Sophie Ellis-Bextor has been defended by fans after some labelled her New Year’s Eve performance on the BBC ‘terrible’.
The singer, best known for her hit Murder on the Dancefloor, was given the primetime spot on the national broadcaster’s coverage to ring in the New Year.
During her NYE Disco for BBC One, Sophie, 45, took to the stage to perform her global hits and some surprise numbers, also being joined by Jessie Ware, Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, and The Last Dinner Party guitarist Emily Roberts.
However, when tuning in, some made it clear they weren’t impressed.
‘Why is it Sophie Ellis-Bextor leading up to New Year’s? She’s terrible. Couldn’t the BBC get anyone else,’ Lucas posted on X.
‘What on earth is happening with BBC One’s New Year’s 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!’ Ash commented.
‘Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s performance which I caught a glimpse of was atrocious, I’m sure at no fault of her own. Small audience, bad sound. I turned back over,’ Rob added.
Others were also disappointed the performance with pre-recorded, with Sophie actually in New York on the night for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
Despite some of the negative reviews, many others praised her performance and the decision to make her headline the show.
‘Can Sophie Ellis Bextor host the BBC New Years Eve show every year? Back-to-back bangers with 10/10 energy. What a woman,’ Michael declared.
‘Can I just say – Sophie Ellis-Bextor is just killing this New Year’s BBC party… what a performer, you better WERK!’ Matt posted.
Addressing the backlash, Joanne added: ‘Sophie Ellis-Bextor is wonderful and I’m enjoying the show. I’m not understanding all this hate towards her, must be jealously as she looks and sounds seriously good!’
Posting after the show aired, Sophie shared a photo from the performance, writing: ‘Wow! What a truly amazing way to see in 2025!
‘I’ll post more photos tomorrow but for now I want to say a huge thank you to my amazing band and crew who really brought what we needed for a brilliant NYE party. So proud.
‘Special thanks to my husband Richard who is the best musical director and brought so much magic to the music. It was all exactly as I’d dreamed and I hope everyone who watched it at home felt part of it all. Here’s to 2025!’
Sophie’s resurgence followed on from the hit film Saltburn using her 2001 hit Murder on the Dancefloor at the end of 2023, which then saw her take on more than 100 gigs throughout 2024.
The past year saw Sophie see her debut hit single on the Billboard Top 100, make her US TV debut performing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and hit the road for her first ever headline tour of the U.S.
In the UK she also appeared at Glastonbury and performed at the Royal Variety Show.
‘There is so much to reflect on. It’s an extraordinary thing to get to my stage in my career and still be doing new things, new excitement. So, I really wanted to grab hold of that,’ she recently told BBC.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s New Year’s Eve Disco is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.