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Ronan Keating is preparing to host a New Year’s Eve concert broadcast on BBC One, aiming to offer comfort to those facing tough times during the holiday. Speaking from the Riverside Studios in London, where rehearsals took place, Keating reflected on how the festive period can be a lonely and challenging experience for many, especially after a difficult year. “So you want to look at, maybe, optimism into 2026,” he explained, sharing his desire to bring joy and togetherness to viewers. He hopes his performance will create a sense of companionship for those spending the evening alone, expressing, “I hope that I can bring some sort of joy to people, so they feel like they’re not at home alone tonight, that I’m right there with them.”
This year’s New Year’s Eve show is part of a tradition that has featured high-profile artists such as Robbie Williams, Alicia Keys, Madness, and last year’s performer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who called the experience a “career highlight.” Keating expressed his surprise and gratitude at being invited to join this prominent lineup, humorously noting his disbelief by saying, “I feel truly honoured. The people who have gone before me. Ridiculous. And here I am, little old me. Be careful what you wish for.” Standing amidst a stage setup adorned with golden lights spelling his name, he joked about the likelihood of the display ending up in his bedroom after the concert.
The show is also known for its notable guest appearances, and Keating has brought on some familiar faces from his past. Among the performers is Louise, a former flatmate from the early days of her time with the group Eternal. Reflecting on their shared living arrangement alongside Boyzone’s Shane Lynch, Keating reminisced about the “poptastic house” they lived in during the mid-90s, joking about who took longer in the bathroom, “Shano, plucking his eyebrow!” In addition, Shona McGarty, the former EastEnders star and recent contestant on I’m A Celebrity, has joined the lineup. Praising her voice enthusiastically, Keating revealed that her nightly performances on the reality show convinced him to include her in the concert, where she will perform a duet with him on the Tracy Chapman classic “Baby Can I Hold You.” Calum Scott will also feature, taking on the part of the late Stephen Gately in the Boyzone hit “No Matter What.”
Highlighting a special milestone, Keating noted that it is exactly 30 years since Boyzone’s cover of “Father and Son” was held from reaching number one by Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.” For the concert, two Boyzone members, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch, will appear in anticipation of the group’s highly anticipated reunion and stadium shows scheduled for June 2026 at London’s Emirates Stadium. Keating expressed his excitement about these events, laughing, “Boyzone never headlined a stadium before. The guest list is ridiculous. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing. And yes, I have received more Christmas cards this year than I normally do.” While he declines to make any New Year’s resolutions, explaining, “If I’ve got to make changes, I make them now. I won’t wait till a certain date, because I’ll only fail,” Keating shared that his main focus is on spending time with family and friends following a difficult period marked by the loss of his brother Ciaran in a car accident in 2023. Ultimately, this special concert serves as a way for Keating to connect with his audience and continue his own journey from pop star to family man through the healing power of music
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