Following the success of the 1979 show and the financial benefits accruing to Amnesty from the spin-off movie, TV special and record albums – Cleese, Lewis and Walker planned the next show to be a more spectacular event. Cleese focused on broadening the comedic talent to be presented at the show. In addition to the Amnesty show stalwarts drawn from the Oxbridge/Monty Python/Beyond The Fringe orbit, he invited newcomers such as Rowan Atkinson’s colleagues from the BBC TV show Not the Nine O'Clock News including Pamela Stephenson and Griff Rhys Jones; comedian Victoria Wood and regional comic Jasper Carrott. Lewis secured a return appearance by Billy Connolly and a debut appearance by "alternative" comedian Alexei Sayle who Lewis had recently discovered and was managing. Building on the success of Pete Townshend's 1979 appearance Lewis recruited other rock musicians to perform at the 1981 show including Sting, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Donovan and Bob Geldof.
Rowan Atkinson
as Self - Various Roles
Jeff Beck
as Self
Alan Bennett
as Self - Various Roles
Graham Chapman
as Self - Various Roles
Eric Clapton
as Self
John Cleese
as Self - Various Roles
Phil Collins
as Self
Billy Connolly
as Self
Peter Cook
as Self - Various Roles
Sheena Easton
as The Secret Policeman Choir
Bob Geldof
as Self
Barry Humphries
as Self - Various Roles
