West End icon Elaine Page says she is “incredibly honoured and humbled” by being awarded a damehood in the King’s Birthday List. In her first interview since receiving the special news, she admits she cannot wait for her special day at Buckingham Palace to receive her title.
The Memory singer also reveals she did not open the letter informing her of the honour until the day after it arrived, as she was busy prepping for a charity event. Elaine, 77, says: “It hasn’t changed me at all. I’m still just me, but to be made a dame, it’s thrilling. I feel incredibly honoured and humbled by it. It’s an acknowledgment of a life’s work in theatre, in music, with charities.
“To be recognised for doing something you love? That’s the greatest privilege.” The radio DJ is moved to be receiving the award partly for her long-standing ties to charity, and she is about to host her annual West End Woofs with Broadway star Bernadette Peters in London next Saturday.
But after a stage career spanning more than six decades with landmark roles in Cats, Chess and Evita, Elaine admits the moment did not arrive with ceremony. “I didn’t even open the envelope at first,” she says. “It came on a bank holiday weekend and I was busy prepping for a charity event.
“It said ‘Cabinet Office’ on the front, so I thought, ‘Oh, it’s probably an invite to an event at Number 10!’ I didn’t give it a second thought.” It was only the following day, when sorting through her post, that she took a closer look, then read the letter three times to be sure.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” she laughs. “And the hardest part was keeping it quiet. I couldn’t tell anyone, not even my closest friends. I felt like I was walking around with this massive secret. Honestly, it was like living a lie!”
She has not yet received the date for her ceremony at the Palace: “I don’t know when it’ll be. I think they’ve still doing ceremonies for people from the New Year’s list, so it might be later in the year. But yes, I’ll need to find a hat, maybe with a
butterfly on it.”
And she is excited by the prospect of being presented with her honour from King Charles, as he is a passionate backer of the arts: “The late Queen loved music and the King has always been so supportive of the arts community. He’s a great advocate and he has a marvellous sense of humour, too. I think he’s a wonderful man.”
This year the I Know Him So Well singer, who presents Elaine Page on Sunday on BBC Radio 2, celebrated her 60th year in show business with a tribute concert at the London Palladium, as well as an hour -long interview with Zoe Ball for BBC Four. She says: “I love doing the radio show. It keeps me connected to the world of musicals and performers.”
Until she gets the date for her investiture, her focus will be on West End Woofs, which aims to rehome dogs and cats, while raising funds for charities. Elaine says: “It started as a virtual event in lockdown – now it’s grown into a brilliant live show.” The event brings together West End stars and rescue charities to help match animals with new owners.
Cast members from Hamilton, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and more will appear alongside Wayne Sleep, Joanna Riding and Robert Lindsay. Elaine adds of the event: “We’ve got so many lovely animals from places like All Dogs Matter, Fetcher Dogs, Peterborough Cat Rescue and Home Run Hounds.
“They’ve often been abandoned or overlooked, and all they want is a second chance.”
●West End Woofs will be staged at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, central London on Saturday August 9 from 10am. Entry is £5, with all proceeds going to participating charities. For more details visit westendwoofs.dog
