Can these three really fill Jackie’s shoes this Hogmanay?
BBC unveils trio who’ll try to replace inimitable Miss Bird
BRINGING in the Bells with Jackie Bird was a TV staple for two decades – but this year the BBC is ringing the changes.
After Miss Bird confirmed she would play no part in this year’s Hogmanay countdown, the corporation has unveiled a new line-up to replace her.
But the much-loved broadcaster will be a very hard act to follow, with BBC bosses hoping two comedians and a news presenter will be able to fill the void.
Lawyer turned comedian Susan Calman will front the extended New Year’s Eve output, joined by fellow comedian Des Clarke and The Nine presenter Amy Irons.
The corporation has promised the trio ‘will capture the unique atmosphere of Scotland’s world-renowned celebrations’.
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Calman, 45 – currently hosting the Great British Menu – will get the pre-recorded party under way from the BBC’s Pacific Quay HQ in Glasgow.
Susan Calman’s (Not Quite) End Of Year Show will air on the digital BBC Scotland channel, bringing a ‘lively mix of both traditional and popular music’ – including Scots rockers Travis.
From 11.30pm, on both BBC Scotland and BBC One Scotland, Calman will be joined by Clarke – host of Heart Scotland’s Drivetime radio show and BBC Radio Scotland’s Breaking the News – and Miss Irons, a presenter on BBC Scotland’s flagship news and current affairs show, The Nine.
Clarke, 38, is well known on the comedy circuit and a regular performer at The Stand and The Comedy Store. Miss Irons, 28, used to co-host Capital FM’s breakfast show with Clarke before joining the BBC.
Calman – who has written and starred in two series of her own Radio 4 sitcom, Sisters – said: ‘Hogmanay is such an important occasion across the country and I’m delighted to be on hand to help usher in the New Year.
‘It’s going to be a fun night packed with great comedy, entertainment and music. I always like to get a party started and hope everyone will join me to welcome in 2020 in spectacular fashion.’
Steve Carson, BBC Scotland head of commissioning, said: ‘We’ve changed things a little this year so that we can bring all the key live moments from around Scotland, as we always do, as well as bringing great music for the hundreds of thousands who join us in their living rooms.
‘It’s great to have Susan, Des and Amy fronting our shows.’
Miss Bird, 57, confirmed in September that she would not front the BBC’s Hogmanay coverage for the first time in 20 years. It came after she stepped down in April as the presenter of the BBC’s Reporting Scotland programme – after three decades.
Discussing Hogmanay, she said at the time: ‘They asked me to cover the live insert from Edinburgh, which is around the midnight hour. That didn’t feel right and I declined.
‘Hogmanay is a hugely prestigious night for BBC Scotland and they’ve decided to rework it, which is completely their prerogative.
‘I wish them well and hope it’s a huge success.’
Last year, 800,000 viewers tuned in to the BBC. STV’s Hogmanay programme, hosted by Lulu, failed to win over the audience. One critic said it had ‘all the atmosphere of a doctor’s waiting room’.