Ronan Keating Aims to Bring Joy to New Year’s Eve Viewers Amidst Personal Loss
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The annual BBC One New Year’s Eve concert, featuring Ronan Keating this year, seeks to offer a moment of connection and optimism as the clock strikes midnight, particularly for those grappling with difficult times. Keating, reflecting on a personally challenging year marked by the loss of his brother, hopes his performance will remind viewers they are not alone.
A Tradition of Star Power
Since 2013, BBC One has marked the transition into the new year with a high-profile musical performance, consistently attracting the largest television audience for a music program. Previous headliners include Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Robbie Williams, Alicia Keys, and Madness. “How does this happen?” Keating playfully questioned during rehearsals at London’s Riverside Studios, expressing his honor at joining such esteemed company. He joked about the possibility of taking the giant illuminated “R-O-N-A-N” display home with him after the show.
A Personal Year and a Healing Performance
Keating’s performance comes after a year of profound personal grief. In July 2023, his elder brother, Ciaran, tragically died in a car accident while traveling to support his son’s football match. “Now, keeping the family together is more important than ever for me,” Keating emphasized, revealing the deeply personal motivation behind his desire to connect with viewers. He acknowledged that New Year’s Eve can be a particularly isolating time, and he intends to use his music as a source of solace, both for his audience and for himself.
“Ronan and Friends” – A Star-Studded Lineup
The concert, titled “Ronan and Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party,” promises a range of special guests. Keating will be joined by Louise, his former flatmate from the early days of her group Eternal, recalling a “poptastic house” shared with Shane Lynch of Boyzone and even Ant & Dec. Another guest, former EastEnders star Shona McGarty, impressed Keating with her vocal talent during her recent appearance on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and will duet with him on Boyzone’s hit, “Baby Can I Hold You.” Calum Scott will take on the vocal part originally sung by the late Stephen Gately on “No Matter What.”
Boyzone’s Future and a Look Back
The performance also offers a glimpse into the future of Boyzone, with appearances from Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch, foreshadowing the group’s reunion shows planned for June 2026 at London’s Emirates Stadium – a first for the band, who have never headlined a stadium before. Looking back, Keating reminisced about Boyzone’s 1993 hit, “Father and Son,” which was narrowly kept from the number one spot by Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.”
Keating resolutely stated he won’t be making any New Year’s resolutions, preferring to address necessary changes immediately. “Really for me it’s about spending more time with loved ones; family and friends,” he said. Tonight, he will share the soundtrack of his 30-year career, a journey from boy band member to a man navigating personal loss and seeking to spread joy.
“Ronan and Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party” will air on BBC One and iPlayer from 23:30, with a separate Hogmanay show in Scotland featuring Nathan Evans, Michelle McManus, and Mànran.
