ON NEW Year’s Eve, all eyes are on the programmes prior to the midnight as we prepare to welcome in 2024.
And there are two main choices if you want to see the ‘changing of the years’ on the box.
The first is Jools’ Annual Hootenanny (11.30pm, BBC Two) which has always proved popular – artists on the bill this year include Rod Stewart, Joss Stone and Olivia Dean. Former Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones and soul artist PP Arnold look back at their 1960s hits and Arnold also pays tribute to Tina Turner. Reformed girl band The Sugarbabes play hits old and new, Irish folk outfit the Mary Wallopers provide their take on Irish ballads and pay tribute to Pogues legend Shane MacGowan who passed away this year. Others taking centre stage are R&B artist Ruby Turner and the Pipes and Drums of the First Battalion Scots Guards.
In a Beeb head-to-head, The Graham Norton Show of the Year (10.25pm, BBC One) sees the Irish comedian joined by a host of stars, including Hollywood stars Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo, Claudia Winkleman, Nadiya Hussein and Rob Brydon. At 11.30pm, Rick Astley Rocks New Year’s Eve (also BBC One) sees the 1980s pop star joined by stars to see out 2023.
At midnight, if you stay with BBC One, you can see the New Year’s Eve fireworks from the banks of the River Thames in London. Rick Astley then picks up the baton again at 12.10am and he and his guests continue to ‘rock into 2024’.
And, at 12.40am, there is another chance to see Elton John’s memorable Glastonbury performance from earlier this year. The legend belted out hits including Rocket Man, Your Song and more.
Josh Widdicombe, Suzi Ruffell, Alex Brooker, Adam Hills, Ed Gamble, Judi Love, Sean Walsh, Kiell Smith Bynoe – The Last Leg of the Year. Picture by Channel 4. sThe Last Leg of the Year (9pm, Channel 4) where Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker are joined by Richard Osman, Suzi Ruffell, Seann Walsh and others for a satirical look back at the last 12 months and look forward to 2024 – all through satirical sketches, raucous debate and silly songs.
And, if you want some nostalgia, The Beatles and the BBC (9.25pm, BBC Two) is well worth a watch. It looks at the early years when the Fab Four would give plenty of interviews and performances to the Beeb as they went from strength-to-strength. As well as an interesting look at arguably Britain’s best musical export, it also comes at the end of a year where The Beatles enjoyed a number one single, thanks to a remastered version of previously unreleased song ‘Now and Then’.
