Sophie Ellis-Bextor's New Year's Eve BBC special has drawn mixed reactions from viewers after she kicked off 2025 with a star-studded disco-themed concert.
The singer performed a medley of hits alongside special guests including Jessie Ware and Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears.
While some fans praised the glittering performance, others took to social media platform X to brand the show an "awkward and breathless mess", pointing out flaws within the unaltered performances.
The pre-recorded special featured Ellis-Bextor leading the nation's celebrations as 2024 came to a close, performing several of her best-known hits.
However, critics were particularly vocal about Ellis-Bextor's live singing performance during the show.
Taking to X, one viewer shared a clip of the performance, writing alongside it: "What on earth is happening with @BBCOne #NewYear show.
"Poor Sophie-Ellis Bextor can’t even keep up with her own songs, a breathless mess. Just lip-sync and then you can at least nail the stage presence.. this is cringe!"
"Wow who knew Sophie Ellis Bextor is as bad a live singer as Ellie Goulding. Awwwful," a second added before a third harshly critiqued: "This Sophie Ellis bextor performance on the BBC wouldn’t be out of place in the local on karaoke Thursdays."
Criticism was also geared towards the BBC itself for its New Year's Eve offering, dragging Jools Holland's Hootenanny and Bob Geldof's divisive appearance into the conversation.
One critic sarcastically raged on X: "Thanks for the wonderful choice tonight BBC. Sophie-Ellis Bextor doing mediocre covers of relatively well-known songs or Bob Geldof doing bad covers of largely unknown songs."
And a second echoed: "Sophie Ellis-Bextor or... Geldof. And that’s the best the BBC could offer to see in the new year. Defund the whole f***ing lot and shut it down."
Ellis-Bextor was fiercely defended by fans as the debate exploded on social media, however, with one X user hitting back at the complaints: "Why are so many Brits so f***ing miserable, jealous and rude? Slagging off the glittering and glamorous Sophie Ellis-Bextor as she discos into 2025. Cheer up you miserable losers!!! And happy New Year."
Another defended the singer: "Disappointed to see Sophie Ellis-Bextor getting stick. I think she’s great. I think people have just forgotten what live singing by non-classical singers actually sounds like because everything’s so f**ing processed these days."
And a third fan also showed their support: "Can Sophie Ellis Bextor host the BBC New Years Eve show every year? Back-to-back bangers with 10/10 energy. What a woman."
The BBC special featured an impressive lineup of musical collaborators joining Ellis-Bextor on stage.
As well as Ware and Scissor Sisters frontman Shears, Ellis Bextor was also joined by The Last Dinner Party guitarist Emily Roberts and the MDL Singers gospel choir.
Speaking ahead of the show, Ellis-Bextor had promised a celebratory atmosphere: "I always love a party and I immediately think of sparkles, singing and dancing for a New Year's Eve celebration.
"The band and I can't wait, and we have some special surprises planned," she added.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The BBC show was pre-recorded, as Ellis-Bextor was actually in New York for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve when it aired.
The performance comes after a remarkable year for Ellis-Bextor, who played more than 110 shows in 2024 - her busiest year of performances to date.
Her hit Murder on the Dancefloor has recently experienced a major resurgence after featuring in the film Saltburn, reaching number two on the UK singles chart.
The singer will continue her celebrations by extending her Kitchen Disco show on BBC Radio 2 to two hours in early 2025.
Find Out More...
The singer performed a medley of hits alongside special guests including Jessie Ware and Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears.
While some fans praised the glittering performance, others took to social media platform X to brand the show an "awkward and breathless mess", pointing out flaws within the unaltered performances.
The pre-recorded special featured Ellis-Bextor leading the nation's celebrations as 2024 came to a close, performing several of her best-known hits.
However, critics were particularly vocal about Ellis-Bextor's live singing performance during the show.
Taking to X, one viewer shared a clip of the performance, writing alongside it: "What on earth is happening with @BBCOne #NewYear show.
"Poor Sophie-Ellis Bextor can’t even keep up with her own songs, a breathless mess. Just lip-sync and then you can at least nail the stage presence.. this is cringe!"
"Wow who knew Sophie Ellis Bextor is as bad a live singer as Ellie Goulding. Awwwful," a second added before a third harshly critiqued: "This Sophie Ellis bextor performance on the BBC wouldn’t be out of place in the local on karaoke Thursdays."
Criticism was also geared towards the BBC itself for its New Year's Eve offering, dragging Jools Holland's Hootenanny and Bob Geldof's divisive appearance into the conversation.
One critic sarcastically raged on X: "Thanks for the wonderful choice tonight BBC. Sophie-Ellis Bextor doing mediocre covers of relatively well-known songs or Bob Geldof doing bad covers of largely unknown songs."
And a second echoed: "Sophie Ellis-Bextor or... Geldof. And that’s the best the BBC could offer to see in the new year. Defund the whole f***ing lot and shut it down."
Ellis-Bextor was fiercely defended by fans as the debate exploded on social media, however, with one X user hitting back at the complaints: "Why are so many Brits so f***ing miserable, jealous and rude? Slagging off the glittering and glamorous Sophie Ellis-Bextor as she discos into 2025. Cheer up you miserable losers!!! And happy New Year."
Another defended the singer: "Disappointed to see Sophie Ellis-Bextor getting stick. I think she’s great. I think people have just forgotten what live singing by non-classical singers actually sounds like because everything’s so f**ing processed these days."
And a third fan also showed their support: "Can Sophie Ellis Bextor host the BBC New Years Eve show every year? Back-to-back bangers with 10/10 energy. What a woman."
The BBC special featured an impressive lineup of musical collaborators joining Ellis-Bextor on stage.
As well as Ware and Scissor Sisters frontman Shears, Ellis Bextor was also joined by The Last Dinner Party guitarist Emily Roberts and the MDL Singers gospel choir.
Speaking ahead of the show, Ellis-Bextor had promised a celebratory atmosphere: "I always love a party and I immediately think of sparkles, singing and dancing for a New Year's Eve celebration.
"The band and I can't wait, and we have some special surprises planned," she added.
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The BBC show was pre-recorded, as Ellis-Bextor was actually in New York for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve when it aired.
The performance comes after a remarkable year for Ellis-Bextor, who played more than 110 shows in 2024 - her busiest year of performances to date.
Her hit Murder on the Dancefloor has recently experienced a major resurgence after featuring in the film Saltburn, reaching number two on the UK singles chart.
The singer will continue her celebrations by extending her Kitchen Disco show on BBC Radio 2 to two hours in early 2025.
Find Out More...