These New Year's Eve shindigs have always been pre-recorded, for good reason. Mainly that - radical though this concept may be - pop stars and music biz luminaries do actually have families and friends with whom they'd rather spend New Year than being shunted around a TV studio drinking warm beer. If they're doing anything biz-related on the evening itself, it'll be playing a special New Year gig somewhere for the showbiz-fee equivalent of Double Time, rather than a mere telly appearance fee. So the TV companies record these shows at a less festive time of year, when there's no difficulty tearing the celebs away from their party hats, wee drams and shortbread fingers. Obvious, really. I thought this was the best Hootenanny for several years, though. Everyone was on good form, and I even smiled indulgently at the screen when Mika yowled his way through "Vera Lynne", or whatever that dreadful single was called - somehow its over-the-topness fitted the show. And at least the veterans convinced this time - Macca, Eddie Floyd and Madness all came up trumps, with none of the embarassment of t'other year's performance by Ian Hunter, who managed to sound nothing at all like Ian Hunter. Only duff note this year was - aptly enough - Duffy, whose voice is ordinary to say the least, and who lacks any discernible stage presence which might compensate for her dull tones.

next that Santa's not real either, and as any foo' knows he is, cos Bruce says so [thanks for that Mr H.]

Part of me wishes that they would stop with the whole pretence at the "live" show and part of me finds it charming that they at least try and make the effort.

Glad I am not alone re Duffy - I'd heard good things about her and was looking foward to hearing her sing...and was left singularly unmoved.

On the other hand I am still at a loss to explain quite why I like Kate Nash's particular brand of "chavtronica" with all that "bittah" and "fittah"....I've even seen her live for pity's sake!
As one Word correspondant put it - I should get out less.

we have to suffer Jools's awful interviews though? And with such boring annual inevitables as Rowland Rivron, Dawn French, that Culshaw bloke off 'Dead Ringers' ( whose impressions all sound like Tom Baker ) and Arthur Bleedin Unfunny Smith? I think a resounding 'no' is the answer.

that Jon Culshaw and Rory Bremner should have impersonated each other and have done with it.

Rowland Rivron and Jools both talk the same, I think they must be related.

I stumbled over a Daily Mail article [idle interwebbing can get you into trouble you know] re this - apparently the BBC were "flooded" with complaints that this was not in fact a live show. I'm sorry but how stupid do you have to be to believe that it was? Ok so they go through a somewhat toungue-in-cheek pretence, but it wasn't exactly something to worry the makers of Hustle now was it?
Some people really do need to get a grip!

Switching rant mode off now...

I spent New Year's Eve with a very intelligent friend of mine who just assumed it was live until I explained to him that it was very unlikely that Eric Clapton would not be in the West Indies during the coldest period of the year.
Is there another programme on New Year's Eve that rings in the New Year that isn't live?

recorded the same time as last years - same guests, Seasick Steve on two years running??
Its becoming a little tired now I think. Madness and the afore mentioned Seasick Steve were good though.

Well, in Jools defence it is as close to live as possible. That is, the bands play live in the studio, without retakes unless absolutely necessary (rare), and no backing tapes, remixes etc. I don't think it's a big issue that it isn't shown at the time it is recorded. So you are watching a recording of a live show, as near as dammit. But the atmosphere was good and Kylie showed what she should be doing - grown up performing and singing, which I thought she did rather well, much better than the camp poppery she is chained to. But why didn't she do a duet with the real aging star Seasick Steve, and not the sadly voice-deteriorating Macca. Agree, though, about Rivron and French etc

is sixty five you know.

So I'm the only person on here who thinks she sounds like she has a peg on her nose. Come on!!! Just cos she's got a cute arse & knows how to entertain doesn't mean she can actually SING!!!

Mind you, I love Neil Young & he can't 'sing'.

Hush! Whisper it quietly, and only to those you trust with your life; rumour has it the Queen's Christmas broadcast message isn't live either!
The BBC won't say whether they have received any complaints on this score, but methinks this may be due to the threat of being bundled orf to the Tower for summary dismissal with a bloody great axe.

. . . was not in the West Indies during "the coldest part of the year" but was doing his annual dry gig in Surrey. I know people who went and the ******s didn't get me a ticket !!!!

No laddie above you aren't the only one
Cute I'll admit but talented no

Now I'm not a particular fan of either but I like to start fights in pubs by suggesting that actually Kylie is more talented than somebody like Bono because she can dance as well as sing...and act a bit if you like. Her CV would make his look quite sparse.
You have to be careful talking about talent in rock and roll because the key talent that most rock stars have is for playing themselves. That's what somebody like David Bowie has done for forty years. The harder he tries to stretch out into different fields and play the renaissance man, the more he reveals himself as Just the Dame.