New Year’s Eve offers endless possibilities – some people will be celebrating by dancing at parties, while others prefer a quiet night in watching the celebrations on TV.
The BBC usually takes the lead in broadcasting live events like this one, and this year’s New Year’s Eve show will be hosted by singer Ronan Keating.
BBC Two is celebrating the new year with Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, a yearly music special. This year’s show features performances by Olivia Dean, Craig David, Heather Small, The Kooks, and more.
And if you need even more celebrity excitement, a New Year’s Eve special of The Graham Norton Show will feature Tom Hiddleston discussing the upcoming second season of The Night Manager, which starts streaming tomorrow.
Read on for more on our top picks of what’s worth watching on New Year’s Eve 2025.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (BBC One, 9:35am)
This charming and unusual 2021 film, which mixes animation with a documentary style, shows that even small characters can have big stories. It started as a series of fun, low-budget videos made by director Dean Fleischer Camp. The movie centers around a thoughtful seashell (voiced by Jenny Slate) who embarks on a journey to find his lost family, aided by his sweet grandmother (another shell, wonderfully voiced by Isabella Rossellini).
The film is incredibly touching, and Disney was so impressed that they hired Camp to direct their popular live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch. – Josh Winning
Kiss Me, Kate (BBC Two, 3:35pm)
This lively Cole Porter musical follows a theatre company as they prepare a production of ‘The Taming of the Shrew,’ filled with plenty of backstage drama and big personalities. Filmed at London’s Barbican Centre, the cast includes Adrian Dunbar – known for his singing on the ITV series ‘Ridley’ – who plays a rather vain actor and director.
Dunbar is overshadowed by Stephanie J. Block, who delivers a dazzling performance as his energetic former wife. Their playful, argumentative dynamic is enjoyable to watch, though audiences might wish Dunbar never says the phrase “Kiss me, Kate” – especially considering his return to Line of Duty and co-star Vicky McClure. – David Brown
Top of the Pops: Review of the Year (BBC Two, 6pm)
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Here We Go (BBC One, 8pm)
Look, family sitcoms are hard to get right, but this one? It absolutely nails it. It’s been quietly building a following, and for good reason – it’s a really solid comedy. If you haven’t met the Jessops yet, trust me, go back and binge the first three seasons on iPlayer – you won’t regret it. And for those of us who are already hooked, get ready to see what kind of New Year’s Eve chaos this family gets into!
New Year’s Eve 2025 (BBC One, from 10:30pm)
The New Year’s Eve Hootenanny on BBC Two (11:30pm) features a delightfully nostalgic lineup. Jools Holland will be joined by music legends like Ronnie Wood and Lulu, alongside popular artists such as Craig David, Heather Small, and The Kooks. The show also includes newer stars Jessie J and Olivia Dean, with Dean even performing a cover song from 1975 to keep with the retro theme.
Graham Norton is hosting a star-studded show tonight at 10:30pm on BBC One. Guests include Tom Hiddleston, discussing the return of ‘The Night Manager’ (tomorrow on BBC One), and Laura Dern and Will Arnett, who are promoting their new film ‘Is This Thing On?’, inspired by the life of comedian John Bishop. Carey Mulligan, Tim Key, and rising star Owen Cooper will also be joining him on the sofa. – Frances Taylor
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Authors
David Craig writes about TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, focusing on the best new shows on television and streaming platforms. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast for ITVX. He also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.
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2025-12-31 09:35