BBC Hootenanny fury erupts as fans 'switch off' Jools Holland show over 'dreadful' line-up: 'Same old BBC approved WOKE celebs!'

"Greetings and welcome to the Hootennany!" an excited Mr Holland said at the top of the show. "If you're at home, in your shed, in your bed, in a bar, or a car, wherever you are, welcome to the show.

"In very not much time, we're gonna be in the New Year, and these are the last few moments of the old year. I'm so pleased you could join us with all our wonderful guests. We send you love and greetings wherever you are."

After jumping straight into a musical number, Mr Holland then turned his attention to the guests who'd joined him for the annual event.

Lulu, Heather Small, Ronnie Wood, The Kooks, Craig David, and "one of the most fantastic people of the year" Olivia Dean were among the first musicians to be introduced.

A "specially flown in" David Hermlin was also welcomed by the pianist before the likes of Imelda May, Ruby Turner, and Jessie J appeared.

The Rolling Stones' Mr Wood was then first up to perform on the evening alongside Mr Holland and Ms May, with the trio taking on Mother of Pearl.

Later in the show, indie band The Kooks performed Sunny Baby, Ms Dean gave a rendition of her chart smash Nice to Each Other, and Lulu joined Mr Holland for a take on Relight My Fire.

Mr David performed his classic R&B track 7 Days, M People's Heather Small belted out Search for the Hero, and Ms Dean returned to perform classic feel-good hit This Will Be alongside Mr Holland.

But it wasn't just musical guests who received airtime, as Mr Holland spoke to famous attendees, including left-leaning comedians Nish Kumar and Lenny Henry.

Mr Holland probed the pair about their hopes for 2026, with Mr Kumar joking he wanted to be as "ripped" as Mr Wood and learn his fitness regime.

Mr Henry hit a more serious note, however. "I think resolutions are about love and unity. I think we need to unite as a people in this country and get together," he said.

"We should be together and support each other and be allies. And I think music does that, I think tonight does that - Hootenanny!"

Later in the show, Mr Holland sat down with Jessie J, who was similarly reflective about the state of affairs.

"This year's been tough for a lot of people; it's been the year of the snake. We've done a lot of shedding and letting go," she began when asked about her hopes for 2026.

"I think the world needed to, kind of, be exposed a little bit, and 2026 hopefully can be the year of coming together and more empathy, acting on our instincts more in the right way."

Mr Holland also asked Jessie J about her health after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025.

Remaining optimistic about the future, Jessie J replied: "I haven't been well this year, I've got new boobs. Big. Looking at the positives, silver lining.

"My nipples are looking in completely different directions, but we look at the positives. For context, I did have breast cancer. I know I've been talking about it a lot. But I think it's important we do talk about it, good things, bad things.

"I will say this: don't define your life on your worst days. Every day's a great day, all my blessings outweigh anything that's been challenging this year."

She then gave a unique rendition of the timeless hit I Did It My Way before Mr Wood and Ms May brought the show to a close as midnight loomed.

However, while those in attendance appeared to be enjoying the festivities, it didn't take long for social media to become awash with complaints from those watching at home.

A number of BBC viewers lodged complaints about the calibre of this year's line-up for the show, while others bemoaned the "tired" format and even went as far as branding the entire thing "woke".

Complaining about the format, one X user hit out: "Yawn…Sorry, but The Jools Holland ‘Hootenanny’ has got so run-of-the-mill and sanitised, it’s so boring… time to turn over now and watch…anything… #newyear #2026."

A second agreed: "How on Earth is Jools Holland’s Hootenanny still going? It’s dreadful. It has been for years. Purely gets viewing numbers because there is f*** all else on and nobody can be arsed to turn over the telly."

Meanwhile, a third similarly said: "What a truly horrific program. #Hootenanny now is. A room full of the now stupid woke w****rs that voted in the worst government in British history and likes of Lulu ffs."

"Probably the worst hootenanny ever! Very disappointing #hootenanny #bbc2 #joolsholland #NewYear2026," a fourth hit out.

And a fifth was also unimpressed: "What an actual embarrassing show. All great entertainment in their time but wta...Ronnie Wood, Lulu and Heather Small. It's actually like NYE from a care home."

"All Jools has to do is make his show slightly more entertaining than a Ronan Keating greatest hits set, and he has failed terribly #Hootenanny," a sixth blasted, while another asked: "Can we all agree that #joolsholland is the worst thing on television? Rolled out every year… #hootenanny."

However, it wasn't a unanimously negative reception facing Mr Holland as some music fans jumped to the show's defence in light of the backlash.

"I say it every year, but the Jools Holland Show is genuinely the best entertainment show on TV all year round, period. #JoolsHollandAnnualHootenany," one regular fan said.

"It has to be Jools Holland on NYE," a second praised, while a third applauded: "#Hootenanny as we all know it's not live but recorded earlier but it was excellent tonight. Jesse J and Emelda superb. And good on Ronnie Wood and Lulu, still performing at 78 and 77." (sic)