Year and Year: Ollie Alexander performs at BBC's New Year's concert

"I went up to the roof of my building and watched the fireworks," the 31-year-old said. "That's good, but I'm alone, so it'unfortunatead."

Tonight he was seen by about 10 million people at the same time.

The Years & Years singer and star of one of the biggest TV hits of the year, It's A Sin, has been chosen to follow in the footsteps of Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow and Craig David to play a One concert, on either side of which is a midnight show.

The moment he enjoys Big Ben bong is traditionally one of the strongest television viewerships of the year.

Speaking on stage during rehearsal at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, London, while the entire light show behind him was tested and a pile of masks on his face next to him, Alexander explained how much it meant if asked.

Every answer he gave was accompanied by a hand movement and a side-to-side tremor, so excited. There is a pause. He looked down and back before adding. "I'm quite nervous."

He had a reason to. Last year, American soul singer Alicia Keys was picked for the slot and didn't part very well. Instead, viewers use their remote to pick and choose more to see Squeeze and Rick Wakeman in Jools Holland on BBC Two.

He summed it up the next day and asked, "An American singer performed in LA. How do people [in England] want this New Year's Eve?"

The BBC finally issued a statement defending their choice. "The two programs have a different feel and bring something different to the schedule, and our audience members can choose the show they like the most," the company said.

This year's Jools Holland line-up includes Ed Sheeran, Lulu, and Rag' n' Bone Man. However, there is no doubt that Shape of You, Shout, and Human is more famous songs than the biggest hits from Years & Years King, Shine, and If You're Over Me.

Maybe Alexander was right to pull reinforcements from pop royalty in the form of Kylie Minogue and the Pet Shop Boys.