As the final hours of 2025 tick away, the BBC is offering viewers a glittering alternative to the usual countdown festivities. The Graham Norton Show will broadcast a special New Year's Eve episode, welcoming a host of A-list celebrities to its iconic red sofa for an evening of chat and celebration.
A Star-Studded Sofa for New Year's Eve
The festive special, airing on Wednesday 31 December at 10.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, promises a lineup designed to entertain the nation. Leading the guests is Tom Hiddleston, who will discuss the long-awaited return of The Night Manager. The spy drama's second series launches on New Year's Day 2026, nearly a decade after the first captivated audiences.
They will be joined by Oscar-winning actress Laura Dern and comic actor Will Arnett, who star together in the new film Is This Thing On?, a comedy inspired by the life of British comedian John Bishop. Further adding to the talent on the sofa are Carey Mulligan, a triple Oscar nominee, and comedian Tim Key, both celebrating their roles in the British cinematic hit The Ballad of Wallis Island. Owen Cooper, the breakout star of the 2025 TV sensation Adolescence, completes the guest list.
Show Secures Future with Three-Series Renewal
This New Year's celebration comes on the heels of significant news for the chat show. Earlier in 2025, the BBC confirmed it had renewed The Graham Norton Show for three additional series, a deal that will commence in 2026. The host expressed his delight, stating, "I'm thrilled that the BBC are allowing me to continue for another three years."
A BBC spokesperson highlighted the programme's enduring success, noting it remains "the biggest chat show in the market" with the latest series averaging 2.9 million viewers per episode. The show also continues to achieve massive digital engagement, generating millions of views online across platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
Festive Traditions and a Musical Finale
True to its established format, the New Year's Eve special is not broadcast live but is pre-recorded ahead of the transmission date. The evening will be rounded off with a musical performance from Alison Limerick, who will perform her classic dance anthem Where Love Lives, a track celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
The special follows a successful 2024 edition which featured guests like Robbie Williams and Rami Malek. With a confirmed future and a sofa full of stars, Graham Norton's show is set to provide a glamorous and entertaining send-off to 2025 for viewers across the UK.
