[Ammi]

There’s only one place to be on New Year’s Eve, and that’s in front of the box with a tipple of choice while watching Jools Holland.


This year’s guests include a man whose musical career has been nothing if not diverse.

Back in the 1960s, Ray Davies waxed lyrical about that Waterloo Sunset, the feel-good Sunny Afternoon, and a string of other classics.

Without Ray, there’s a good chance Blur’s ‘Mockney’ ditties would never have happened, while Paul Weller and countless other artists would have taken their own work in different directions.

In 1989, while Kirsty MacColl enjoyed chart success with a version of Davies’ Days, Coldcut stormed the charts with People Hold On.

Coldcut may be residing in the “where are they now?” file, but Lisa Stansfield, who dominated that track, is still going strong.

The same year her solo album Affection caught the imagination of millions worldwide, thanks to tracks such as This is the Right Time and All Around the World.

Follow-up album Real Love was on CD decks everywhere, and many thought she could be the next big movie star.

However, while she may had the looks and vocal range to challenge any Hollywood diva, the likeable movie Swing failed to wow the masses.

It didn’t help that she suffered the sort of health problems many thought were reserved for sci-fi films.

When her weight dropped to seven stone, some thought she had an eating disorder, but the truth was Lisa was allergic to her own saliva.

Yes, when it comes to bizarre facts about pop stars, that’s up there with the best of them.

Now the pride of Rochdale makes a welcome appearance in the studio to add a touch of northern class to the proceedings.

Riding high on the success of the Sunshine on Leith movie, the Proclaimers will also be performing.

Will they give us a rendition of crowd-pleaser 500 Miles?

You’ll have to wait and see.

After last year’s Olympics performance, the Spice Girls show little sign of recording new material in the near future. However, Melanie C is still a force to be reckoned with, and has made a new name for herself as an impressive stage star.

She picked up a couple of nominations for her turn in Blood Brothers, and more recently has been wowing the masses in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Ms Chisholm will be spicing up our life, along with Jamaican vocalist Dawn Penn and Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson.

And if that lot isn’t enough to leave you tapping your foot, there’s always Rudimental; the Lumineers; soul star Laura Mvula; Haim, the Gap Band’s Charlie Wilson; Yorkshire’s own John Newman, and Hootenanny regular Ruby Turner, along with Jools’ own Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

As ever, the New Year will be brought in by the pipes and drums of the 1st Battalion of The Scots Guards, and famous faces in the audience will be chatting with the eponymous host about their plans for 2014

[Black Dagger]

Who is John Newman blowing, seriously?

[Z]

Originally Posted by Black Dagger

Who is John Newman blowing, seriously?

Sam Smith too - they must have amazing PR people

[Black Dagger]

Originally Posted by Zee

Sam Smith too - they must have amazing PR people

Oh he is bloody awful he is. Just got a very irritating, drony voice. He won Critics Choice though for the Brits so we'll be spoon-fed him all of 2014, blurgh. He does nothing for me. That Nirvana song is mildly interesting for about 45 seconds.

[Marc]

I look forward to it, Lucas will you be looking to be nicer in 2014?

[Black Dagger]

Originally Posted by Marc

I look forward to it, Lucas will you be looking to be nicer in 2014?

Probably not.

[LaLaLand]

Watch this every year, tradition. Lisa Stansfield shall be brilliant as always.