TV viewers will see two Dumfriesshire-born women play a leading role in Hogmanay programmes on Tuesday night.
Annan actress Ashley Jensen is narrating a new hour-long affectionate tribute to one of Scotland’s funniest comedians and an icon of past Hogmanays, Rikki Fulton, from 10pm on BBC One Scotland on December 31 and then BBC iPlayer.
It’s 100 years since Robert Kerr “Rikki” Fulton was born in the east end of Glasgow and two decades since the Scottish comedy legend passed.
Rikki is a Hopscotch Films production for BBC Scotland and through Ashley’s narration, and archive interviews from the man himself, the documentary unveils his extraordinary life by bringing together the people closest to him and the people he inspired.
For decades, he made the nation laugh with his rubber face, razor sharp wit and laconic demeanour and clips of his sketches are still enjoyed today – especially of his most popular sketch series, Scotch and Wry (1978-1992), which included now iconic comedy characters Super Cop, Dirty Dickie Dandruff and of course, the Reverend I.M. Jolly.
There will be reminiscing about New Year’s gone by when Rikki would make Scotland laugh and close the year in style.
And this year that job falls to Dumfries’ Amy Irons who is to bring in the bells as host of the BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay 2024 show.
Broadcaster Amy, a former pupil of St Joseph’s College, said she is looking forward to welcoming 2025 in with viewing audiences across the nation: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be hosting Hogmanay for the first time and to celebrate Scotland’s most iconic night with viewers across the country.
“It’s an honour to be following some pretty impressive footsteps and taking on this gig.
“We’ve got an incredible line-up of talent joining us on the night to get the party started and make sure 2025 arrives in style.”
The 33-year-old radio and TV personality will be joined in the studio by an exciting line-up, featuring musical performances from legendary Scottish singer Marti Pellow, traditional Scottish Celtic folk band Skipinnish, and Scottish country folk artist Rianne Downey.
The countdown to the bells will come live from Edinburgh with the traditional lone piper on the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle, the firing of the Mons Megs to mark midnight and a spectacular fireworks display from the sky above Scotland’s capital city.
As is tradition, Skipinnish will lead a rendition of Auld Lang Syne, accompanied by Scottish jazz vocalist Georgia Cécile
Amy, and brothers Lewis and Luke, were raised in Dumfries by sports educator mum, Fiona, and former football player and manager Davie Irons.
She has a new role to look forward to in 2025 as she is to be a co-anchor of BBC Scotland’s new current affairs programme – alongside long-time news presenter Laura Maciver – with it being fronted by one of them each night.
The show – titled Reporting Scotland: News at Seven – is a half-hour-long offering, created to replace the channel’s hour-long programme The Nine.
Amy said: “I’m really excited to be seeing out 2024 with the Hogmanay show and starting 2025 with News at
Seven.”
Meanwhile, award-winning Ashley, who attended Annan Academy, is set to appear in a new series of hit BBC series, Shetland, in 2025.
The BBC detective drama, filmed on the beautiful Shetland islands, began in 2013 and survived a change of lead after Douglas Henshall quit the show for new roles in 2022.