BBC Music

Join Ronan Keating to see out 2025 and welcome 2026 in style. With his signature charm and effortless vocals, Ronan takes to the stage for an unforgettable night of music and celebration of his greatest hits. With a career spanning more than three decades, and more than 50 million albums sold as part of chart-topping boy band Boyzone and as a solo artist, Ronan is the perfect choice to lead us into the new year. Ronan performs two-time platinum-selling When You Say Nothing At All, the track that catapulted him to international status when it was chosen for box office smash Notting Hill. He also sings number one single Life Is a Rollercoaster, which has clocked up over a 100 million streams, more tracks from across his incredible career, as well as timeless tunes from the likes of George Michael and Van Morrison.

A showcase of those hits that saw artists and acts joining forces to bring something new and unique to the UK charts. These are some of the biggest and best collaborations that remain classics to this day, featuring some of the biggest stars of all time: George Michael and Aretha Franklin, Eminem and Dido, Nelly and Kelly Rowland, Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush, Meatloaf and Cher, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and Kylie and Jason.

Paul Young looks back on a career that saw him top the chart and capture the hearts of a generation of fans with enduring hits like Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home), Love of the Common People and Every Time You Go Away. Interwoven with clips of his classic songs, Paul reflects on his journey through fame, the stories behind his most memorable tracks and the experiences that shaped his career, from the early days with the Q-Tips to solo fame in the 1980s and right up to the present day.

Another celebration of the artists who lit up the charts exactly once before slipping mysteriously out of view. The third volume digs deeper into the vaults to unearth more unforgettable one-offs and near misses, serving as a reminder of why the charts remain such a thrilling, unpredictable arena. Expect Jennifer Paige’s sunlit classic Crush, the irresistible 1998 hit that defined a summer, alongside the off-kilter charm of Jimmy the Hoover’s Tantalise (Wo Wo Ee Yeh Yeh) - proof that even the quirkiest singles can leave a lasting mark.

Jason Manford hosts a spectacular celebration, with performances from The Lion King to Wicked, a world exclusive from Sam Ryder in Jesus Christ Superstar, and a special Disney medley.

Elaine Paige has another treasure trove of musical theatre moments from the BBC archives. With classic numbers from Hello, Dolly! to Les Miserables, Chess to South Pacific, the programme features memorable performances from outstanding artists such as Shirley Bassey, Michael Bublé, Fred Astaire, Alison Moyet, Louis Armstrong and Paige herself.

Trevor Nelson presents the first volume of a celebration of some of the very best in black British music from over the decades, featuring 40 tantalising tracks from the artists and genres that have been such a vital part of the national soundtrack. It's an epic, electric and eclectic playlist covering pop, soul, ska, reggae, drum and bass and much, much more - bringing together some of the most influential and inspiring names to ever grace the UK charts, including Soul II Soul, Hot Chocolate, Neneh Cherry, Sade, Winifred Atwell, Olivia Dean, So Solid Crew and Stormzy.

DJs Shortee Blitz and Beat A Maxx celebrate 100 years of Black Music in the UK with a video mixtape featuring over 200 artists and tracks in 60 minutes, as we play you the anthems, the old skool; the rare grooves, the deep cuts and the flat-out bangers that made UK black music the incredible scene it is today. In a fast paced mix from the earliest performers on the BBC, through to the present day, catch music across the genres, from Soul to Grime, Reggae to RnB, Funk to 2Tone, and Lovers Rock to Garage, plus a whole load more, starring the biggest and best black performers, writers, producers and trailblazers. Shortee Blitz and Beat A Maxx mix the sounds to take us through the history celebrating 100 years UK black music: from the black singers, musicians and band-leaders of the twentieth century, through each decade to the black rappers, DJs and visionaries of the 21st century, combining mash-ups and mixes with genre-defining anthems and overlooked gems to create a unique mix.

DJ Spoony takes a musical journey that showcases the artists, songs and genres that have done so much to shape the nation’s musical landscape over the years – from old school right up to the present. Spoony has personally selected a playlist of 40 great tracks that bring together some of the most inspiring names from the worlds of pop, soul, ska, reggae, rap and garage - and finds the likes of Seal, The Selecter and Soul II Soul rubbing shoulders with FKA Twigs, Miss Dynamite and Dame Shirley Bassey. Spoony also celebrates the rich vein of collaboration that runs through so much Black British music, sharing songs and performances from acts, including Wretch 32 and Shola Ama, Loyle Carner and Jorja Smith, Little Simz and Cleo Sol, and Tinie Tempah and Labrinth.

A 90-minute special, broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall, London, celebrating Sir David Attenborough's groundbreaking career on the day of his 100th birthday. Broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall in London, this 90-minute special celebrates Sir David’s groundbreaking career, taking audiences on an extraordinary journey through a century of exploration and discovery in the natural world, seen through the prism of Sir David’s remarkable life and work. The programme combines some of the most memorable wildlife moments from the BBC’s natural history archive with live music drawn from Sir David’s most iconic television series, alongside reflections from public figures and leading voices in conservation and wildlife film-making. Accompanied throughout by the BBC Concert Orchestra, the programme features iconic music associated with some of television’s most unforgettable sequences from landmark series including Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Frozen Planet. And we hear from thos

Simply Red became one of the UK's biggest and most successful bands of the 80s and 90s, thanks to a string of modern soul classics and covers built around the unique voice of frontman Mick Hucknall. Here, the best of their long list of hits are captured in a collection of performances from the BBC's music archives that demonstrate exactly why Hucknall merits his reputation as one of the greatest vocalists of recent decades. Amongst the many songs being showcased here are much-loved favourites like Stars, Holding Back the Years and Something Got Me Started, alongside some of the band's most popular covers, including Money's Too Tight (To Mention), Every Time We Say Goodbye and If You Don't Know Me by Now.

Another celebration of the original outings of 40 classic songs that were so good, it was inevitable that they’d end up being covered by others. This is a playlist packed with familiar songs and unexpected moments, featuring artists ranging from The Osmonds to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Randy Newman to Randy Crawford and David Bowie to Chaka Khan.

As America celebrates 250 years of Independence, we celebrate 50 of the biggest names in modern American music and their performances over the years at the BBC. It’s a playlist of acts covering 70 years of classic hits, including the most influential and successful artists, bands and songwriters who made the journey from the US charts to international superstardom and also took time to appear on a UK audience's TV screens on their way. Featuring artists ranging from Beyonce and Bruce Springsteen, Ella Fitzgerald to Nirvana, Liberace to Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong to Lady Gaga, and Carole King to Bruno Mars, this collection highlights the incredible range of genres and songs that US artists have given the world, and why so many of them are – to quote Tina Turner – simply the best.