva1078]

I'm going to see this show on Friday. Can't wait .

[@maril8501]

It was brilliant! Imelda is amazing!!!

[@E20Launderette]

I saw Imelda Staunton in Gypsy (3 times). She was dynamite!

[@JamieAdStories]

I absolutely loved it last night.

[@teresagaurgue7261]

Imelda is incredible

[@annh9225]

I would love to fly home to London, just to see Imelda on Stage!

[@TheGadgetPanda]

I was there that night. My second time. And I'll be going back. During intermissiion, the woman in front of me was busy celeb spotting, taking photos left and right. I did see Hannah Waddington, Jason Donovan and (I think) we had Derek Jacobi in my row,. Or someone who looked very like him. I hadn't even realised he was still alive.

[@RichardGallagher-vw5xr]

It kills me that I won’t be there to see the show. I hope it’s extended.

[@wigman6079]

Yes went to this show the gala ngt.opening ngt.great show.

[@cherylgibbons4574]

And a big thumbs up for Rae Smith who did the set design and costumes. Well done Rae ❤️🤗❤️

[@JulianChild]

Hat's off to the actors who didn't make it about themselves.

[@mariemurray3638]

Just what I was thinking!

[@clairejoicey7648]

As fascinating as it is listening to what everyone is saying, the best bit of this video is celebrity spotting in the background 😂 - Hannah Waddingham, Lesley Joseph, Gaby Roslin, Mel Giedroyc, Claire Sweeney, Zizi Strallen, Raquel Cassidy ... the list goes on haha !!

[@anthonypinto-p9m]

I've seen three of the four landmark NY stage productions of Hello Dolly. My favorite remains Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway production in the 1960s. They both brought great energy to the show and had terrific chemistry together. The tempo in the title number was juiced up some and Ms Bailey seemed genuinely thrilled to be back in the lights of 14th St and celebrating her return with old friends. She had perfect timing and took charge of the stage and everyone on it. As a bonus, after the curtain calls she returned to the stage and interacted with the audience. Ethel Merman was a little disappointing, she just seemed to coast at times on her Broadway Legend status. Whereas Ms Bailey marched onto the stage in the train scene giving orders, Merman literally made her entrance sitting on luggage on a Pullman cart. Bette was wonderful and owned the stage, but the production seemed a little more nostalgic.

[@maria-ceciliapeon5776]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@rosecavalier5020]

it was nostalgic

[@DavidJohnson-yq4nz]

Where is miss S

[@Tackonagain-d7u]

…..who is Sydnie Christmas?

[@johntomlinson6849]

I woner how many of them actually had to fork out for a ticket??

[@123malichi]

I thought Peggy from Hi Di Hi was dead😅

[@IanBHX]

😂 ah, she’s the President of The British Music Hall Society, took over when Paul OGrady sadly passed. She does an amazing amount of work still. But Subwill always be Peggy from Hi-De-Hi 😂

[@123malichi]

😅👍​@@IanBHX

[@groovydonkey]

These "VIP's" only went to see it because they were probably given free tickets so that doesn't impress me, but I am going to see it and paid for my own ticket on the 19th August.

[@theresamagee9014]

Two of the VIPs are related to Imelda Staunton. Several others are her co-stars in the Downton Abbey films. Michael Ball is an old friend of hers. Bully for you for buying a ticket, do you want a medal?

[@groovydonkey]

@@theresamagee9014 No not at all but as gong to see a show is so expensive, not only the ticket price,but the extortionate prce they charge at the bar.Why just because they are related or co -stars or old friends, should they get a free ride?

[@timothyfraser]

@@groovydonkey Oh shut up and enjoy the show

[@groovydonkey]

@@timothyfraser No I won't shut up. I have the right to express my own opinions/views on here. If you don't like it, you don't have to reply.

[@timothyfraser]

@@groovydonkey Like I said.... Shut up and try and enjoy the show through your bitter ignorant eyes X