YORK cabaret queen Velma Celli, the alter ego of West End star Ian Stroughair, is moving next month's Basement residency gig from June 16 to June 8 to mark that weekend's York Pride celebrations.

"Please note, It'll now be on the Friday, June 8, the night before York Pride at York Racecourse," explains Ian.

Before then, Velma Celli plays The Basement at City Screen, York, this Saturday.

Since returning to London from his wizard time in Australia presenting Iconic – A Brief History Of Drag at festivals in Adelaide and Perth, Ian has opened his new show at The Aeronaut called Velma Celli’s House Of Drag. "I'm also back at my weekly residency at Café de Paris in London. No rest for the wicked!" he says.

Velma Celli's monthly residency in The Basement resumed last month. "There's a new impressions section and I'm even whacking in some Mariah [Carey]. It is time. Lots of belting comedy and, of course, show tunes," says Ian.

Further dates for the diary are July 14, August 11, September 8, October 13, November 10 and December 8. Doors for each show open at 7.30pm and tickets cost £15 at thebasementyork.co.uk or on 0871 902 5726.

Further afield, fresh from appearing at the Brighton Fringe Festival on Bank Holiday Monday, Velma Celli will be heading out on tour next month to play Leicester Curve on June 1; Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, June 22; Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, June 29, and The Broadway, Peterborough, July 6. A night at New York City's 54 Below awaits on July 20, followed by the Edinburgh Fringe run of Iconic – A Brief History Of Drag at Assembly from August 1 to 26 at 9.30pm nightly (box office: assemblyfestival.com or on 0131 623 3030).