New Year’s Eve 2018: guide

ABC again broadcasts City of Sydney fireworks on Monday night, ushering in the new year with hosts Charlie Pickering & Zan Rowe.

Last year’s Countdown concert was widely praised, fingers crossed it’s the same this time with Daryl Braithwaite (don’t leave the stage without a Horses singalong), Christine Anu, Tim Minchin, Casey Donovan, Ross Wilson and more.

It will be fascinating to see if camera angles of the fireworks are impacted by a tower access refusal following a Four Corners story on AMP.

Rove McManus leads the early duties for kids from 8:30pm.

If music is not your thang, there is still Cricket & Tennis in the usual places.

Monday December 31:

ABC

7:30pm The Yearly with Charlie Pickering rpt

8.30pm New Year’s Eve: The Early Night Show  
Rove McManus is taking over hosting duties of New Year’s Eve: The Early Night Show. Rove will be joined by Hoot and Hootabelle, Jimmy Giggle, Grace Koh, Jemima, Big Ted and the Design Your Own Fireworks Competition winner as well as other special guests. With lots of music, including performances by Zindzi and Dami Im, and the Family Fireworks to look forward to, it promises to be a fun night for the whole family.

9pm Family Fireworks

9:10pm New Year’s Eve with Charlie Pickering

9:30pm ABC New Year’s Eve…The Night is Yours (Repeated 12:30pm Tuesday on ABC)
ABC is thrilled to announce that once again Charlie Pickering and Zan Rowe will be counting down to 2019 when they host ABC’s New Year’s Eve coverage live from the Sydney Opera House, featuring a star-studded concert. Joining the musical line up will be talented all-rounder Tim Minchin, pop singer Christine Anu and the original Daddy Cool Ross Wilson.

They will star alongside internationally renowned singer-songwriter Ben Folds, Aussie rocker Daryl Braithwaite, Casey Donovan, Isabella Manfredi (Preatures), pop duo Client Liaison, Indigenous Hip Hop artist Baker Boy, soul singer Kaiit and drummer extraordinaire turned solo artist, G Flip.

As well as their favourite songs, our performers will be singing songs from a party playlist that’s been voted for by the Australian public. With special guests appearing and the sensational midnight fireworks over Sydney Harbour, capping off the night, it’s going to be a night not to be missed.

12:20am (Tues) rage NY special

Seven

11pm City of Melbourne NYE Fireworks (Vic)
The City of Melbourne unites to farewell 2018 and welcome the new year in true Melbourne style and colour culminating in the midnight fireworks.

1:05am (Tues) The 129th Rose Parade rpt
It’s a celebration more than a century old – a festival of flowers, music and sports unequaled anywhere else in the world.

Nine

9:30pm P!nk: Live in Australia rpt
11:10pm Movie: Can’t Stop the Music rpt

SBS

6:10pm Dinner for One rpt

8:30pm Saturday Night Fever: Ultimate Disco
This documentary celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1977 blockbuster dance movie, and sees UK Strictly Come Dancing’s Bruno Tonioli, who was a young dancer in New York in 1977, walk us through the steps that made the movie legendary. He also revisits the streets of New York where the film was shot and looks back at the success of a film that gave everyone disco fever.

9:50pm Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender rpt
Freddie Mercury was one of the most charismatic, complex, and fascinating characters in British rock music. The story of Queen is much told, but this new documentary focuses on Freddie and the solo projects he worked on, outside of the band.

NITV

9:05pm Movie: Purple Rain rpt

Foxtel

Foxtel Arts
8:05pm BBC Proms: Seth Macfarlane Sings Sinatra rpt
9:35pm Andre Rieu: New Year’s Eve In Vienna rpt
11:35pm Human Nature: Ultimate Jukebox Tour rpt

UKTV
9:40pm The Royal Variety Performance 2018 rpt

[V]
6pm NYE for Me: Top 100