Every weekend more than a thousand performers - from cabaret stars to comedians, magicians to tribute bands - take to Scottish stages to showcase their talents. But what does it really take to survive in one of the toughest and most cut-throat industries? For the first time ever, we're going behind the scenes of the Scottish entertainment industry to reveal what it's really like to perform in 21st-century variety. How do you break into the big time? Can our stars earn a living from it? And is all the struggle worth it? Viva Variety goes backstage to explore the dreams and realities of those who burn to entertain. Welcome to the very real world of variety.

Scotland's showbiz circuit isn't just populated by performers who are on the way up dreaming of the big time, there are plenty of people who have had a real brush with fame. This first episode meets three Scottish performers who have had their moment in the spotlight - the granny whose break came late in life, the single mum who peaked early and the singer who wowed the nation in the most unexpected way - but once they've tasted fame, what happens next? Show less