AGAIN LIVE FROM LONDON .

>> AND WELCOME TO LONDON’S NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE , THE GREATEST EVENT IN THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD .

>> IT REALLY IS, AND IT REALLY IS.

>> I THINK SO.

>> THERE IS ONLY ONE SLIGHT HITCH THOUGH, DAISY.

>> ONE SLIGHT HITCH, MOTHER NATURE HAS DECIDED SHE WOULD LIKE TO START IN TODAY’S PARADE .

>> STRONG WINDS PREDICTED FOR EXACTLY THE TIME THEY WILL START THE PARADE, 12:00.

WE HAVE TO GO , TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE, THAT IS THE PRIORITY, ALL OF OUR PERFORMERS, ALL OF OUR SPECTATORS, WE HAVE TO SEE THEM AS SAFE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN, WE WILL DELAY THE EVENT FOR 30 MINUTES.

>> NOT VERY LONG WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

FEEL IT DOES NOT SEEM LONG AT ALL, THE FOLLOWING WILL BE ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

>> THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

WE WILL LET THIS BAND OF RAIN PASSOVER AND SALUTE MOTHER NATURE.

THE SHOW WILL BE UNDERWAY FOR THE GREATEST NEW YEAR’S PARTY IN THE WORLD!

>> BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED, WE WILL SHOW YOU SOME OF WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR .

WE WILL ALSO MEET A FEW OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE TAKING PART IN THE PARADE THIS YEAR JUST BEFORE WE GET UNDERWAY .

HERE WE GO WITH SOME OF THE FANTASTIC THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE HERE ON JANUARY 1st, 2024.

>>> THAT IS THE PARADE UNDERWAY WITH THE TALLADEGA COLLEGE GREAT TORNADO BAND FROM ALABAMA, LEADING THE WAY .

AS WITH EVERYONE TAKING PART IN THE PARADE, THEY WILL NOW BE CCAD, ROH THE STETSONG HISTIC LDON PASSING ICONIC NDRKBEFO RIVINGTHFILE AREA STNSTER.

THEYGETO D OF PIADILLY, A, PICA CIRCUS, FAUS FOR THE BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT LIGHTS AND STATUE OF PARIS.

THEY WILL COME DOWNREGENT STREET, ST. JAMES, OVER TO WATERLOO PLACE, ENDING AT THE DUKE OF MOYOCK YORK MONUMENT ME STANDING PROUD 20 FEET.

>> FROM THERE, THEY WILL GO BEFORE ARRIVING BEFORE IN ANOTHER GREAT LONDON LANDMARK , TOWERED OVER BY ONE OF OUR MOST FAMOUS LORDS, ADMIRAL HORATIO NELSON , STANDING 163 FEET UP, OVERLOOKING TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

AFTER TRAFALGAR SQUARE, THEY GO PAST PARADE, PAST NUMBER 10 DOWNING STREET, THE SENATOR, THE MEMORIAL TO OUR WAR DEAD , AND THEY END UP HERE AT THE BOTTOM OF PARLIAMENT STREET , ADJACENT TO PARLIAMENT SQUARE COME OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, WESTMINSTER ABBEY, AND THE SUPREME COURT.

WHAT A PHENOMENAL ROUTE THESE GROUPS ARE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING TODAY THROUGH LONDON.

>> PROPERLY IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE.

>> WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

HONESTLY, COSTUMES AND DRAPES, GOOD LORD!

>> CHILDHOOD FANCY !

I AM SO EXCITED .

THAT WAS MY SONG GROWING UP.

THE ONE AND ONLY !

>> IT IS TRUE THAT HE IS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF US.

I AM EXCITED.

IT IS GOING TO BE GOOD.

>> GUYS, YOU ARE HAVING SOME FUN DOWN THERE.

HERE COMES SOME CHEERLEADERS, BOB.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE A PARADE .

SEGMENT OF THE FIRST OF FOUR WE HAVE GOT TODAY.

>> A LOT OF THESE KIDS HAVE PROBABLY NEVER MET EACH OTHER UNTIL THIS TRIP .

THEY HAVE BEEN PRACTICING INDEPENDENTLY WHERE THEY LIVE .

THEY HAVE COME TOGETHER ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WORLD.

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, DAISY .

PHENOMENAL ENERGY .

WHEN THEY ARE NOT PERFORMING THEIR CHOREOGRAPHED NUMBERS THEY ARE CHANTING.

MY, DO THEY WORK HARD.

>> THEY REALLY DO .

SEGMENT THEY ARE PERFORMING THEIR NUMBERS ON A FEW OF THE LOCATIONS AS THEY PROCEED AROUND THE PARADE.

LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PHENOMENAL PICTURES COMING OUT.

SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY MARCHING PRIDE BAND.

AGAIN, ANOTHER GROUP THAT HAS COME TO LONDON THIS TIME AND WE ARE REALLY THRILLED TO HAVE THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THIS GROUP TO COME TO LONDON ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO.

THEY PERFORMED FOR ME .

I WAS REALLY BLOWN AWAY .

I KNOW THE CROWD WILL BE BLOWN AWAY TODAY.

GREAT COLORGUARD AS WELL AT THE FRONT OF THAT SLIPPERY ROCK BAND.

>> AND THE BANDS ARE REALLY MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ROUTE NOW, BOB.

THEY HAVE NOW SEEN ALL KINDS OF THINGS AS THEY MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS OF LONDON.

THESE FIRST BANDS THAT WILL END UP BEHIND US RIGHT HERE.

SAG-AFTRA I THINK THE MOMENT HAS COME.

THE FIRST BAND HAS JUST ABOUT TO REACH US IN THE PERFORMANCE ARENA, THE FINALE ARENA AT THE END OF THE PARADE ROUTE HERE , AND HERE COME THE TALLADEGA COLLEGE GREAT TORNADO BAND.

HERE THEY ARE.

THEY HAVE ENTERTAINED ALONG THE ROUTE ON THE DIRECTION OF ADRIAN THOMPSON .

>> THEY SURE HAVE.

GET READY.

>> AND THE TALLADEGA GREAT TORNADO BAND FROM TELLING ANKA TALLADEGA COLLEGE, ONE OF THE PROUD HBCUs, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEAN, THOSE ARE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

THEY BROUGHT OVER 180 PEOPLE TO LONDON FOR THE SIX DAYS AND THEY HAVE BEEN LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT.

AND THE CROWD HAS BEEN LOVING EVERY SECOND OF THEM, BOB.

>> THEY ARE UNBELIEVABLE.

♪ >>> WELL DONE , CHEERLEADERS .

KEEPING THE CROWD HAPPY, THE CROWD IS ALREADY HAPPY.

HONESTLY, THE CROWD MIGHT KEEPING THEM HAPPY AT THIS POINT .

WE HAVE SO MANY SMILING FACES FROM ALL OF THE WORLD, LINING THE STREETS OF LONDON TODAY, WHAT A CELEBRATION.

>> EVERYBODY IS KEEPING EVERYBODY SUPER HAPPY.

>> I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, BOB .

>> ANOTHER FANTASTIC BAND MAKING ITS WAY BACK TO THE START.

NOW WE WILL GO BACK FOR A FEW MOMENTS WITH THE MINI SMOKES CLUB DRIVERS THIS MORNING.

>> WE ARE CURRENTLY STANDING ON A MINI MOAT, GOING DOWN PICCADILLY .

>> WE ARE, WE’VE GOT A VERY GOOD DRIVER HERE.

WHAT’S YOUR NAME?

ROBIN, HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY ?

YOU’VE GOT TWO NEW GUESTS , HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT US CRASHING YOUR CAR?

[ LAUGHTER ] NO PROBLEM !

>> YOU ARE DOING THIS WITH THE OTHER .

ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.

>> WE ARE GOING TO EVEN MORE MADNESS, LET’S GO!

>> THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL IF YOU’RE HERE AT THE LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PILLORIED PARADE.

GETTING INTO ALL THE GOOD STUFF DOWN THERE, AREN’T THEY?

>> ANOTHER BAND MAKING THE TURN AT THE BOTTOM OF REGENT STREET AND JAMES, JUST GOING TO BE WALKING UP AND CONFRONTED BY, CONFRONTED?

CONFRONTED, YEAH .

136 FEET HIGH.

NELSON’S COLUMN IS SURROUNDED BY 34 LIONS.

THERE IS THIS OLD RUMOR THAT THOSE LIENS WILL COME ALIVE IF BIG BEN STRIKES 13 TIMES.

ONE OF OUR PARADE PATRONS, WHEN HE GETS TO TALK TO THE GROUP, HE ALWAYS SAYS, LISTEN CAREFULLY TO SEE IF BIG BEN IS STRIKING 13 TIMES WHEN YOU GET TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

>>> GREAT TO BE REMINDED OF SOME OF THOSE WONDERFUL MOMENTS FROM LAST YEAR .

IF YOU LOOK BEHIND ME NOW, YOU CAN SEE WHY WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE OF A SHORT DELAY ON THE START OF THIS YEAR’S FABULOUS EVENT.

THIS WEATHER WILL PASS ACROSS THE.

WHY DON’T WE TAKE THIS MOMENT TO MEET JOE AND SWARZY AGAIN, SEE IF THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEMSELVES OFF THAT MOAT FROM LAST YEAR.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, SWARZY!

>> OH MY GOSH, WE MADE IT!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM US AT THE LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

>> IT WAS A LITTLE BIT BUT WENT, BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO RAIN ON OUR PARADE.

IT IS NOT GOING TO DAMPEN OUR SPIRIT.

>> THE JOKES HAVE STARTED EARLY.

WE GOT AN AMAZING CAST BEHIND US.

EVERYONE IS LOOKING FABULOUS, RIGHT, JOE.

>> I SAY THIS, IT IS SO REAL , EVERYONE LOOKING FABULOUS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST?

>> HOW CAN I POSSIBLY SAY?

HONESTLY, THESE AMAZING CHARACTERS.

SO MUCH COOL STUFF , AND OF COURSE WE HAVE GOT TO DO A SLIGHT WEATHER DELAY .

>> IT IS A LITTLE WET AND A LITTLE WINDY, BUT WE WILL RING THE FUN AND THE VIBES TODAY.

>> WE ARE INDEED, AND IT IS GOING TO BE AMAZING.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR, BACK TO YOU GUYS IN THE STUDIO.

>> THEY ARE BRAVE.

THEY ARE BRAVE.

>> THEY ARE BRAVE .

I DON’T THINK THEY HAVE QUITE GOTTEN WHAT WE’VE GOT HERE, YET, IT IS QUITE GRIM , BUT IT IS PASSING OVER.

NOW, IT IS SLOWING DOWN.

THEY ARE PRETTY CLEVER, THESE METEOROLOGICAL PEOPLE .

>> THEY CAN BE .

>> THEY’VE GIVEN A PRETTY GOOD WINDOW.

WE WILL BE UP AND RUNNING BEFORE TOO LONG NOW.

MEANWHILE, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.

SO MUCH GOOD STUFF.

>>> WE HAVE LEFT FLORIDA FOR JUST A MOMENT AND GO TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, IN THE EXTREME NORTHEAST OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> NOT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE HERE IN LONDON.

>> IT IS TROPICAL FOR THEM .

>> ABSOLUTELY SO.

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, IT IS THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD, AND TO BE A PART OF THE LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE FAMILY MEANS A LOT .

>> HERE, WE HAVE SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY MARCHING PRIDE BAND, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JONATHAN WE’LL MAKE .

>>> I AM ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED I ENJOYED IN THE STUDIO BY ONE OF OUR HEADLINERS TODAY, IN FACT, ONE OF OUR ABSOLUTE HEADLINERS.

YOU HAVE DONE HUNDREDS OF GIGS AROUND THE WORLD, ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT JOINING US FOR LNYDP TODAY?

>> I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT ARE A PINCH ME MOMENT .

THE FACT THAT MY PARENTS CAN SAY THIS IN AUSTRALIA, THE FACT THAT MY FRIENDS CAN SEE IT IN AMERICA, IT DOES MAKE YOU FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE ON ME BUT OF COURSE, YOU FEEL HONORED ABOUT IT.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EVENTS EVERY YEAR I WATCH AND GO, I WOULD LOVE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND HERE I AM.

>> WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU.

I SUPPOSE WITH YOUR AUSTRALIAN ROOTS , YOU PROBABLY ALREADY ENJOYED NEW YEAR AS A CELEBRATION.

>> AUSTRALIA HAS GOTTEN BIG ON NEW YEAR’S.

IT’S SORT OF THINGS LIKE FOR ME, IN AMERICA CHRISTMAS IS THE BIG THING, AND IN AUSTRALIA I AM USED TO THE FIREWORKS ON THE BEACH AND STUFF LIKE THAT, ACTUALLY, BRITAIN GOES CRAZY ON THE FIREWORKS AND NEW YEAR’S AS WE SAW LAST NIGHT.

I GET TO LIVE BOTH TIMES.

IF I WANT TO GO TO BED EARLY ON THE BRITISH NEW YEAR’S, I CAN SAY, I CELEBRATED THE AUSSIE ONE.

>> IT IS A WIN-WIN .

>> IT IS A WIN-WIN.

>> I BET YOU WENT TO BED EARLY LAST NIGHT.

>> I DID, BUT THOSE FIREWORKS, LITERALLY THE LOUDEST THING, I SHOT OUT OF BED, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS, WHERE I WAS AND I AM THINKING, THAT IS HOW OLD I AM GETTING.

IN BED BEFORE THE FIREWORKS.

>> THEY WERE PRETTY SPECTACULAR.

I AM SO GLAD THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THEM WITH ALL THE WINTER WEATHER WARNINGS.

YOU WILL BE COMING ALL THROUGH THE PARADE ROUTE TODAY, PERFORMING ON OUR SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED MOBILE STAGE.

WHAT CAN OUR CROWD LOOK FORWARD TO?

>> I HAVE KEPT IT UP-TEMPO .

I HAVE THIS CONSTANT ONGOING JOKE WITH PEOPLE WHEN I DO JOKES.

AS I HAVE 10 TOP FIVE HITS AND THREE NUMBER ONE, I SAY, THE FACT THAT YOU DON’T REMEMBER THEM IS IRRELEVANT , BECAUSE THEY USUALLY ONLY REMEMBER "MYSTERIOUS GIRL ."

TODAY, I WILL DO KEEPING IT UP-TEMPO , JUST THE FEEL GOOD, I LOVE THE LITTLE SOLEMN FUNK , WE’VE HAD GREAT MUSICIANS PLAYING ON THIS.

IT WILL BE A GREAT UP-TEMPO, FEEL-GOOD PROCESSION FOR US.

>> FANTASTIC.

A GREAT KICKOFF TO A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR FOR YOU COMING UP 2025.

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING THIS YEAR?

>> FIRST OF ALL, BEING A NEW DAD AGAIN HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR I GET TO FOCUS ON WORK.

MY FIRST FEATURE FILM GETS RELEASED THIS YEAR, WHICH I HAVE ALSO WRITTEN A SONG FOR ME WHICH IS AMAZING.

IT IS 30 -- " MYSTERIOUS GIRL," MY SONG , IS 30 YEARS OLD NEXT YEAR .

I CAN’T REALLY SAY ALBUM, THINKING YOU ARE GOING TO BE NUMBER ONE, YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU CAN AND BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SOAR OF IT.

FOR ME, I WAS THINKING, GREAT, IT IS A GREAT EXCUSE AND DOING WHAT I LOVE .

I AM VERY LUCKY I HAVE GOT ONE OF THOSE JOBS I LOVE AND I GET TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO AND I FEEL VERY PRIVILEGED ABOUT THAT.

>> FANTASTIC.

WE WILL START OFF THE YEAR IN A FANTASTIC WAY, I’D LIKE TO THINK, ANYWAY, AT THE LONDON’S NEW YEAR DAY FANTASTIC PARADE.

>> AND I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I KNOW IT IS NOT EASY FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE, BUT I REALLY PRAY THIS YEAR IS GREAT FOR EVERYONE, I REALLY DO.

AND FOR YOU, SIR, LOVING THE TIME, BY THE WAY.

>> PETER, I THOUGHT YOU WERE NOT GOING TO MENTION THAT.

>> IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TIE.

I ACTUALLY WANT THAI FOOD NOW , I AM HUNGRY.

THAT WAS A SHOCKER OF A JOKE.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, INDEED.

>>> WE ARE HERE WITH KAYLEE, LINDSAY, AND MADDIE FROM THE KILGORE COLLEGE RANGERETTES .

WHERE ARE YOU GUYS FROM?

>> WE ARE FROM KILGORE, TEXAS IN EAST TEXAS.

>> HOW DOES THE TEXAS WEATHER COMPARED TO LONDON , LINDSAY?

>> IT IS A LOT HOTTER , DRIER, NOT AS WET.

I LIKE IT HERE.

>> I DID HEAR A SECRET ONE OF YOU IS IN NEW YORK AND IT IS TERRIBLE WEATHER .

THIS IS ALMOST LIKE A BALMY, SUMMER’S DAY, ISN’T IT?

>> WE BEAT NEW YORK!

I HEAR THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME HERE AT THE LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

WHAT IS THE FIVE?

>> WE ARE SO INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE HERE.

IT IS OUR FIRST TIME TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY FOR A WHILE.

WE ARE SO HONORED.

>> BEFORE WE GO, CAN YOU GIVE US A BIG CHEER FOR LONDON?

>> I SAW THEM ON MORNING TV THIS MORNING, THEY WERE HIGH KICKING .

I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE MINUS PERFORMING A LITTLE LATER ON .

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A WEATHER UPDATE, DON’T WE, BOB?

>> I THINK WE DO .

CERTAINLY AS PREDICTED, IT IS PASSING THROUGH VERY QUICKLY.

THE WORST OF IT ACTUALLY DOES SEEM TO BE OVER, FINGERS FIRMLY CROSSED .

>> ABSOLUTELY, FINGERS AND TOES .

>> I’VE GOT A VERY STRONG FEELING WE WILL BE UP AND RUNNING AS WE HAD HOPED TO BE EXPECTING AT 12:28, ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM NOW HEAR THE REAL THING WILL BEGIN.

THEY WILL STILL GET A BIT DAMP, BUT THOSE CROWDS DESERVE SOMETHING.

10 MINUTES TO WAIT.

>> EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER THEIR UMBRELLAS , THEY ARE BRINGING THE SUNSHINE.

THE JOY OUT THERE IS PALPABLE , AND IT IS ONLY GOING TO SPREAD AS THE DAY GOES ON.

>> IT IS FANTASTIC.

THEY HAVE HAD TO STAND THROUGH SOME PRETTY TORRENTIAL RAIN FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF AN HOUR, 20 MINUTES.

THE CROWD IS GROWING, NOT SHRINKING.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

ONLY A FEW MINUTES OF OLD STUFF, STILL GREAT STUFF, FROM LAST YEAR.

WE WILL BE OFF WITH THE REAL THING VERY SOON.

>>> NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO ME CHEERLEADERS.

>>> REALLY BRINGING IT.

OUR VARSITY CHEERLEADERS ONCE AGAIN DELIGHTING THE CROWD WITH A LITTLE ELVIS PRESLEY THIS TIME.

EVERYBODY LOVES A LITTLE ELVIS .

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BOB , DID YOU KNOW THAT CHEERLEADING ACTUALLY BEGAN IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

>> MORE ON THAT LATER, I GOT A HISTORY LESSON FOR YOU LATER.

>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT ONE OF THE VICE PRESIDENTS OF AMERICA WAS A VERY ACCOMPLISHED CHEERLEADER.

>> MORE THAN ONE.

>> GRACIOUSLY , WE HAVE ANOTHER BAND COME STRAIGHTAWAY THEY ARE COMING FAST.

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.

>> MAN’S WILL MANSFIELD, THE SPIRIT AND PRIDE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

>> I AM GETTING PRETTY EXCITED NOW.

I KNOW IN JUST A FEW MINUTES TIME, WE WILL BE OFF AND RUNNING THIS YEAR.

THE EXCITEMENT IS REALLY BUILDING .

JUST A FEW MORE BITS AND PIECES OF LAST YEAR, BUT BEFORE THAT, LET’S GO AND SEE JOE AND SWARZY AGAIN .

>> YEAH!

WHAT ARE THEY UP TO?

>> IT IS LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE 25.

WE BROUGHT YOU ALL OF THAT TODAY, INCLUDING DINOSAURS AND LITTLE MISS RED RIDING HOOD AS WELL.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> VERY WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR OUTFIT THIS MORNING?

>> I AM THE DINOSAUR TAMER.

>> YOU HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.

WE WANT TO CHAT JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS, YOUR CHARITY.

>> I REPRESENT THE ULTIMATE SUPPORT OF AWARENESS AND FOUNDATION.

WE TRY TO HELP PEOPLE BRING A LOT OF EDUCATION, LOTS OF KIDS!

>> THERE WE GO !

I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU , I WILL LEAVE YOU TO TAME THE DINOSAURS .

BACK TO THE HIGHLIGHT .

>> IT LOOKS PRETTY FANTASTIC .

I HAVE GOT A HUNCH THAT MIGHT BE THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER INJURY .

ANYWAY, WE WILL SEE THAT A LITTLE LATER ON.

>> THE BED COMING DOWN REACHING PICCADILLY CIRCUS, WHICH MEANS, THEY SHOULD BE HERE WITH US AROUND 45 MINUTES , SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

DON’T PUT YOUR WATCH ON .

>> I AM PUTTING YOU ON A TIMER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I LIKE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> A QUICK LOOK AT ALL THE QUEEN SOURCES HERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLY ONE .

>> ONE OF THEM I THINK IS WEARING A HAT THAT LITERALLY HAS A SHIP ON IT.

I DON’T KNOW IF WE WILL SEE IT OR NOT, BUT KEEP YOUR EYES ON IT.

THEY DON’T MESS AROUND .

THEY REALLY DRESS UP HERE LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL EVERYTHING FROM MID-EVIL DRESS ALL THE WAY ON UP.

>> AND HERE WE HAVE THE BUFORD BAND OF WOLVES JUST GETTING INTO FORMATION BEFORE THEY PERFORM.

WEREWOLVES IN LONDON , I THINK.

>> YEP.

>> THERE THEY GO, THE BUFORD BAND OF WOLVES , A GREAT BAND DIRECTOR.

HE MAY BE ABLE TO JOIN US BRIEFLY HERE IN THE STUDIO.

IF NOT, YOU NEED TO KNOW, HE HAS BROUGHT THREE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS HERE TO LONDON IN HIS TIME .

HE JUST THINKS IT IS THE GREATEST THING HE COULD POSSIBLY DO FOR HIS BAND PROGRAMS .

>> LOOK AT HOW JOYFUL THEY ARE TO BE HERE.

IT REALLY BRINGS A SMILE TO MY FACE WHEN I SEE THE SMILES ON ALL THEIR FACES.

>> WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK.

IT IS ALL GREAT FOR US TO SAY HOW WONDERFUL IT IS FOR US, BUT I THINK THE CROWD WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.

I THINK SWARZY HAS SOMEONE .

NOT QUITE YET .

STILL GETTING THE OPINION OF THE PERSON IN THE CROWD ON PICCADILLY.

WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT THE LONDONDERRY HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING LANCERS , MAKING THEIR WAY DOWN BEFORE THEIR KEYNOTE PERFORMANCE IN THE ARENA.

>>> WELL NOW, DAISY , WE’VE JUST HAD THE GREAT NEWS, WE ARE READY TO GO!

LONDON’S NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE 2025 IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

WE ARE STARTING WITH OUR WEST END MUSICAL CHOIR OPENING THE PARADE THIS YEAR.

♪ >>> WELL, WELL , WELL!

WHAT A START TO THE PARADE !

THE SOUND OF A MAGNIFICENT VOICE.

I HOPE THAT ONE YOU HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT.

THE FIRST OF 70 ACTS COMING YOUR WAY ON THIS SLIGHTLY DAMP LONDON AFTERNOON.

A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE , FOR THE CHOIR.

>> WELL, THERE WE GO, THE WEST END MUSICAL CHOIR !

STILL A WEE BIT DAMP, BUT THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

NOW, THE BIGGEST BAND, I THINK, ABSOLUTELY, THE BIGGEST BAND WE’VE EVER HAD APPROPRIATELY NAMED THE BIG RED MARCHING BAND FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO START THE WHOLE THING ART OFF PROPER.

THERE IS EVEN SOME CONFETTI.

>> WELCOME TO THE HILL TOPPERS IN LONDON.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SIDES OF THE STREET AT THE START OF THE PARADE ARE CHOCK FULL AS WELL.

>> WE SHOULD TAKE A LITTLE LOOK NOW AT THE ROUTE THEY WILL BE TAKING FROM HERE, DOWN UNTIL THEY JOIN US FROM THE PERFORMANCE ARENA AT THE END OF THE PARADE.

FIRST OF ALL , THEY WILL BE MARCHING ALONG PICCADILLY, ALL THE WAY TO PICCADILLY CIRCUS , YOU KNOW, THE CENTER OF ENTERTAINMENT IN LONDON.

>> THAT IS WHERE THEY ARE WALKING, LITERALLY RIGHT NOW.

>> AND THEN, THEY WILL BE TURNING A CORNER GOING DOWN A STREET NOW CALLED REGENT STREET SAN JAMES, ONE OF THE PRIME SHOPPING STREETS IN LONDON, BEFORE THEY COME DOWN TO WATERLOO BASE, THE STATUTE OR OF GEORGE -- >> DUKE OF YORK MONUMENT STANDING A PROUD 123 FEET .

>> WELL DONE.

>> AND INTO TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

WHAT DOMINATES TRAFALGAR SQUARE?

>> ALL SORTS , AND OF COURSE, THE FAMOUS LIONS .

>> CENTERED AROUND THE BASIN AT NELSON’S COLUMN.

>> THAT IS RIGHT, LEGEND HAS IT .

>> IF BIG BEN STRIKES 13 TIMES -- >> MY LUCKY NUMBER !

>> MIND TOO, ACTUALLY, THE LIONS WILL COME TO LIFE.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> EVERYBODY BETTER RUN FOR THEIR LIVES IF THAT DOES HAPPEN.

>> WE TURNED DOWN WHITEHALL, THE GREAT MINISTERS OF STATE UNITED KINGDOM, PAST THE SENATOR FOR MEMORIAL WAR DEAD AND THEY WILL JOIN US IN PARLIAMENT STREET JUST SHY OF PARLIAMENT SQUARE OF THE ELIZABETHTOWN AND ELIZABETH PARLIAMENT , INTO THE WONDERFUL TOWN OF FREEDOM.

>> BIG BEN LOOMING OUTSIDE OF OUR STUDIO.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLE ROUTE, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME FROM OUTSIDE THE UK, IN WHICH WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WALKING IN TODAY’S PARADE, TO SEE THESE ICONIC PARTS OF LONDON ALONG THE ROUTE, YOU WOULD WANT TO WALK IT, ANYWAY, WOULDN’T YOU?

>> AND 26 NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED IN TODAY’S PARADE.

IT TRULY IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT .

>> I THINK SOMETHING LIKE 180 LANGUAGES WE HAVE TODAY, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

INCREDIBLE!

>> IN THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER ALONE, MORE THAN 240 LANGUAGES SPOKEN.

>> THE WORLD COMES TO LONDON AND THE WORLD COMES TO LONDON, ESPECIALLY ON NEW YEAR’S DAY WITH RAIN OR SUN .

>> AND A LITTLE GLIMPSE OF THE LONDON MAYORS .

THERE ARE 32 REPRESENTING LONDON’S 30 BARRELS AND TWO CITIES .

26 OF THEM ARE OUT HERE WITH US TODAY.

>> CELEBRATING WITH US.

>> THESE WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL CARRIAGE LAND OUT.

I BET YOU THEY ARE DELIGHTED THEY BROUGHT COVERED ONCE.

>> I AM SURE THEY ARE, THAT IS RIGHT, WE HAVE HAD OPEN CARRIAGES THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS .

>> IN CARRIAGE NUMBER ONE, YOU WILL SEE HIM IN A MOMENT, I SUSPECT, THE SPLENDID BLUE AND GOLD ROBES, THE NORBURY OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER , WITH GUESTS, NEIL AND MICHELLE.

IN THAT CARRIAGE, THE WHITE ONE, WE HAVE STEVE SUMMERS, FORMER LAW MEMBER OF WESTMINSTER, NOW THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LONDON MAYORS ASSOCIATION.

A KIND OF GLUE OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT HOLDS LONDON’S MAYORS TOGETHER.

>> INDEED .

IS THERE A MORE BRITISH SITE THAT BACKPACKS?

I DON’T THINK SO.

I KNOW MY MOM IS TEARING UP AT THE SITE OF BAGPIPERS.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN REGULARS OF THE PARADE FOR MANY YEARS.

THEY ARE ALWAYS, OBVIOUSLY ENTERTAINING.

THEY LOOK BRILLIANT.

>> AND THEY HAVE DEVOTION THROUGH THE CLASSICAL ARTS WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL DEVOTION TO HAVE, I THINK.

ARTS, DRAMA, DANCE, SINGING, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE ARTS .

GOSH, WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THEM CELEBRATING WITH US TODAY, AREN’T WE?

>> WE ABSOLUTELY ARE.

THEY ARE FANTASTIC.

I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THEM DOWN HERE.

THEY ARE SO GOOD.

>> REALLY EXCITING.

>> IT IS GOOD TO SEE THE CROWD STILL OUT.

THE RAIN IS DEFINITELY EASING OFF NOW, THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT AND FOR THEM.

>> THANK GOODNESS FOR THEM.

THEY HAVE BEEN BRAVING THIS WEATHER ALL DAY.

FOR THOSE OF US THAT COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POND, AND I AM INDEED HALF AND HALF.

MY HALF WILL TAKE MY HAT OFF TO AMERICAN FANS, JETS ’ FANS, BUFFALO FANS, GREEN BAY FANS .

THEY WILL DEAL WITH THE WEATHER .

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE OUTSIDE, EVERYBODY ENJOYING , DESPITE THE RAIN.

>> AND ANOTHER LOOK HERE.

WELL, FROM SHREE MUKTAJEEVAN SWAMIBAPA, AND WE WILL BE SEEING THEM A LITTLE LATER ON, I AM DELIGHTED TO WELCOME INTO THE STUDIO HERE, A FRIEND OF OURS .

BREA, YOU ARE NOW RETIRED AT NORTH GROVE HIGH SCHOOL.

YOUR CONNECTION WITH THE PARADE IS CONSIDERABLE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BROUGHT GROUPS HERE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS .

MY QUESTION TO YOU, WHAT IS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR THE STUDENTS THAT YOU BRING?

>> FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I HAVE COORDINATED 25 TOURS WITH MY BAND OVER 35 YEARS.

THERE WAS REALLY ONE EVENT I HAVE EVER RETURNED TO ME AND THAT WAS THE LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

WE HAVE DONE IT TWO TIMES.

IT IS THE GREATEST EVENT I COULD EVER IMAGINE BREAKING MY STUDENTS TO.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO EXPAND THEIR WORLD VIEW BY COMING OVER, BEING A PART OF SOMETHING SO COLLABORATIVE AND FESTIVE.

IT IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

>> HOW DO WE COMPARE?

YOU’VE GOT A LOT OF EVENTS IN YOUR YEARS, YOU DON’T LOOK OLD ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO RETIRE, THERE WE GO, FAR TOO YOUNG .

IN COMPARISON WITH SOME OF THE OTHER EVENTS YOU MIGHT HAVE DONE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HOW DOES THIS ONE ACTUALLY COMPARE?

>> IT IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE THE PERFORMANCE IN FRONT OF SO MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

THE TELEVISION ASPECT OF THIS, THE FINALE PERFORMANCE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE ENJOY PREPARING BEFORE CHOREOGRAPHING.

IN ADDITION TO THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE , AGAIN, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO ONE OF THE GREATEST CITIES, YOU WOULD SAY THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD , OF COURSE, AND TO EXPAND THEIR WORLDVIEW TO BREAK DOWN THE FOUR TRADITIONAL WALLS OF THE CLASSROOM IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENTS.

>> AND SOMETHING THEY WILL REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE STUDENTS CALLING, EMAILING, POSTING EVERY YEAR ON NEW YEAR’S DAY REMINISCING ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

>> HERE IS THE $64,000 QUESTION, IF YOU WERE OUT THERE TODAY IN THIS WEATHER, WOULD YOU BE IN ANY WAY FAZED BY IT , OR ARE THESE BANDS GOING TO BE FAZED BY IT?

>> THEY ARE NOT.

EVERY ONE OF THESE BAND DIRECTORS HAS A CONTINGENCY FOR THIS.

THE STUDENTS ARE PREPARED TO PERFORM IN ANY WEATHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

TRUTHFULLY , WHEN THE WHOLE EVENT IS OVER, IT WILL NOT BE THE RAIN THEY REMEMBER, IT WILL BE THE RECEPTION OF THIS WONDERFUL CITY.

>> AND YOU HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT THOSE CROWDS OUT THERE.

THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH SOME WEATHER THE PAST HOUR.

ACTUALLY, THEY WERE GATHERING AT AROUND 10:00 THIS MORNING, AND THEY ARE STILL THERE.

THAT ACTUALLY MUST GIVE SOME SORT OF TESTAMENT TO YOU TO THE GREAT JOB THAT THE AMERICAN BANDS, AND ALL OF OUR OTHER PERFORMERS ARE DOING AT THIS EVENT.

>> THE WELCOME OUR STUDENTS FELT FROM THE CITY OF LONDON WAS INCREDIBLE.

THAT IS WHY I RETURNED TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THE FIRST ONE.

BY THE WAY, MY FIRST PERFORMANCE WAS SIMILARLY WET, AND HE DID NOT DO TEAR US AT ALL FROM WANTING TO COME BACK.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING UNIQUELY BRITISH ABOUT IT .

ANYWAY THEY GO HOME WITH THE EXTRA STORIES TO TELL.

>> AND LOOK AT THESE AMAZING SITES .

WE WERE JUST SEEING NOW THE BIG RED MARCHING BAND FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, MARCHING DOWN THE STREET.

THE CROWDS ARE MOBBING THEM.

THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE LOTS OF BARRIERS .

I THINK THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST BAND WE’VE EVER HAD IN LONDON’S NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY PROUD AND DELIGHTED TO HAVE THEM.

WE WILL BE SEEING THEM SOON.

BRAYER, THANK YOU FOR POPPING IN AND TELLING US WHAT IT IS LIKE TO ATTEND THIS EVENT AND HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO THE STUDENTS YOU HAVE BROUGHT IN IN THE PAST.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> THERE WE GO, DAISY .

WE ARE BACK TO LOOKING AT THAT FANTASTIC BAND FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

>> OVER 260 MEMBERS OF THIS BAND.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THEY HAVE DONE NFL GAMES, THEY DO, OF COURSE, THEIR OWN FOOTBALL GAMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE GETTING ON A PLANE WITH A PASSPORT , AND HEADING OVER TO ANOTHER CONTINENT TO CELEBRATE WITH THE WORLD!

>> AND THAT IS AN AMAZING THING YOU JUST MENTIONED.

WE DID A POLL ON THIS A WHILE AGO.

MORE THAN 95% OF YOUNG AMERICANS WHO JOINED US AT THIS PARADE HAVE TO GET A PASSPORT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

>> ISN’T THAT EXCITING?

LISTEN, THEY ARE NOT ONLY COMING OVER WITH THEIR SCHOOLMATES, IN MANY INSTANCES, THEIR FAMILIES ARE COMING , THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THEIR AUNTS AND UNCLES , AND THEY MAKE IT A HUGE CELEBRATION FOR THE ENTIRE, YOU KNOW, WEEKS THAT THEY ARE HERE .

IT IS NOT JUST NEW YEAR’S DAY .

IT IS THE BUILDUP AND THE ACTORS AS WELL.

>> LOVELY.

THEY HAVE JUST MADE THE TURN, THE BIG RED BAND HERE, THEY HAVE JUST MADE THE TURN , OR THEY ARE JUST ABOUT TO MAKE THE TURN ONTO OXFORD STREET .

THIS IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE GREAT SHOTS, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW , THEY ARE MARCHING DOWN INTO TRAFALGAR SQUARE , WHERE THEY WILL MAKE THAT BROAD RIGHT TURN TO ME AND COME DOWN ALL THE WEIGHT DOWN WHITE HALL AND JOIN US HERE.

>> SO INCREDIBLY ICONIC HERE.

I HOPE AS THEY ARE PLAYING, THEY ARE TAKING THE TIME TO TRY AND LOOK AROUND AS WELL .

THIS IS JUST SOMETHING YOU COULD NOT BUY THIS EXPERIENCE.

>> I AM SURE THEY WILL BE.

THEY ARE ENJOYING THEMSELVES ENORMOUSLY OUT THERE.

>> FANTASTIC.

FANTASTIC!

WELCOME.

OF COURSE, KENTUCKY, FAMOUS FOR RACING, BARBECUE, BLUEGRASS MUSIC, MAYBE A LITTLE WHISKEY AND MOONSHINE AS WELL.

I AM SURE THOSE KIDS HAVE NOT BEEN INDULGING .

NO, NO, NO.

KENTUCKY, FAMOUS FOR SO MANY THINGS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE FOR ME KICKING OFF THE SHOW TODAY.

>> ONE OF THE FASCINATING THINGS, WHICH I PERSONALLY FIND A VERY INTERESTING STORY, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS ROUTE FOR A VERY LONG TIME FOR ME WE ARE GLAD THEY ARE HERE.

THE DIRECTOR OF BANDS AT THE UNIVERSITY GARY SCHALLERT , GARY HAS THE LONGEST ASSOCIATION WITH THIS EVENT OF ANYBODY , BECAUSE HE PARTICIPATED AS A STUDENT WITH NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY WAY BACK IN 1987, IN THE VERY FIRST PARADE.

I THINK IT HAS BEEN ONE OF HIS AMBITIONS EVER SINCE THEN TO ACTUALLY BRING HIS GROUP TO LONDON TO PERFORM.

>> YOU KNOW I LOVE WHAT I LIKE TO CALL THE REPEAT OFFENDERS, BOB .

THEY GET ADDICTED.

THIS IS THAT KIND OF EVENT WHERE -- I SPEAK WITH MY OWN EXPERIENCE, ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE ONCE, YOU KEEP COMING BACK FOR MORE, AND MORE, AND MORE.

>> YOU CALLED THEM REPEAT OFFENDERS, I CALLED THEM RECIDIVISTS .

I THINK YOURS IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN MINE, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

ANYWAY, ONE OF MY FAVORITES, ACTUALLY , I THINK WE ARE READY TO AND FIND OUT WHAT JOE AND CRESCENT CITY FAE SWARZY HAVE BEEN UP TO.

THEY WILL BE TALKING TO THE BAND DIRECTOR OF THE WEST AND CHOIR , THE GUYS THAT OPENED THE PARADE FOR US BEFORE THAT HUGE BAND CAME AND KICKED OFF THE SHOW.

LET’S HEAD TO JOE AND SWARZY !

>> WELL, MATT , CONDUCTOR EXTRAORDINAIRE, THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY!

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

DID YOU ENJOY THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE WEATHER IS AMAZING.

WE WERE A VERY LONG TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK THE CHOIR , HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> THANK YOU, JOE AND SWARZY, AND THANK YOU TO THE WEST AND CHOIR .

WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE IN STUDIO AT THE MOMENT, WELCOME MOLLY HOCKING, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR !

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK AGAIN , BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

>> ABSOLUTELY HAVE, I LOOK OVER TO THIS EVENT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

EVEN IF I AM NOT PERFORMING, I LOVE WATCHING IT.

IT IS ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS TO BE A PART OF.

>> YOU CERTAINLY BRING THE SUNSHINE AND JOY .

YOU WERE ACTUALLY A PART OF THE PARADE WHEN IT WAS HAVING TO-- >> WHEN IT WASN’T A PARADE.

>> HAVING TO ADJUST FOR.

TELL US WHAT THAT WAS LIKE , BECAUSE YOU WERE STILL HERE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR WHEN WE WERE ALL ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO BE IN THE ROOM TOGETHER AGAIN.

IT WAS THE NICEST FEELING , BECAUSE IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING, WASN’T IT?

EVERYONE JUST FELT LIKE THEY WERE ENJOYING EVERYONE ELSE’S COMPANY .

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO IN A WHILE.

EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT A MOVING PARADE, IT WAS STILL MAGICAL, A REALLY, REALLY MAGICAL EVENT.

EVEN THE AUDIENCE WERE GREAT.

>> THEY WERE.

I THINK THE TV AUDIENCE WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE ANXIOUS TO SEE SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO BE CELEBRATORY AFTER THE GLOOM AND DOOM.

I MUST SAY, I THOUGHT YOUR PERFORMANCE WAS ABSOLUTELY SPELLBINDING.

FANTASTIC.

I AM SO PLEASED YOU ARE PERFORMING WITH US AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU WILL BE ALL ALONG THE ROUTE, AND YOU HAVE GOT ALL KINDS OF FUN MUSIC GOING ON TODAY, DON’T YOU?

>> I HAVE MY NEXT SONG WILL BE A SONG THAT IS NOT RELEASED YET.

I HAVE JUST WRITTEN IT AND IT WILL BE RELEASING VERY SHORTLY.

>> WHAT YOU SAY, WE GET THE WORLD EXCLUSIVE ON THIS SONG?

>> IT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET.

IF YOU WANT TO HEAR IT AGAIN, FOLLOW MY SOCIAL MEDIA.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2025, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> AT THE MOMENT, I AM IN THE STUDIO WITH A RANGE OF PRODUCERS, SURROUNDING MYSELF WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE , BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND I AM RELEASING LOADS NEXT YEAR.

HOPEFULLY, MORE WILL BE GOING ON .

YEAH, I AM JUST REALLY EXCITED.

2025 IS MY YEAR .

>> IT WILL BE.

>> EVERY REASON TO BE.

WHAT ABOUT ANY RESOLUTIONS?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK JUST TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT EVERYTHING.

>> THAT IS A GOOD ONE.

>> JUST HAVE FUN AND ENJOY LIFE.

IT IS REALLY SHORT AND YOU HAVE ONLY GOT ONE.

>> NO TRUER WORDS WERE SPOKEN, MOLLY.

YES, LET’S STOP WORRYING ABOUT MOTHER NATURE.

>> THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

>> ONCE YOU ARE WET, YOU ARE WET.

>> THANK YOU, MOLLY, FANTASTIC TO HAVE YOU HERE.

REALLY DELIGHTED YOU HAVE COME TO ENJOY ON THIS INCREDIBLY WET DAY.

IT IS GETTING BETTER.

I AM SURE BY THE NEXT TIME WE SEE YOU, IT WILL BE FANTASTIC!

YOU WILL BE, ANYWAY.

MOLLY HOCKING, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> WHAT IS GOING ON OUTSIDE NOW?

THERE IS THAT SHREE MUKTAJEEVAN SWAMIBAPA BAND AGAIN.

EVERYBODY LOVES THEM.

>> ALSO, WHEN YOU ARE DONE UP IN ALL OF THAT REGALIA , YOU KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING TO SEE, ISN’T IT?

>> HERE’S ONE OF OUR MARCHING BANDS COMING DOWN, THEY HAVE OBVIOUSLY GOT THERE WET WEATHER GEAR .

THEY’VE COME PREPARED.

THE PROBLEM IS NOW, THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE THE KIDS, WHEN THEY GOT THEIR GEAR ON.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE SHENANDOAH.

>> ALL THE WAY FROM VIRGINIA.

WE WILL BE SEEING THEM.

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A VERY, VERY INTERESTING SECTION OF THEIR PRESENTATION TODAY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BIG ROCK BAND THAT WILL BE PLAYING AS WELL.

>> THEY DO, THAT’S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW WHAT IS ALSO INTERESTING ABOUT THEM, THEY ARE RELATIVELY YOUNG.

THIS BAND IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND THEY ARE ALREADY IN LONDON .

I WAS READING UP ABOUT THEM.

ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS SAID, I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO LONDON BEFORE AND I LOVE THIS MARCHING BAND WITH ALL MY HEART, SO I CAN’T WAIT TO TRAVEL WITH ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND BE A PART OF THIS AMAZING DAY.

>> I THINK THAT SPEAKS FOR ALL OF OUR PERFORMERS TODAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANYWAY, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE YET.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OF THE LONDON BOROUGH FLOATS.

I THINK A BIG PART OF THE LONDON BOROUGH COMPETITIONS, WHEN WE DO START TO SEE THE LONDON BOROUGH FLOATS COMING THROUGH, THEY WILL BE COMING THROUGH THICK AND FAST AND WE PROBABLY WILL NOT HAVE THE TIME TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE ALL HERE.

MAYBE THEY ARE ALL HERE TO ENTERTAIN US BECAUSE THE LONDON BOROUGH HAS FANTASTIC HISTORY AND THINGS BETWEEN THEM AND THEY ARE PORTRAYING THE VERY BEST THEY HAVE TODAY.

THE THING IS THIS, IT IS ALSO A COMPETITION OF THE LONDON BOROUGH’S.

>> WELL, I DO A LITTLE BIT.

LISTEN, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS COMPETITION IS THE PHILANTHROPIC ELEMENT OF IT.

THIS IS ALL CHARITY DRIVEN, AND EACH OF THE BOROUGHS SENDS US A FLOAT AND THERE IS A TEAM OF JUDGES, AM I RIGHT, BOB?

>> THEY DRAW FROM THE PUBLIC AT EACH OF OUR GRANDSTANDS ALONG THE WAY.

THEY JUDGE THEM .

THEY GIVE THEM SCORES OUT OF 100 FOR EVERY FLOAT.

AND THE WINNERS, THE TOP ONES, THEY GET A 15,000 POUNDS REWARD FOR THEIR CHARITIES , CHOSEN BY THE SPECIFIC AMERICAN BOROUGH , SECOND GET 10, 30 GETS FIVE, AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS A WINNER AND THEY GET 10,000 FOR THEIR CHARITY.

OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR HISTORY, MORE THAN 2 1/2 MILLION POUNDS HAS BEEN DONATED BY THE PARADE, AND THE AWARENESS GOING THROUGH PARTS OF THE PARADE TO RAISE MANY , MANY MORE.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT TODAY , AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT MONEY GOING TO SO MANY UNCOUNTABLE GOOD CAUSES , WHILE ALSO SHOWING THE PRIDE OF THESE DIFFERENT BOROUGHS , AND EACH BOROUGH HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT REFLECTED IN EACH OF THE FLOATS .

IT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE THINGS I MOST LOOK FORWARD TO DURING THE PARADE, BOB, I HAVE TO SAY.

>> I DO TOO .

I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC.

SOME OF THEM PROMISE TO BE WONDERFUL THIS YEAR.

I HOPE THE WINDS HAVE NOT MADE THE FLOATS ANY LESS REMARKABLE, I AM SURE THEY HAVEN’T .

ANYWAY, THE SPIRIT IS REALLY GOING TO BE THE THING.

>> AND I THINK THE FLOATS GET BETTER EVERY SINGLE YEAR, DON’T THEY ME AS WELL?

>> THEY DO, THE STANDARD OF WHAT THEY ARE PRESENTING REALLY DOES IMPROVE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

>> HERE COMES THE BIG RED FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, MAKING HIS WAY DOWN.

I AM DELIGHTED , JOINING US IN THE STUDIO FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT COMES IN TO MAKE ITS KEYNOTE PERFORMANCE, I AM THRILLED WE HAVE DR. TIMOTHY CAPONI THE PRESIDENT OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY JOINING US HERE RIGHT NOW.

YOU ARE LEADING THE PARADE TODAY, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LITTLE ABOUT THEM.

YOU CAN TELL US MORE, HOW EXCITED ARE YOUR STUDENTS ABOUT BEING HERE IN LONDON?

>> SO EXCITED.

IT HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE ADVENTURE FOR THEM .

SO PROUD OF THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE TO GET PREPARED, ALSO THE WORK THE ENTIRE STAFF HAS DONE TO GET THEM READY.

WE ARE AN INSTITUTION OF OPPORTUNITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO HAVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DO IS TRAVEL ABROAD.

OVER THE BAND MEMBERS THAT HAVE COME TO ME 150 HAVE NEVER LEFT THE COUNTRY, 65 HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THEM AN AIRPLANE.

>> WHAT A THRILL.

>> I HOPE THE AIRLINES LOOKED AFTER THEM PROPERLY.

>> IT WAS TREMENDOUS .

17 DOMESTIC FLIGHTS ON TO SEVEN DOMESTIC LIGHTS, AND THEY ALL MADE IT.

RIGHT OUT OF NASHVILLE .

AN HOUR NORTH OF NASHVILLE IN BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY.

>> HAS THE FACT THAT THE BAND IS STARRING IN THE SHOW TODAY CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION OF PEOPLE BACK HOME IN BOWLING GREEN AND INDEED KENTUCKY?

>> I THINK THE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THE KIND OF BAND PROGRAM WE ARE BUILDING AT WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

WE HAVE THE LARGEST COMMONWEALTH BAND, RECRUITING FROM ALL OVER FOR FOLKS TO COME AND MARCH WITH US.

THE ENTIRE CAMPUS IS EXCITED FOR HALF 1 MILLION PEOPLE TO SEE US IN-PERSON AND HALF 1 BILLION ON TELEVISION.

>> THE AUDIENCE IS HUGE.

QUITE FRIGHTENING.

>> LET’S NOT THINK ABOUT THAT PART.

>> THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR FOR THE VAN, I THINK CENTENNIAL YEAR?

>> IT IS.

THE 100 YEAR OUR BAND WAS FOUNDED, THE LARGEST STUDENT ORGANIZATION THAT THEY ARE PROUD OF THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THAT BEING A PART OF LONDON’S NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

>> I GUESS THEY ARE ENJOYING LONDON AS MUCH AS THEY ARE ENJOYING THE PARADE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR THEY HAVE RECEIVED, THE TIME TO EXPLORE THE CITY ON THEIR OWN HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

THE ENERGY THEY BRING, EVEN GOTTEN TO EXPERIENCE BRITISH WEATHER.

>> I WOULD NOT THINK CABONITHAT IS THE HIGHLIGHT.

ANYWAY, TOM CABONI , THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THEM, AS I KNOW YOU HAVE, IN THEIR ENDEAVORS OF COMING YEAR, AND I CAN SEE DOC CURRY IS BRINGING THE MARCHING BAND INTO OUR ARENA TO GIVE THE FIRST KEYNOTE PERFORMANCE OF LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE 2025.

>> BIG RED, THE BEST MASCOT IN THE UNIVERSE!

THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>>> INCREDIBLE!

>> THAT IS ALL YOU CAN SAY.

>> I CAN FEEL IT IN HERE.

AMAZING!

THANK YOU TO THE BIG RED MARCHING BAND WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

LOOK AT THEM, SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND WE ARE SO JOYFUL TO SEE THEM HAVING SUCH A GREAT TIME, WALKING PAST OUR BOOTH NOW .

WE CAN HEAR THEM CHEERING .

IT IS REALLY EXCITING!

>> AND I JUST HAVE TO THANK OUR LAST STUDIO GUEST, DR. CABONI , WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO BE HERE.

>> HOW INCREDIBLE SOME OF THEM HAD NEVER BEEN ON A FLIGHT BEFORE, WHAT AN EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

>> AND THIS COMING DOWN NOW, LIBERTY BAND FROM OHIO.

ANYWAY, THEY WILL BE JOINING US PRETTY SOON .

MAKING THEIR TURN RIGHT NOW BETWEEN LOWER REGENT STREET , AND THEY WILL SOON BE IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

>> OF COURSE, AS ALL OF THOSE BANDS AROUND THOSE TURNS, THEY PRACTICED THOSE TURNS, REALLY QUITE INCREDIBLE .

>> HEY, IT IS TIME FOR US TO GO AND SEE WHAT JOE AND SWARZY ARE UP TO.

>> I MISS THEM.

>> LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY, 2025.

I AM JOINED BY MANY IN PONCHOS, BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT .

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

>> GOOD.

>> A LITTLE BIT COLD AND WET.

WHO ARE YOU HERE TO SEE?

WE KNOW YOU ARE HERE TO SEE SOMEONE.

>> OUR DAUGHTER WITH RIVERVIEW BAND.

>> AS A PARENT, I’VE GOT TO GIVE YOU MASSIVE PROPS, STANDING IN THE SUNSHINE , WELL-EQUIPPED .

>> WE ARE HAVING A BLAST.

EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> I SUPPOSE, COULD YOU GIVE A SORT OF FLORIDIAN HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE CROWD?

>> ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> TAKE YOU, JOE, THANK YOU SWARZY , AND THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS OF THE RIVERVIEW KIDS.

IT PROBABLY IS A BIT COLD TO ME BECAUSE THEY COME FROM SARASOTA, FLORIDA .

THEY DON’T HAVE LONG TO WAIT.

>> THEY ARE HANDLING IT WELL HERE THEY HAVE STILL GOT THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES.

THAT IS WHAT WE CARE ABOUT TODAY, WE WANT TO BRING A SMILE TO EVERYONE’S FACES.

YES THEY ARE.

LOOK AT THAT INCREDIBLE FLOAT BEHIND THEM, MY GOODNESS!

GOD, IT IS BEAUTIFUL .

AND THIS IS WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT .

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE ARTS, ALL ABOUT MUSIC , PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND DANCE , AND THE WRITTEN WORD .

IT IS JUST SOMETHING I REALLY LOVE ABOUT THEM THAT WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THEM REPRESENTING THEIR TEMPLE HERE IN LONDON.

>> WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THEM.

THEY ARE TERRIFIC PERFORMERS.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING THEM.

THE SHENANDOAH BAND WE SAW A LITTLE EARLIER ARE REACHING THE END OF PICCADILLY.

THEY WILL BE MAKING THE TURN COMING DOWN, GRADUALLY WINDING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ROUTE TO JOINT US PROBABLY IN AROUND 20, 25 MINUTES NOW I WOULD THINK .

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE HAVE GOT SO MANY WONDERFUL PERFORMERS WE WILL HAVE DIRECTLY BEHIND US AS THEY FINISH THEY ARE ROUTE, THAT IS DIRECTLY BEHIND US.

ALL OF THESE BANDS ARE PLAYING FOR, IS IT, A COUPLE OF KILOMETERS , THEY ARE PLAYING THE ENTIRE ROUTE.

>> THE ENTIRE ROUTE IS JUST OVER TWO KILOMETERS.

ACTUALLY, CONSIDERING US, ABOUT 2 1/2 KILOMETERS HERE THEY HAVE TO MEANDER QUITE A LONG WAY FROM THE ASSEMBLY AREA , UP TO PICCADILLY BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GET TO US.

THEY ARE COVERING A LOT MORE DISTANCE THAN SIMPLY THE PARADE ROUTE DISTANCE.

>> THEY WILL BE BEAUTIFULLY TIRED AT THE END OF TODAY , IN THE VERY BEST WAY.

LOOK AT THOSE CROWDS .

DESPITE THE WEATHER, PEOPLE HAVE COME OUT IN LONDON TO SAY, HAPPY 2025 .

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SAYING TO EVERYONE OUTSIDE, ALL OF OUR PERFORMERS , EVERYONE WATCHING ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

>> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO PRETTY MUCH EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD .

OBVIOUSLY, SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE PUSHING THIS OUT TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RIGHT NOW .

IT IS GOING SO MANY OTHER PLACES, AND OF COURSE BEING STREAMED ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL AND THAT WILL BE GETTING QUITE A FEW HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VIEWERS AS WELL.

>> NO QUESTION.

>> A HUGELY POPULAR EVENT THAT IS REALLY LOOKED FORWARD TO BY SOMEBODY PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

>> LONDON IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE INTERNATIONAL CITY .

I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER INTERNATIONAL CITIES AROUND THE WORLD, REALLY NONE MORE SO THAN LONDON .

THIS IS A PERFECT REPRESENTATION OF THE WORLD CELEBRATING A BRAND-NEW YEAR IN 2025.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND YOU KNOW I THINK SWARZY HAS PROBABLY GOT SOMETHING TO SAY TO US AGAIN .

I DON’T KNOW WHO SHE HAS MANAGED TO FIND.

>> SHE IS WITH MS. CHRISTMAS WITH THE MINI MOKES , THAT GREAT BRITISH VEHICLE OF THE 1960s .

LET’S GO AND SEE JOE AND SWARZY, IF WE CAN.

THERE WE GO.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR, MY LOVE.

>> I AM GLAD TO BE HERE.

I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE YEAR ONE, AND YOU THINK I’M GOING TO MISS THIS BECAUSE OF A LITTLE RAIN?

NO WAY!

THIS IS STILL MAGICAL.

>> SWARZY, CAN I SAY HELLO TO MS. CHRISTMAS?

>> WE ARE GOING TO SING A SONG, DON’T RAIN ON THIS PARADE.

ONE, TWO, THREE, DON’T RAIN ON OUR PARADE.

>> MS. CHRISTMAS, YOU ARE AMAZING, I LOVE YOU, WE LOVE YOU, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, DONNA MARIA , MS. CHRISTMAS, HAS TAKEN PART IN EVERY SINGLE PARADE SINCE 1987.

SHE HAS NOT MISSED A BEAT .

THE FUNNY THING WAS, THE FIRST PARADE NUMBER 90 DAYS, WE DID NOT KNOW WHO SHE WAS.

SHE JUST TURNED UP IN THE ASSEMBLY AREA WITH HER GROUP OF CHRISTMAS CHILDREN AND HER FLOAT.

ONE ON EARTH IS GOING ON HERE?

>> AS WE KNOW, HER HIGHNESS.

>> IT SEEMED LIKE SUCH A WONDERFUL IDEA I THOUGHT I WOULD COME AND JOIN YOU.

IT IS QUITE A GOOD IDEA TO LET US KNOW YOU WILL SHOW UP.

YOU ARE HERE NOW, LET’S HAVE YOU .

>> I LIKE A BIT OF SELF CASTING, FANTASTIC .

EVERY YEAR, SHE DOES HAVE SUCH SPIRIT , DOESN’T SHE?

AND SHE COMES THROUGH WITH TRULY THAT FEELING OF THE HOLIDAYS.

WE ARE STILL IN-- WE ARE NOT QUITE AT 12:00 TONIGHT, IT IS STILL CHRISTMAS.

SHE BRINGS THAT BEAUTIFUL ELEMENT TO THE STREETS OF LONDON.

>> WE ARE SEEING BEAUTIFUL MARCHING BANDS AND THE GROUPS MARKING THEIR WEIGHT DOWN ZHIVAGO SQUARE , INTO WHITEHALL COME AND THEY SHOULD BE REACHING US FAIRLY SOON IN THE PERFORMANCE ARENA, AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU MORE MUSIC, POSSIBLY SOME DANCE AS WELL COMING UP BEFORE LONG .

>> THE CROWDS ARE STILL GROWING, BOB .

>> THAT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE RAIN IS SLOWING DOWN .

>> TRUE TOO, BUT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO SLEEP IN ON NEW YEAR’S MORNING AND NOW THEY ARE COMING OUT.

>> THAT WILL ALWAYS BE A NICE THING TO DO.

CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I DID, PROBABLY FOUR YEARS AGO.

ACTUALLY, WE ARE GETTING A GLIMPSE OF THE BANNED FROM MEXICO THAT IS FORMING PART OF THE PUEBLO FIRST PRESENTATION IN OUR PARADE TODAY, MAKING THEIR TURN .

YOU CAN SEE THE STATUE OF ARROWS IN THE BACKGROUND, AS ALL OF THOSE ELECTRONIC BILLBOARDS OF PICCADILLY CIRCUS .

ABSOLUTE HEART OF THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OF LONDON.

ALL THE THEATERS BLINDING LINING THE AVENUE IN THE DISTANCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE HEART OF THE WEST END .

AND OF COURSE, PICCADILLY CIRCUS IS SO ICONIC I THINK IT IS RECOGNIZED BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

YOU SEE IT AND YOU KNOW IT .

IT IS AN EXCITING PLACE TO BE, PICCADILLY CIRCUS .

IT HAS A REAL ENERGY OF ITS OWN.

>> A HECK OF A BUZZ DOWN THERE.

YOU JUST SAW A GLIMPSE OF SOME OF THE DANCERS BEHIND THAT BAND, FOLLOWING ALONG, THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT MEXICAN BAND, INCIDENTALLY , THEY HAVE VIOLINS , AND I’VE NEVER SEEN A MARCHING BAND THAT HAS VIOLINS .

OF COURSE, IT IS GREAT WHEN YOU COME FROM TEMPERATURES OF 30 OR 40 DEGREES .

>> OF COURSE WHEN YOU ARE USE TO SUNSHINE.

>> BUT WHEN YOU COME OVER HERE, PROBABLY NOT QUITE PLEASANT.

I SAW THEY HAD SUITABLE COVER FOR THEM.

>> DOES BEAR WITH MENTIONING BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PRECIOUS INSTRUMENTS ON THE COURSE AS WELL AS OUR PRECIOUS PERFORMERS .

THEY WILL ALL BE TAKING EXTREME CARE OF THEIR INSTRUMENTS IN MAKING SURE THEY ARE ABLE TO GO HOME WITH THEIR INSTRUMENTS IN JUST AS GOOD NICK AS THEY ARRIVED HERE IN LONDON.

>> A VERY QUICK GLIMPSE OF WESTMINSTER , ALL ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY .

WHEN WE SEE MORE OF THEM, WE WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT.

NOW, WE ARE LOOKING AT SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY FROM WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA.

AS YOU SAID EARLIER, DAISY, A VERY, VERY NEW GROUP .

THE UNIVERSITY BAND HAS ONLY BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

>> REALLY YOUNG.

>> WRITE AN ACHIEVEMENT.

YOU CAN SEE THE FLAG GIRLS IN FRONT AND RATHER IMPRESSIVE WITH THE BAND COMING BEHIND IT.

>> GIVING THEIR AGE, THERE WILL POSSIBLY BE KIDS IN THIS FROM THEIR INCEPTION .

MY GUESS IS, WHEN THEY FIRST AUDITIONED FOR THE BAND, THEY NEVER THOUGHT , IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, I WILL BE IN LONDON!

>> A VERY QUICK GLIMPSE THERE.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.

WE SAW THE MAYOR OF WESTMINSTER, JUST JOINING THE GRANDSTAND .

IN FACT, ALL OF THE MAYORS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY ONTO THEIR GRANDSTAND SEATS TO POACH THE WHOLE PARADE AND THEN BORROW ENTRIES COME THROUGH IN THE PROCESSION.

>> YOU CAN SEE THEM FILING IN NOW.

IT IS NICE FOR THEM TO GET TOGETHER AND MEET EACH OTHER, TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT BOROUGHS .

THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF COMMUNITY .

CERTAINLY, AN ELEMENT OF COMPETITION , CERTAINLY, AND IT IS ALL FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL CALLED .

IT MAKES YOU FEEL WARM AND FUZZY ON THE INSIDE.

>> THE LONDON BEARS ASSOCIATION, THE GLUE THAT HOLDS THIS TOGETHER, SENIOR PATRONS OF THESE EVENTS, LED BY STEVE SIMMONS .

AND HE OF COURSE IS IN THE THIRD CARRIAGE .

>> INDEED.

>> SHENANDOAH NOW MAKING THEIR WAY DOWN TO THE TURN TOWARD WATERLOO PLACE .

MAKING THEIR WAY ON INTO ZHIVAGO SQUARE.

>> ALSO A GOOD EXAMPLE , YOU CAN SEE, IT IS NOT JUST THE MUSICIANS OF THE MARCHING BAND.

WE HAVE FLAG BEARERS, CHEERLEADERS , THIS IS A WHOLE MARCHING BAND AND CHEER TEAM , AND THEY REALLY WORK IN CONCERT , MEANING IN CONCERT IN EVERY DEFINITION OF THE WORD, WITH EACH OTHER.

AND IT IS A TEAM EFFORT .

I KNOW ONE OF THEM HAD SAID , THE ROAR OF THE CROWD AS WE WALKED THE PARADE ROUTE, I’M GOING TO BE LIKE, HEY,, I AM ON TV !

AND INDEED THEY ARE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD.

WELCOME TO LONDON , SHENANDOAH.

BOB, I CAN HEAR THE DRUM.

>> I CAN ALSO HEAR THE PIPES .

WHO DO YOU THINK WE HAVE GOT COMING INTO THE ARENA?

>> I THINK WE HAVE OUR SHREE MUKTAJEEVAN SWAMIBAPA BAGPIPE BAND, DID I SAY THAT RIGHT?

>> YOU DID, I WOULD NOT SAY I COULD DO IT IN THE LETTER.

>> JUST LISTEN , THEY ARE FANTASTIC.

>> ENJOY.

>>> SO, DO WE HAVE THE SHREE MUKTAJEEVAN SWAMIBAPA BAGPIPE BAND, MAKING, I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY APPEARANCES THEY HAVE MADE IN THIS PARADE, BUT EVERY TIME, THEY ARE REAL CROWDPLEASERS.

>> THEY ARE A BAND YOU WANT TO LOSE COUNT OF.

YOU WANT THEM HERE EVERY YEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

>> IN THE PEER LOOK AT ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT COLORS .

THEY ARE TRULY BREAKING SOME RAYS OF SUNSHINE TO THE STREETS.

>> AND THEY ARE COMPRISED ENTIRELY OF VOLUNTEERS, PROFESSIONAL SCIENCES, VOLUNTEERS, AND STUDENTS.

THEY ARE ONE OF FIVE EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD PLAYING A REPERTOIRE OF BACKPACKS LIKE WE JUST HEARD, AS WELL AS CLASSICAL INDIAN MUSIC .

>> THEY HAVE, INDEED.

YOU CAN CATCH THEM IN THE USA, CANADA, INDIA , AND AFRICA.

THEY ARE AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP, AS YOU SAY, BOB .

AND WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM, AGAIN.

>> BEFORE TOO LONG, WE WILL BE SEEING THE FIRST OF THE BOROUGHS COMING DOWN .

IN FACT, THERE THEY ARE MAKING THEIR WAY INTO THE ARENA.

THEIR ENTRY THIS YEAR IS CALLED SUTTON PUSHES THE BOAT OUT.

DO WE KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT?

>> WE DO, WE KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT SUTTON, HOME TO THE HISTORIC PARK, AND LINZ CITY IN GREEN LIVING PERFECTLY.

SUTTON OF COURSE MEANS SOUTH VILLAGE.

ONE OF THE LONDON BOROUGHS REPORTED IN THE DOOMSDAY BOOK , WHICH REALLY DOES MAKE IT ANCIENT AND FANTASTIC .

WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE AS THEY PUSH THEIR BOAT OUT , WHO KNOWS WHAT LIES BENEATH THAT STILL SURFACE ?

>> AND OF COURSE, THEY WERE THE CHAMPIONS LAST YEAR.

THEY CAME IN FIRST, THEY WON FIRST PRIZE AND WON 10,000 POUNDS.

IF YOU SEE A MERMAID ON THAT FLOAT, THAT WILL BE CHRISTINE LINDSAY, WHO FORMED HER WORK FOR THE CHARITIES IN SUTTON HAS BEEN AWARDED AN MBA.

AND QUITE RIGHTLY SO.

SHE WORKS PHENOMENALLY HARD , AND ALWAYS PRODUCES REALLY ENTERTAINING AND FABULOUS INFORMATION FOR SUTTON.

>> THE CROWD FLOATS ABOVE THE WATERLINE FOR THOSE MERMAIDS AND HIMSELF WILL END UP COMING OUT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HIM.

>> ONCE WE SEE THE FLOAT, WE WILL WANT TO SEE NEPTUNE.

YOU NEVER KNOW YOUR LUCK .

WATCH OUT FOR THAT MERMAID.

THERE SHE IS, I CAN SEE HER, SECOND ONE LEFT, JUST PASSING OUT OF THAT PICTURE .

>> AND THAT BOAT IS ROCKING , AS IT RIDES ON THE OCEAN WAVES .

AGAIN, THESE FLOATS GET BIGGER AND BETTER , AND MORE SOPHISTICATED EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

IT IS A NEW YEAR’S DAY PARTY ON TOP OF THAT FLOAT, BOB .

>> I DON’T THINK THEY HAVE BEEN DAUNTED BY THE WEATHER AT ALL .

IN FACT, NOBODY SHOULD BE DAUNTED BY THE WEATHER, IT HAS PRETTY MUCH STOPPED RAINING.

DON’T SAY ANYTHING.

>> I WILL NOT , IT IS JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME .

YOU CAN SEE OTHER FANTASY GREETERS ON THEIR FLOAT.

THEY HAVE GOT MICKEY AND MINNIE MOUSE ON A SUMMER TRIP OUT.

DOESN’T IT LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE A BIT OF SUMMER, OR NEW YEAR’S DAY , IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE GOT A BIT OF SUMMER.

>> OF COURSE , THEY WILL BE HOPING THEY CAN EMULATE THEIR SUCCESS OF LAST YEAR, BUT LET’S HOPE THEY ALL WIN.

>> THEY DO ALL WIN, THEY DO.

WELL, I MUST SAY , I DO HAVE A SOFT SPOT IN MY HEART FOR THE BOROUGH AND CITY OF WESTMINSTER, WHICH IS WHERE MY ROOTS ARE IN THE CITY.

I’M A LITTLE BIASED, I MUST SAY , BOB, I CAN’T HELP MYSELF.

>> OF COURSE , WE ALL OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER , BECAUSE THEY LET OTHERS COME INTO THEIR BORROW EVERY YEAR IN THE HEART OF LONDON AND PERFORM THE PARADE.

WESTMINSTER IS THE HEART OF LONDON.

I MUST SAY, WITH THE MOST FABULOUS TEAM OF EVENT SUPPORTERS IN WESTMINSTER WHO MAKE THIS THING SO EASY FOR US EVERY YEAR TO OPERATE THIS PARADE , GIVE US FANTASTIC SUPPORT.

COMING INTO THE ARENA NOW, HERE WE HAVE THEM, OLENTANGY LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND .

WE GREET THEM BY SAYING O-H!

ALWAYS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MAGNIFICENT TRAVIS HICKS .

HERE THEY GO.

LET’S LISTEN TO THEM.

>> ARE WE GOING STRAIGHT TO JOE AND SWARZY, OR AM I TOSSING TO THEM?

FANTASTIC STUFF!

DOING THE TIME WARP , AS WE HEAD INTO ANOTHER YEAR, HAPPY 2025, EVERYONE.

>> REALLY GOOD AND, OLENTANGY LIBERTY FROM OLENTANGY, OHIO, A FEW MILES FROM COLUMBUS.

>> AM I RIGHT IN THEY PERFORMED VIRTUALLY IN 2021?

>> YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE IN 2021, BUT THE BODY COULD.

THEY PERFORMED ALONG WITH MOLLY HOCKING, THEY DID NOT KNOW IT, BUT THEY DID .

>> WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE.

>> JUST GETTING A QUICK LOOK AT THOSE MINI MOKES , ACTUALLY, IT WAS LAST YEAR’S PARADE WE WERE LOOKING AT SWARZY AND JOE .

THIS YEAR, WE SAW MS. CHRISTMAS .

THERE SHE IS HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME, AS SHE ALWAYS DOES, SPREADING HAPPINESS, JOY AND LAUGHTER.

ALMOST ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE.

>> WITH THAT SAID , THINKING ABOUT THEM ON THOSE MINI MOKES LAST YEAR, I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHAT JOE AND SWARZY ARE UP TO RIGHT NOW .

JOE AND SWARZY, WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

>> HI, IT IS JOE AND SWARZY, WE ARE HERE WITH JOHN LENNON!

HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS SO FAR?

>> VERY WELL.

>> VERY QUICKLY, CAN YOU TELL US WHO YOU ARE REPRESENTING TODAY?

BOROUGH SUTTON , GOOD LUCK, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> WELL, NOW COMING INTO VIEW ME WE HAVE THE RIVERVIEW GUILTY BAND FROM SARASOTA, FLORIDA .

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A FEW MINUTES AGO, JOE AND SWARZY WERE TALKING TO SOME PARENTS OF THIS AND .

WE WERE TELLING THEM, DON’T WORRY ABOUT BEING COLD , YOU WILL SEE YOUR FAMILY VERY, VERY SOON COMING THROUGH.

WONDERFUL BAND .

OF COURSE, THEY ARE TILTED, THEY WILL HAVE ENJOYED BEING AROUND THE -- >> INDEED, I WONDER HOW MANY KILTS THERE ARE IN THIS PARADE.

>> I HAVE SEEN THIS MAN AND IN SARASOTA HERE THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL.

A FABULOUS, FABULOUS BAND.

ONE OF TWO GROUPS WE HAVE FROM SARASOTA COMING FOR THE PARADE.

YOU WILL BE SEEING THE OTHER ONE, VENICE, IN A FEW MOMENTS TIME.

IT HAS BEEN A TERRIFIC EFFORT FROM THESE STUDENTS, FROM THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

THEY WERE STRUCK BY PHENOMENALLY , HORRENDOUS HURRICANE .

WE COMPLAIN ABOUT WEATHER HERE, THAT IS NOTHING.

THEY WERE DEVASTATED BY THE -- >> BIG BAD AMERICAN WEATHER.

>> JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND YET, THEY ARE STILL HERE ON THE STREETS OF LONDON TO SEE US.

>> THEY ARE STILL HERE.

DESPITE THEIR KILTS, THE TEAM IS CALLED THE SHARKS .

THEY HAVE A REALLY IMPRESSIVE CREST AT RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL THAT STRESSES THEIR CORE VALUES OF SUCCESS, LEARNING, UNITY, LOYALTY, AND INTEGRITY.

THAT IS WHAT THESE KIDS ARE BEING TAUGHT, BEING INSTILLED WITH .

THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE BRINGING TO LONDON AS WELL TODAY AS THEY KICK OFF 2025 .

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY.

>> IT WILL BE A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE WE SEE THEM IN THE ARENA, BUT THEY ARE THRILLED, I KNOW THAT, AS THEY MAKE THEIR TURN .

>> BOB, AS THESE BANDS AND THESE ACTS ARE WAITING TO GET ON THE ROUTE , BECAUSE THEY ARE WAITING TO GET ON THE ROUTE, WHAT MUST THAT FEEL LIKE TO ME THAT ANTICIPATION?

>> I THINK THEY ARE A LITTLE DAUNTED AT TIMES, BUT THEY DON’T NORMALLY PERFORM FOR CROWDS OF THIS SORT OF SIZE, A LITTLE TREPIDATION, BUT AS SOON AS THEY GET OUT THERE AND THEY FEEL THE WARMTH OF THE CROWD, IF NOT THE TEMPERATURE, THE WATER IS WARMTH COMING FROM THE CROWD, AND THE FACT THAT THEY WANT TO SEE THEM PERFORM, THEY WANT TO ENJOY THEM, THEY WANT TO GIVE THEM A REALLY WARM WELCOME TO OUR CITY, AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENS , THEN THEY ARE RELAXED AND THEY PLAY REALLY WELL.

>> CERTAINLY A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CROWD AND THE BANDS.

THEY WANT THE CROWD TO BE SO HAPPY AND THE CROWD ONCE THEM TO BE SO HAPPY, AND THE END RESULT IS SO MUCH HAPPINESS BEING SHARED IN THE STREETS ALONG THE ROUTE TODAY IN LONDON AND EACH NEW YEAR’S DAY.

>> I THINK WE GET A GLIMPSE OF PROBABLY TANDEM BOROUGH’S INJURY ENTRY .

VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO PERFORM AS THEY GET ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE, ONCE THEY GET THEMSELVES INTO SOME SORT OF SEMBLANCE OF ORDER, THEY WILL BE PUTTING ON A PRETTY GOOD SHOW, I AM SURE OF THAT.

>> DID YOU KNOW THERE IS 150 MILLION BOOKS IN CAMDEN ?

>> I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA .

IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE BRITISH IQ MARKED >> CORRECT.

655 KILOMETERS, OR KILOMETERS, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU PRONOUNCE IT, OF SHELVES .

>> THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF HISTORY IN LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN .

THAT IS QUITE A LANDMARK.

>> SOMETHING ELSE INTERESTING ABOUT CAMDEN COME OF THE FIRST BOUNCY CASTLE.

>> WE HAVE ALL BEEN TO CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY PARTIES, WE’VE ALL SEEN THEM HERE WHO KNEW THEY STARTED INDEED IN CAMDEN?

ALSO THE HOME OF PUNK ROCK NUMBER BERNARD SHAW, CHARLES DICKENS, JOHN KEITH .

>> WESTMINISTER CLAIMS THE HEART OF THE THEATER DISTRICT.

ACTUALLY A GOOD NUMBER OF LONDONERS SITUATED IN THE LONDON BOROUGH CABINET .

>> SUCH A FUN PLACE TO SPEND THE AFTERNOON IF YOU’RE NOT FROM CAMDEN , A GREAT PLACE TO SPEND SOME TIME.

>> IT IS LOVELY OUT THERE.

PERFORMANCE VENUES AND GREAT RESTAURANTS OUT THERE.

>> NOW WE ARE SEEING THE MOTO-STUNTS INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE, REGULAR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS .

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MANY STUNTS THEY CAN OWN .

WE WERE A BIT CONCERNED WHEN THE ROADS WERE VERY WET AND GREASY A LITTLE EARLIER, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL BE ABSOLUTELY FINE .

>> OH YES, THEY WILL LIGHT THE STREETS ON FIRE, SO TO SPEAK.

AND AS YOU SAY, THEY HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE , AND WE HAVE ENJOYED THEM SO MUCH AND THE CROWD ALWAYS ENJOYS THAT .

THEY HEAR THE ROAR OF THE ENGINE AND THEY KNOW SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING IS COMING AROUND THE BEND.

>> WE SAW YOUNG PEOPLE MEANDERING AROUND THE STREETS , A PART OF THE PARADE WITH PONCHOS, WATERPROOF PONCHOS, AND WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL GROUPS OF THEM ACTUALLY COME THROUGH SO FAR.

THESE ARE THE POOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO BE HANDLING OUR GIANT HELIUM FIELD CHARACTER BALLOONS , THAT UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONE CASUALTY OF THE PARADE, OF THE WEATHER THIS YEAR WAS THOSE BALLOONS .

WE SAID TO THE KIDS , YOU HAVE BEEN PART-- YOU ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF THE PARADE, CARRY ON BEING A PART OF THE PARADE.

GIVE THE CROWD A WAVE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN LONDON THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE DAYS, THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING CONCERTS AT SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC VENUES WE HAVE IN LONDON .

I HAVE MANAGED TO GET TO ONE OR TWO OF THEM THIS YEAR.

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL MUSIC AND DANCE.

>> WE WELCOME THEM TO LONDON .

I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT JOE AND SWARZY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

WHAT’S GOING ON?

>> YOU BROUGHT US THE SUNSHINE!

HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD, THANK YOU.

>> I JUST JUMPED IN TO SAY, HOW SPECTACULAR YOU ARE LOOKING.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO GET ESTABLISHED AS A SPORT .

>> MY GRANDDAD WOULD DO VERY WELL IN THAT SPORT.

LOVE IT!

>> WE ARE ALL TAKING PARTS .

>> AND NOW, HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING YOURSELF SO FAR?

>> FANTASTICAL !

>> GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR, KING!

>> WE WILL LET THEM GET ON , HAPPY NEW YEAR !

>> JOE AND SWARZY, YOU WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR THOSE OTHERS, JOE, OTHERWISE , YOU MIGHT GET A LITTLE CAUGHT UP .

I AM JUST SAYING HERE -- WHERE ARE THEY?

THEY ARE MAKING THAT TURN INTO WHITE HALL, THE FIRST OF THE LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE WHITE HALL STAGES.

WE WILL BE HEARING A FULL PERFORMANCE FROM RIKA WHEN SHE GETS IN THE PERFORMANCE AREA .

MEANWHILE, SHE IS GIVING HER GREAT MUSICAL TALENT TO EVERYBODY ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE ON OUR MOBILE STAGE.

WE WILL BE HEARING FROM HER BEFORE TOO LONG .

>> PRETTY MUCH ANY KIND OF MUSIC YOU CAN THINK OF IS REPRESENTED TODAY, BETWEEN THE BANDS, THE ACTS, AS YOU SAY, THE MOBILE STAGE , WORKING ITS WAY DOWN.

WE GOT EVERYTHING, A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF LONDON, BECAUSE LONDON DOES HAVE EVERYTHING.

♪ ♪ >> THAT IS GETTING A GLIMPSE HERE OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL BAND , A BAND FROM GEORGIA, MAKING THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE IN LONDON’S NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

THEY ARE CURRENTLY SOMEWHERE-- PICCADILLY , I THINK BY THE LOOKS OF THINGS AND THEY WILL BE GIVING A PERFORMANCE WITHIN HALF AN HOUR.

WE ACTUALLY HAD THEM PERFORM EARLIER.

THEY ARE IN WATERLOO PLACE.

>> I TRIED TO LOOK UP HOW MANY JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOLS THERE WERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BOB, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, A.I.

COULD NOT HANDLE IT!

COULDN’T HANDLE IT !

THERE ARE SO MANY .

AND THIS ONE IS THE BEST , AND YOU KNOW WHY, BECAUSE THEY ARE HERE AND THEY HAVE THE SMARTS TO MAKE IT OVER TO LONDON, AND WE ARE SO HAPPY THEY DID, AS DID VENICE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND FROM VENICE, FLORIDA, NOT VENICE, CALIFORNIA, BY THE WAY .

NOT MY NEIGHBORS DOWN THE STREET, BUT INDEED THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY.

>> JUST DOWN FROM SARASOTA, RIVERVIEW , WHERE THE KILTES COME FROM.

>> AND BOY, DO THEY TAKE THEIR MUSIC FIERCELY .

>> OF COURSE, THE MARGIN YOU SEE NOW, MUCH EXCITEMENT ON ALL OF THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, LOTS OF EXCLAMATION POINTS EVERYWHERE, BOB, I CAN TELL YOU.

>> AND AGAIN, MAKING THOSE PRECISION TERMS, NOT AN EASY THING TO DO WHEN YOU ARE HOLDING A TUBA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THE OTHER THING ABOUT THAT, THESE MARCHING BANDS, THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME IN THE UNITED STATES, THEY PERFORM FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

>> THAT IS RIGHT, HALFTIME SHOWS.

>> AMERICAN FOOTBALL, NOT PROPER FOOTBALL .

THE PRECISION AND INTRICACY OF WHAT THEY DO, HOW THEY NOT ONLY MARCH AND PLAY, THAT ALWAYS AMAZES ME , MARGIN PATTERNS , FORMAL LETTERS AND SHAPES ON THE FIELD, AND OFTEN INTERSECTING WITHOUT SOMEHOW KNOCKING EACH OTHER OVER .

>> AND THEY DO IT FOR 10 MINUTES, AMAZING.

UNIVERSITIES LEARN A ROUTINE EVERY MATCH, EVERY GAME .

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THEY GIVE A DIFFERENT HALFTIME SHOW FOR EVERY SINGLE GAME.

A LOT OF OUR AMERICAN VIEWERS WILL BE MORE THAN FAMILIAR WITH THIS.

I SAY TO THOSE VIEWERS , CAN YOU IMAGINE COMING TO LONDON, GETTING TO DO THIS , KNOWING THAT YOUR FAMILY BACK HOME IS WATCHING TELEVISION, OR MAYBE AT HOME IN THE CROWD, WAITING ON YOU SO THAT THEY CAN WAVE AT YOU WITH SO MUCH PRIDE , JUST WONDERFUL.

>> THEY ARE GETTING A GLIMPSE OF JUST HOW FINE WE SAW THE DONKEY BREED SOCIETY, ALWAYS EXTREMELY POPULAR.

THIS IS THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER IN THE BOROUGH COMPETITION THIS YEAR.

A FLOAT BASED ALL AROUND SUSTAINABILITY .

AFTER AS WELL IS THERE LORD MAYOR WHO WILL GREET THEM AT THE TEMPLE .

>> AND AS YOU WERE SAYING, THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, REALLY KNOWN AS THE HEART OF LONDON, BOASTING OVER 11,000 BUILDINGS OF INTEREST, NOT 11,000 BUILDINGS , 11,000 BUILDINGS OF INTEREST TO HISTORICAL INTEREST, CULTURAL INTEREST .

YOU REALLY CAN’T TAKE A STEP WITHOUT FINDING SOMETHING HISTORICALLY INTERESTING IN WESTMINSTER.

>> AND NOW, WE ARE SEEING SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY.

THEY ARE JUST WAITING TO INTO THE ARENA , HOT ON THE HEELS OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER ENTRY .

WAITING PATIENTLY TO COME IN.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR THEM.

THEY KNOW IT IS ALL ABOUT TO GO DOWN IN THE BEST WAY.

>> A LOOK VERY HAPPY TO ME, SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS .

>> DO YOU HEAR THAT, BOB?

FANTASTIC, THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER DRIVES PAST US AND SHENANDOAH GETS READY .

AS I SAID EARLIER ABOUT SHENANDOAH, THEY ARE REALLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A ROCK BAND WITH THEM AS WELL AS THEIR MARCHING BAND.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN , WITH A COMMENT TO THE ARENA IN A COUPLE OF SECONDS WE WILL SEE THEM COME IN, AND THE MARCHING BAND WILL FORM IN FRONT OF THE GRANDSTAND HERE, AND BEHIND THAT IS GOING TO COME IN THE ROCK BAND .

AND THEY ARE ALL GOING TO PLAY TOGETHER.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE CENTERPOINT AS THEY MARCH IN, ONCE THEY REACH THE CENTERPOINT, THEY WILL TURN, FACE THE GRANDSTANDS, AND WITH ROCK BAND BEHIND THEM, GIVE A TERRIFIC PERFORMANCE .

>> I CAN CERTAINLY HEAR THE CROWD CHEERING, AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS CHEERING IN ANTICIPATION OF ANOTHER GREAT PERFORMANCE HERE AT THE LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

>> SO, LET’S JUST LISTEN TO THEM.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO BE PLAYING FOR US?

>> THEY WILL BE PLAYING A VARIETY OF THINGS.

LET’S SEE .

>> PROBABLY 25 OR 64 FROM THE ROCK BAND.

>> YES, WE ARE GETTING "MERCY, MERCY ."

IT IS GOING TO BE GREAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND THAT WILL BE THERE FIGHT SONG, BOB.

>> IT IS INDEED THERE FIGHT SONG.

THEY WERE TERRIFIC , DON’T YOU THINK.

THE NOBLE THING OF THEM HAVING THEIR ROCK BAND BEHIND THEM TO BOOST THEIR SOUND , NOT THAT THEY NEED MUCH BOOSTING .

THAT WAS TERRIFIC.

>> WE CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT, I’D LIKE TO HEAR THEM PLAY AGAIN.

THIS ALWAYS FILLS MY HEART .

A WONDERFUL CHARITY SINCE 1987 , DEDICATED TO THE EDUCATION AND PREVENTING CRUELTY TO THESE WONDERFUL CREATURES AND IMPROVING THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF SOME PEOPLE THAT GET TO GO DOWN, SPEND TIME WITH THE DONKEYS, LEARN ABOUT THEM AND TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN DONKEYS SHOULD THEY HAVE SOME, AND I THINK DONKEYS ARE BELOVED IN THIS COUNTRY, ARTHUR, BOB.

THEY ARE A PART OF THIS SEASIDE TRADITION .

>> THESE DONKEYS ARE LOVED .

VERY, VERY HAPPY DONKEYS , BUT THEY WEREN’T AT ONE TIME.

THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK IT IS NOT A GOOD THING TO PUT DONKEYS ON DISPLAY LIKE THAT, BUT THESE DONKEYS LOVE IT.

THEY HAVE BEEN NURTURED, TAKEN AFTER BEING BADLY TREATED AND LOOKED AFTER SO WELL NOW.

>> AND HERE THEY ARE.

IT IS GOOD TO SPREAD THE WORD.

THEY WANT EVERY DONKEY TO HAVE A GOOD LIFE AND BE TREATED WITH LOVE AND CARE.

>> AND LOOK WHO WE HAVE GOT COMING FAIRLY SOON.

WE WILL HAVE THE VARSITY SPIRIT CHEERLEADERS.

>> IT WOULD NOT BE A LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE WITHOUT SOME CHEERLEADERS .

>> IT ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT .

BEFORE WE GET TO THEM, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE GROUP OF LATIN AMERICANS AS WELL.

THEY SHOULD BE PLAYING AS THEY GET THROUGH THE ARENA HERE, ANYWAY ME STILL LOOKING AT THOSE CHEERLEADERS AGES TO COME AND JOIN US AND GIVE THEIR KEYNOTE PERFORMANCES TO US .

I THINK THE FIRST GROUP WILL BE PLAYING TO "DON’T STOP ME NOW" BY QUEEN.

BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WHAT ON EARTH ARE JOE AND SWARZY UP TO NOW ?

IT GETS MORE AND MORE BIZARRE BY THE MOMENT AS WE SEE THEM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?

>> THIS IS LIKE A CHILDHOOD DREAM .

WE ARE HERE WITH THE RINGMASTER.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

THE KIDDIES ALONG THE ROAD, EXCITED TO SEE YOU.

>> IT IS FANTASTIC, BUT HAS NOT DAMPENED OUR SPIRITS.

IT IS FANTASTIC.

I AM LOVING IT.

THE MOST AMAZING COSTUMES .

>> THIS IS WHAT HAMLEYS BRINGS!

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> FANTASTIC !

THANK YOU, GUYS .

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE HAVING FUN UP THERE, ANYWAY.

JUST ABOUT TO LOOK AT THE OF COURSE ROYAL PART OF GREENWICH WITH THEIR ENTRY INTO THE PARADE.

IT IS HUGE , THEY ARE FRONTED UP BY THE MAYOR, WHO ARE VERY PROUD TO BE LEADING THROUGH THE ENTRY FROM THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH.

>> FOR THE AMERICANS WATCHING , IF YOU ARE THINKING, DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GREENWICH MEAN TIME , IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

THAT IS WHERE GREENWICH MEAN TIME COMES FROM, ALSO THE FIRST GOLF CLUB OF ENGLAND.

NOT IN THE BRITISH ISLES, BUT THE GOLF CLUB , AND THE FIRST RAILWAY OF LONDON FROM 1836 WAS FROM GREENWICH TO LONDON, ALSO A LOVELY PLACE TO SPEND THE DAY, JUST BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE.

>> IT IS, ESPECIALLY IN GOOD WEATHER!

I SAY, IT IS A LOVELY PLACE.

>> A HISTORIC JIM, YOU MIGHT SAY .

>> VERY COLORFUL INJURY TOO.

MUST REPRESENT ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES .

>> AND THAT IS NOTHING ABOUT LONDON , IT IS AN INCREDIBLE INTERNATIONAL CITY .

I DON’T THINK THERE IS ONE BOROUGH THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE WORLD IN IT , AND THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF WHEN YOU COME HERE, YOU REALLY ARE A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD, AND IT IS SOMETHING TO BE A PART OF ME TRULY.

>> THEY SAY, THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF ROAD GREENWICH, AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE LENDING PAST AND PRESENT WITH A THICK SECULAR DISPLAY OF UNITY, HERITAGE, AND GENEROSITY.

>> AND LOOK AT THAT ARTISTRY TOO , MAY I SAY.

LOOK AT THAT.

>> GETTING MORE A AS THEY GO ON, TERRIFIC.

THERE IS OUR DONKEYS AGAIN.

I HOPE THEY ARE ENJOYING THEMSELVES.

>> I HOPE THERE IS A BUNCH OF TREATS FOR THEM AT THE END OF THIS ROUTE.

I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE.

SUCH A CROWDPLEASER, AREN’T THEY?

>> THEY REALLY ARE.

NOW I AM TRYING TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DEPARTED US, ENJOYING THEMSELVES, THAT IS GREENWICH , STILL.

>> GOING PAST THE ICONIC , AS WE JUST SAW, GOING AROUND PARLIAMENT SQUARE.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT BEARS MENTIONING , WHEN YOU FINISH THIS PARADE AND GET TO THE END OF THE ROUTE AND BIG BEN IS THERE TO WELCOME YOU , IT REALLY IS!

>> ALSO PARLIAMENT SQUARE, THEY ARE ALL TREATED BY THE STATUE OF SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL , ONE OF OUR ASSUMING PATRONS OF THE PARADE IS THE GREAT-GRANDSON, DUNCAN STANDS.

WHEN HE IS OFFERING INVITATIONS FOR GROUPS TO COME HERE, YAHWEH SAYS, LOOK OUT FOR MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER, GIVE YOU A RIGHT SMILE AS YOU COME OFF THE PARADE ROUTE.

ANYWAY WE WILL LISTEN TO ANOTHER BAND!

>> WONDERFUL STUFF THERE FROM ODESSA HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND, THE DUCKS!

>> THE DUCKS, ALL THE WAY FROM DELAWARE , AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF THE PARADE, BRIAN , MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL SEVERAL YEARS RUNNING TO THE PARADE.

THIS IS HIS NEW SCHOOL.

IT LOOKS LIKE A TERRIFIC GROUP AGAIN , JUST LIKE UPPER MIDDLETON.

>> THIS IS THE TREND, BOB, ONCE ONE OF THESE DIRECTORS COMES AND ENJOYS THE PARADE AND SEES WHAT IT DOES FOR THE KIDS, AS WELL AS THE PROGRAM, HOW COULD YOU NOT WANT TO BRING EVERY PROGRAM YOU ARE AFFILIATED WITH AND ASSOCIATED WITH?

>> EXACTLY.

AND THERE THEY GO, FINISHING OUT WEEK, ONE OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, WESTMINSTER.

COMING INTO THE ARENA, WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT THE SOUNDSTAGE WITH RIKA WHEN IT AND I SAID, SHE WILL BE WITH US BEFORE TOO LONG TO GIVE HER KEY PERFORMANCE, AND SHE WILL BE DOING THAT VERY , VERY SHORTLY WITH A VERY SPECIAL INTRODUCTION.

HAVING A QUICK LOOK UP THE PARADE ROUTE NOW, SO NOW WE HAVE GOT A VERY, VERY SPECIAL PERSON WHO IS GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR NEXT GREAT SINGING GUEST.

>> HI, EVERYONE.

I AM DIANE WARREN .

I AM SO THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THE 39th ANNUAL LONDON’S NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE, THE GREATEST PARADE IN THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD .

I AM EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THE INCREDIBLY TALENTED RIKA, PERFORMING MY SONG, "EXOTIC," HER NEW SINGLE FOR THE NEW YEAR.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO START 2025 THEN WITH NEW MUSIC THAT IGNITES US AND JOINS US.

WISHING YOU PEACE IN THE NEW YEAR AND HOPE FOR BRITAIN AND THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> RIKA THERE .

YOU CAN HEAR THE CROWD RESPONDING TO HER .

SHE HAS GOT AN AMAZING VOICE AND I THINK WE WILL BE SPEAKING TO HER A LITTLE LATER ON IN THE SHOW .

SHE CERTAINLY BROUGHT IT IN THE STREETS OF LONDON TODAY.

HAPPY 2025.

THANK YOU TO DIANE WARREN, ALSO.

>> THANK YOU, DIANE FOR SAYING THE GREATEST EVENTS IN THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD.

>> SHE IS A TALENTED WOMAN I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO WORK WITH HER A FEW YEARS AGO ON PBS.

THANK YOU, DIANE WARREN.

>> A QUICK LOOK ABOUT.

IT WILL BE VERY ENTERTAINING FOR US A LITTLE LATER.

THE WORLD-FAMOUS HARDIN SIMMONS COWBOY BAND FROM THE UNITED STATES.

>> LOOK AT THAT, THEY BROUGHT THEIR 10 GALLON HATS WITH THEM FROM ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

JOE AND SWARZY, WHAT IS GOING ON DOWN THE STREET?

>> WE ARE ON THE TOP OF A BUS!

>> AS IF TODAY WASN’T SURREAL ENOUGH , WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE UNDERPASS .

>> IT IS AMAZING.

IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK UP, EVERYONE AROUND, IF YOU WAVE , THEY WAVE BACK!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE !

>> I DON’T KNOW ANY CHILD OR ADULT THAT DOES NOT LOVE HAMI’S .

THE CHOI EMPORIUM IS WHAT IT WAS CALLED .

>> PROBABLY THE GREATEST TOYSHOP IN THE WORLD .

>> WHEN IT FIRST OPENED, IT WAS CALLED NOAH’S ARK AND IN 1837 IT WAS KNOWN AS THE CHOI EMPORIUM .

IT WAS LATER IT BECAME HAMLEYS, BUT IT IS INTERNATIONALLY LOVED!

>> I AM DELIGHTED WE HAVE AN ASSOCIATION WITH HAMLEYS, I REALLY AM .

NOW WE CAN SEND EVERYBODY TO HAMLEYS TO WARM UP AND BUY MORE PRESENTS.

>> DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN DO AN OVERNIGHT AT HAMLEYS ?

>> I THINK I HAVE HEARD OF THAT .

I THINK IT WAS A PRIZE IN A COMPETITION.

>> LIFE GOALS, BOB, LIFE GOALS.

>> THERE GOES THE HAMLEYS BUS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HAMLEYS.

>> TRULY A JOYFUL PLACE TO WALK IN .

YOU CAN’T WALK PAST IT WITHOUT GETTING A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND CANDY.

>> HAMLEYS , OF COURSE LOCATED ON REGENT STREET .

>> HERE WE ARE BACK AT START OF THE PARADE .

ONE OF LONDON’S MOST HISTORIC GRADES.

>> SHOUT OUT TO MY BEST FRIEND’S MOTHER WHO USED TO BE THE GENERAL MANAGER AT THE RITZ HOTEL.

MICHAEL DUFFEY .

I WAS SO LUCKY TO GET TO FOR QUITE A FEW LUNCHES AS A TEENAGER BECAUSE OF THAT ASSOCIATION AND I WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A SOFT SPOT IN MY HEART.

WHEN MY FATHER WOULD SING, HE WOULD TALK ABOUT ANGELS DINING AT THE RITZ , AND I WOULD ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THAT AND HOW LUCKY I WAS.

>> IT IS A VERY LOVELY HOTEL.

WONDERFUL FOR THE START OF THE PARADE.

NOW, WE ARE GETTING SOMETHING RATHER SPECIAL.

>> REALLY SPECIAL.

>> THE LONDON DRUMMERS .

LET’S LISTEN TO THEM.

>> HAVE WE ACTUALLY GOT A CAMERA?

>> FANTASTIC!

I WILL TELL YOU , WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING , THEY ARE MOVED SOMETIMES TO JUST EXPLAIN THAT THEY WILL EXPLAIN JUST WHEN THE SPIRIT TAKES THEM .

IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO KEEP QUIET DURING THAT, BOB .

THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING.

I SAW THEM EARLIER .

YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR HEART.

>> THEY WERE PRETTY GOOD, WEREN’T THEY?

I AM VERY PLEASED TO SAY, BEFORE TOO LONG, WE WILL HAVE JOJI JOINING US IN THE STUDIO, ALONGSIDE WESTMINSTER, THE GUY WHO SUGGESTED WE SHOULD HAVE JOJI HIROTA & THE LONDON TAIKO DRUMMERS HERE.

BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER WONDERFUL BAND, THE ONE WE SAW A WHILE AGO, THIS IS THE OCEAN SPRINGS BAND.

WHEN THEY COME, IT WILL BE A REAL TREAT .

BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, A FABULOUS, FABULOUS TREAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE.

THOSE WONDERFUL KILTES , ALL THE WAY FROM SARASOTA, FLORIDA.

>> THERE THEY ARE, IN THEIR KILTS LOOKING RIGHT AT HOME HERE IN THE UK.

>> THERE FAVOR, THIS BAND SPREADS FAR AND WIDE RIGHT TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AS I SAID EARLIER, IT IS QUITE A FANTASTIC THING FOR THEM TO JOIN US TODAY.

THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WAS DEVASTATED BY A SHOCKING HURRICANE JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

>> IT SHOWS THEIR COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND DETERMINATION TO MAKE IT OVER HERE IN ONE PIECE.

>> LET’S GIVE THEM A LISTEN .

LET’S GIVE A LISTEN TO THE RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE WONDERFUL TAMARA LEWIS .

♪ >> WELL DONE, WELL DONE, RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND , AND WELL DONE GETTING OVER HERE, AFTER EVERYTHING THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH.

IT DOES FILL THE HEART, DOESN’T IT, TO SEE THESE KIDS ?

REALLY WONDERFUL STUFF .

CONGRATULATIONS, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THEM.

THEY REALLY, REALLY DO!

>> ANYWAY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE IN THE ARENA SHORTLY, WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING THOSE MOTEL STUNTS GUYS, THAT WILL BE SLIGHTLY TERRIFYING AND THE LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN COMING IN.

IN STUDIO, WE WILL HAVE THE FIRST CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER ME THE PERSON, REALLY WHO LETS THESE EVENTS HAPPEN EVERY YEAR, OR DOESN’T, HE IS PRETTY IMPORTANT, AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED .

HE HAD A VERY CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH THE TAIKO DRUMMERS AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD SOME JAPANESE TAIKO DRUMMERS COMING IN.

AND I ASSUME THAT WE WILL BE JOINED BY JOJI HIROTA OF THE TAIKO DRUMMERS AS SOON AS HE IS DRIED OFF.

>> ANYWAY, YOU’RE ONLY GOING TO HEAR IT FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO ROBERT RIGBY .

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, ARE YOU ENJOYING THE PARADE SO FAR, DESPITE THE WEATHER ?

>> YES, I AM LIKE A TRAINED GRANT .

I HAVE BEEN ON THE PARADE ROUTE, NONETHELESS, IT IS A GREAT EVENT.

IT BRINGS SO MUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS TO THE STREETS OF LONDON, DESPITE THE BRITISH WEATHER.

>> ALTHOUGH YOU ARE THE LORD MAYOR THIS YEAR , FOR ONE YEAR, YOU HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN PART IN THE PARADE ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS BEFORE, HAVEN’T YOU?

>> I WAS.

I WAS POUNDING THE STREETS OF THIS GREAT CITY SOME YEARS AGO AS A PART OF A MEMBERS PARADE .

THIS YEAR IS EXTRA SPECIAL FOR ME, BOB .

I AM VERY HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE THE LORD MAYOR OF THIS WONDERFUL CITY OF WESTMINSTER.

AND YOU’RE VERY KIND IN TELLING EVERYONE THAT IT IS UP TO ME THAT T█HIS PARADE TAKES PLACE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT IS, BUT IT IS NOT.

I AM JUST A FIGUREHEAD.

IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE FAMILY BUSINESSES AND THE SO MUCH JOY ON THE STREETS OF LONDON .

THIS HAS BECOME A HISTORIC EVENT NOW FOR ME I THINK SINCE 1987.

>> THIS IS OUR 39th YEAR .

IT HAS REALLY BECOME A TRADITION AND I HOPE YOU WILL COME NEXT YEAR FOR OUR 40th PARTY .

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WON’T BE IN MY REGULARLY AS THE FIRST CITIZEN, BUT WOULD CERTAINLY LOVE TO COME, BOB .

>> WHY IS IT YOU ARE SO INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE WE HAD JAPANESE PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR?

>> I AM DELIGHTED YOU LISTENED TO ME, BOB .

ABSOLUTELY JAPAN RESONATES WITH ME FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, FIRST, THE GOOD LADY MAYORS , MY WIFE, IS THE FIRST LADY , SHE’S THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD THAT POSITION.

AND IN THE UK, JAPAN IS A SPECIAL YEAR FOR US, EARLIER WE HAVE THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF JAPAN VISITING .

I THOUGHT, RIDING OFF THE BACK OF THAT, WE SHOULD HAVE A JAPANESE CONNECTION.

I AM DELIGHTED WE HAD AN ELEMENT THE APPEARANCE >> HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO JOJI THIS YEAR?

>> I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO JOJI BUT I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO ONCE HE TRIES OUT.

>> I AM SURE WE WILL HAVE A CHAT WITH HIM LATER, AND HOPEFULLY FIND OUT HE ENJOYED IT.

I TELL YOU, THE CROWD REALLY, REALLY DID LIKE THEIR PERFORMANCE.

>> EIGHT IS SIMPLE BECAUSE JAPANESE AND JAPAN , IT IS A GREAT SHOW.

OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE SEEING THEM IN AND AROUND OUTSIDE , BUT THEY ARE AN INSTRUMENTAL PART OF WHAT JAPAN IS ALL ABOUT AND I AM DELIGHTED THAT YOU WERE A, ABLE TO INVITE THEM, B, ABLE TO ACCEPT THEM, AND C, THE CROWD ENJOYED.

>> JUST AS HE IS GETTING IN, STILL LOOKING A TAD ON THE DAMP SIDE.

JOJI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE TODAY.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> THE BIG QUESTION, JOJI, IS, DESPITE THE WEATHER, DESPITE EVERYTHING, DID YOU ENJOY YOURSELF TODAY?

>> YES.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I THINK WE WILL JUST LEAVE IT .

IF WE COULD PROMISE YOU BETTER WEATHER NEXT YEAR, WOULD YOU COME BACK?

ACTUALLY, WE CAN’T FULFILL THE FIRST PART OF THAT PROMISE , BUT IT IS HOPEFULLY SO MUCH FUN AND SUCH AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.

LET ME TELL YOU, WE HAVE LOVED HAVING YOU .

WE REALLY, REALLY HAVE.

I KNOW YOU WERE OUT THE OTHER DAY, PROMOTING THE PARADE WITH THE BBC , I THOUGHT YOU DID A MARVELOUS , MARVELOUS JOB, ENCHANTING PERFORMANCE AND TODAY, REALLY EXCITING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH .

I THINK YOU NEED TO THANK THE LORD AS WELL, BECAUSE HE WAS INSISTENT WE HAVE YOU.

>> HOPEFULLY, HE CAN BE A TRADITION YOU CARRY THROUGH EVERY YEAR.

>> WE VERY MUCH WANT TO, BECAUSE YOU ARE A CROWDPLEASER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOJI .

>> THANK YOU, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

WE HAVE GOT ANOTHER MARCHING BAND .

I AM NOT SURE WHICH ONE IT IS.

THAT BE -- COULD BE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL .

NOT SURE, BOB .

YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE FLAGS THERE.

>> RIVERSIDE .

NOT SURE WHICH RIVERSIDE, WE HAVE TWO RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOLS, ONE FROM VIRGINIA AND ONE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> ALONG WITH JEFFERSON HIGH .

I TRIED TO LOOK UP JEFFERSON HIGH AS WELL , THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY IN THE UNITED STATES.

HERE WE GO, THE MOTEL STUNTS.

>> WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE MOTEL STUNTS?

>> THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES, DELIGHTING AUDIENCES YOUNG AND OLD ME THEY HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD, OF COURSE HERE IN LONDON, THEY DO ALL KINDS OF STUFF , OF COURSE, TO DELIGHT CROWDS AND AT PARTIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THESE ARE ALSO MOVIE AND TV STUNTMEN .

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME .

THESE TRULY ARE PROFESSIONALS .

YOU REALLY CAN HEAR THE ROAR OF THE CROWD, ALONG WITH THE ROAR OF THE ENGINES .

THEY ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WILL SEE SOME STUFF.

LOOK AT THEM DOING THIS ON THESE SLICK LONDON ROADS.

THESE ARE BRAVE MEN.

>> I AM TERRIFIED.

LISTEN TO THAT ROAR.

>> YOU CAN HEAR IT INSIDE THE STUDIO, CAN’T YOU ?

>> IT IS TOUGH DOING IT ANYWAY, DOING IT BACKWARDS, COME ON!

>> THEY DO A BUNCH OF RECORDS, INCLUDING JUMPING OVER 118 PEOPLE, RIDING THROUGH 225 BALLS OF FIRE , AND MANY MORE.

THESE ARE THE GUYS YOU WANT WHEN YOU ARE ON TWO WHEELS OR FOUR WHEELS.

>> HOW RIGHT YOU ARE.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE THE CROWD WAVING TO THEM AND THEY ARE ALSO WADING THROUGH THEM.

>> WHAT A JOY TO SEE, WHAT A JOY.

>> A TERRIFIC MARCHING BAND MAKING ITS WAY ALONG-- THEY ARE ALREADY IN WHITEHALL.

THEY WILL GET TO US PRETTY SOON .

IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY OUR GROUPS .

>> 80s, BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THEIR WEATHER GEAR.

>> ANYWAY, THIS IS THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA FROM CEDAR FALLS, IOWA.

THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS IN THE PAST.

THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR FROM THE ONE THAT CAME IN THE YEAR PAST.

JUSTIN BOURKE IS THERE DIRECTOR.

I AM SURE THEY WILL BE JUST AS GOOD AS THEY’VE EVER HAD.

>> AND MAKING THEIR SCHOOL PROUD.

THE LARGEST ORGANIZATION .

I KNOW ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS BACK IN THE USA WILL BE WATCHING AND CHEERING THEM ON, AS THEY DO AT FOOTBALL GAMES AND SO, SO MUCH MORE.

>> WHO IS RUNNING INTO OUR ARENA NOW?

THIS IS THE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND .

WE HAVE SEEN THEM ALONG THE ROUTE QUITE A BIT.

I DO LOVE THEIR HEADS.

THEY ARE VERY FESTIVE.

>> AND KEEPING THEIR UNIFORMS ON TOO.

>> WE HAVE NEVER HAD THEM IN LONDON BEFORE, BUT I KNOW THERE DIRECTOR, NICK GOLDING, HAS A CLOSE AFFILIATION WITH OUR EVENT.

HE HAS WATCHED IT MANY, MANY EARS, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS RUNNING AND HAS WANTED TO COME TO IT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> AND THEY ARE ALL EXCITED .

HE SAID, THIS IS THE BIGGEST THING TO HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY IN A LONG TIME.

>> NOW, LET’S LISTEN TO THEM PLAY.

♪ ♪ >>> JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF NICK GOLDING, ALL THE WAY FROM JEFFERSON, GEORGIA.

I LOVE THE WAY THEY HAVE DECORATED SOME OF THEIR INSTRUMENTS AS WELL.

GREAT BAND, SUPER FUN.

THE KIDS LOOKED LIKE THEY ENJOYED THEMSELVES AS WELL.

THE CROWD HAS ENJOYED THEM HERE.

TIME TO GO BACK AND FIND OUT WHAT CRAZINESS JOE AND SWARZY ARE UP TO.

>> JOE AND SWARZY TIME!

WE WILL GO TO JOE AND SWARZY IN A LITTLE BIT THERE, CLEARLY GETTING INTO ANOTHER POSITION.

>> WE ARE NOT HAVING A QUICK LOOK AT THE VERY FIRST EVENT INTO LONDON’S PARADE FROM COSTA RICA.

THIS MUST BE A CHALLENGE FOR THEM WEATHERWISE .

THEY DO LOOK AS IF THEY ARE ENJOYING IT.

THIS IS THE BANDA COMUNAL LA FORTUNA, AND THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING NEWS THROUGHOUT LONDON FOR THE WEEK THEY HAVE BEEN HERE.

A TRULY FABULOUS BAND.

HERE TO SEE THEM COME OF THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE PARADE TODAY, THE AMBASSADOR OF COSTA RICA HAS COME TO SUPPORT THEM AND SHOW HOW MUCH HE IS PROUD THAT A BAND FROM COSTA RICA HAS COME TO REPRESENT ITS COUNTRY.

>> CERTAINLY SHOWS IT IS A BIG DEAL.

THE FACT THAT THE AMBASSADOR WOULD COME ALL THE WAY TO SUPPORT THEM, AND BE IN LONDON, AND IT IS THAT HANDSHAKE BETWEEN NATIONS, ISN’T IT?

>> EXACTLY.

>>> THIS BAND YOU SEE COMING DOWN, SHOCKING, BUT WE WILL GET THERE IN A MOMENT.

WE CAN SEE THE VENICE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND FROM FLORIDA .

THIS IS OUR SECOND BAND FROM SARASOTA .

THEY HAVE JUST STARTED THE WALK DOWN WHITEHALL AND SHOULD BE IN THE ARENA GIVING US A PERFORMANCE IN A FEW MINUTES TIME .

>> AND INDEED, THEIR SOCIALS ARE FULL OF EMOJIS AND EXCLAMATION MARKS SAYING , NOT ONLY THEY, BUT THEIR BOOSTERS ARE HERE ENJOYING .

A LOT OF THESE KIDS HAVE TO FUN RACE TO COME OVER HERE .

IT TRULY IS A TEAM EFFORT OF PARENTS, SIBLINGS, FRIENDS, AS WELL AS THESE GREAT MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS .

YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE THE THRILL.

>> AND SO THEY ARE UP IN THE ARENA NOW, THEY WILL BE PLAYING IN JUST A MOMENT.

THEY HAVE GOT JOINT DIRECTORS OF THIS BAND, DAVID WING , AND TRISTAN , AND THEY WILL BE PLAYING, " VIVA LA VIVA."

>> THAT WAS A GOOD PERFORMANCE BY VENICE , WASN’T IT?

REALLY GOOD.

THIS AIN’T THE SORT OF WEATHER THEY ARGUED TO.

>> MAY HAVE WALKED A COUPLE OF KILOMETERS BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THIS ARENA, AND THEN THEY HAVE GOT THE GRAND SLAM IN FRONT OF THEM AND THE CROWD BEHIND THEM.

TO BE ABLE TO WALK INTO THIS AND PERFORM, AS THEY PRACTICED, AS THEY REHEARSED, BUT TO ACTUALLY DO IT.

AND AGAIN, AS THEY WALK OUT THIS ARENA, THEY WALK INTO PARLIAMENT SQUARE, THEY ARE GREETED BY THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AND BIG BEN.

DOES THEY GET MORE ICONIC THAN THAT ?

I DON’T THINK SO.

>> AND THEY GET THE THUMBS UP FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL ON THAT STATUE, JUST GREETING THEM AS THEY COME INTO PARLIAMENT SQUARE.

GREAT JOB .

>> BOB , YOU ARE SEEING A LITTLE EARLIER ABOUT HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL’S GRANDSON IS A BIG HEART OF THIS PARADE AS WELL .

THE TWO OF YOU GO AND INVITE QUITE A LOT OF THESE SCHOOLS, DON’T YOU?

IT HAPPENS TO BE SUCH A THRILL.

>> I SORT OF BIT PART PLAYER.

>> MR.

PARADE .

39 YEARS THIS MAN HAS BEEN DOING IT.

DON’T NOT BELIEVE A WORD HE SAYS.

>> ARE SENIOR PATRONS, IN WHICH WE HAVE A NUMBER, AT THE MOMENT, THE MOST ACTIVE ARE DUNCAN SANDS, AND SPEAKS VOLUMES OF THE ASSOCIATION.

THEY INDIVIDUALLY GO TO EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL OR GROUP TO INVITE THEM TO .

WE ARE JUST TAKING A LOOK AT ONE OF THE LONDON BOROUGH ENTRIES.

THIS HAS BEEN A REGULAR WINNER OF OUR COMPETITION, CERTAINLY HAS WON A PRIZE OF SOME SORT AND EVERY CERTAIN IN EVERY LONDON COMPETITION.

DESPITE THE RAIN, THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

>> AND THE THEME, REDBRIDGE LOVES ANIMALS .

YOU CAN SEE THE REFLECTION OF ALL OF THESE COSTUMES , THAT I AM SURE HAVE BEEN MADE WITH CARE BY ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, LOOK AT THAT.

BRAVING THE WEATHER, WAVING TO THE FANS, GETTING ALL OF THAT LOVE BACK TO THE CROWD AS WELL.

I THINK, BOB, IT IS TIME TO GO TO SWARZY.

SHE IS DOWN THERE AND I AM EAGER TO SEE WHAT SHE IS UP TO AND WHAT SHE IS DOING.

SWARZY.

>> I AM JOINED BY THE WINNER OF ALL THE QUEENS BRIDGES.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR OUTFIT TODAY?

YOU GUYS LOOK GORGEOUS.

AND TODAY IS A VERY, VERY SWEET DAY.

HAS THE COMPETITION BEEN THROUGHOUT?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

WE WILL SEND IT BACK.

>> LOVELY .

>> YOU BOTH LOOK INCREDIBLE .

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR RACIST .

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> THANKS VERY MUCH, SWARZY, THAT WAS FUN .

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM DOWN HERE IN A WALKER.

POLES IN LONDON COMING INTO OUR CAMERA SHOT , A BIG COMMUNITY AND A VERY BIG PART OF THE PARADE .

>> THEY CAME INTO FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST YEAR AND HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME AND ASKED IF THEY COULD POSSIBLY COME BACK THIS YEAR, WE SAID, YES, OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE LOVED HAVING THEM.

TAKE MAKE A BIG POLISH COMMUNITY IN LONDON .

A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY SEEPING THROUGH FROM EASTERN EUROPE TO WESTERN EUROPE .

IT IS A THRILL TO HAVE THEM BACK AGAIN.

>> KNOW WHO IS THIS RUNNING INTO US NOW?

>> WE HAVE GOT THE PANTHERS .

>> UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA MARCHING BAND, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JUSTIN HERBERT, RACING INTO THE ARENA NOW.

ANXIOUS TO GIVE THEIR PERFORMANCE TO THE CROWD.

LOTS OF SMILING FACES FROM THE KIDS.

THEY DON’T MIND .

>> LARGEST ORGANIZATION ON CAMPUS.

OVER 120 YEARS OF DELIGHTING FANS AT FOOTBALL GAMES.

WILL >> AND YOU COULD HEAR THE CROWD SCREAMING FIREBALL WITH THEM.

>> I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT PERFORMANCE THEY GAVE PEERS >> IT WAS GREAT INDEED.

I LOVE WHEN YOU SEE THE MARCHING BAND DOING FUND DANCE MOVES .

IT TAKES A LITTLE STIFFNESS OUT OF THE PERFORMANCE SOMETIMES AND YOU CAN TELL THESE KIDS COULD NOT WAIT TO DO A LITTLE DANCING IN THE ARENA BEHIND US.

>> THEY HAD A GREAT TIME.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING ONE COMING DOWN NOW, REACHING THE BOTTOM OF REGENT STREET AND JAMES .

BEFORE WE TALK NORMAL, THAT WAS A NORMAL HIGH SCHOOL FROM ILLINOIS.

WE WOULD GET A PERFORMANCE FROM THE EVER, EVER FAVORITES OF THE CROWD, THE CHEERLEADERS FROM VARSITY SPIRIT .

WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IT AFTER THEIR PERFORMANCE .

>> DON’T STOP ME NOW, BOB , SEE WHAT I DID?

>>> OVER 4 MILLION CHEERLEADERS FROM THE UNITED STATES, MOST OF THEM WITH BETTER THAN AVERAGE AVERAGE, BY THE WAY.

CHEERLEADERS ARE SMART .

DID YOU KNOW, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS SPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THESE KIDS GET THROWN IN THE AIR LIKE CRAZY .

I AM SURE A LOT OF YOU HAVE INTO BASKETBALL GAMES AND FOOTBALL GAMES , WATCHING AND SEE WHAT THEY DO.

IT IS MORE THAN JUST-- THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST PRETTY FACES .

THEY ARE ATHLETES.

>> THEY ARE ATHLETES.

IT IS A CONTENDER FOR ENTRY INTO THE OLYMPIC GAMES NOW.

>> THAT IS RIGHT, WHICH WILL BE IN LOS ANGELES, MY HOMETOWN.

>> THERE YOU GO, WHICH THEY ARE TRYING TO GET IT ADOPT IT AS A SPORT FOR THE OLYMPICS.

THESE ARE INCREDIBLY TALENTED , BEST OF THE BEST, CRÈME DE LA CRÈME .

THEY GO TO SUMMER CAMP EVERY YEAR .

VERY TINY PERCENTAGE OF THEM ARE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY OF PERFORMING IN THE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT VARSITY SPIRIT TAKE PART IN.

THIS BEING THE PREEMINENT ONE THAT THEY DO.

AND THESE ARE NUMBER ONE, THESE ARE THE BEST .

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY REHEARSED JUST ONCE , THAT ROUTINE .

JUST WANTS TOGETHER, THAT IS ALL THEY HAVE .

>> THAT IS HOW TALENTED THEY ARE.

>> THAT WAS A GREAT SHOW BY THEM.

I THINK WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT THE HEROES FOR CHARITY.

THAT LOOKS LIKE A CHARACTER FROM "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN?"

>> IT MOST CERTAINLY DOES.

CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW .

YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER OF YOUR CHILDHOOD ICON, THESE ARE INDEED THE EUROS FOR CHARITY .

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO, THEY BRING THE MAGIC OF MOVIES AND TV TO LIFE, DAZZLING CROWDS , AND DOING SO MUCH FOR CHARITY AND PHILANTHROPY.

>> IT IS A COMMON THEME HERE, BOB.

IT IS A COMMON THEME .

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO GOOD OUTSIDE OF THEMSELVES , FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> THESE GUYS HAVE ALREADY RAISED, BEFORE THEY CAME ON THE PARADE, THEY HAVE ALREADY RAISED £ 4000 , YOU CAN’T GET A VERY BETTER CHARITY THAN THAT.

THE COMMONALITY THESE DAYS IS TO TRY TO WORK OUT WHICH MOVIE, OR WHICH SHOW THEY ALL REPRESENT .

>> I SAW SOME OF THE GHOSTBUSTERS AND I SAW THE ICONIC CAR .

THERE IS THE CAR.

AND WE SAW CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW.

WHO ELSE DID WE SEE ?

>> THIS IS A BRITISH FAVORITE .

ONLY FROZEN HORSES.

THIS IS A TROTTER.

>> LOOK AT THAT!

>> WE WILL NOT GET INTO THE INITIALS OF WHAT THEY SPELL PEERS >> HEROES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE.

LET’S PUT IT THAT WAY.

I THINK WE ALSO HAVE THE BACK TO THE FUTURE DeLOREAN, MAYBE, MAYBE THE BATMOBILE , BETELGEUSE .

DON’T SAY HIS NAME MORE THAN THREE TIMES .

AND OF COURSE, THE GOTHAM POLICE, WHO OBVIOUSLY NEED THAT MAN MOST OF THE TIME.

SPIDER-MAN THERE.

>> THAT WAS AN EASY ONE.

>> I KNOW A LOT OF KIDS WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE SPIDER-MAN IN THE PARADE WAVING .

>> I HAVE NOT SEEN DR. WHO PEERS >> I BET HE IS THERE.

>> IS THERE A TORTOISE?

>> HERE WE HAVE COMING STRAIGHT THROUGH, THIS IS THE ENTRY FROM THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HAVER RING , THANK YOU SO MUCH, IN EAST NORTHERN LONDON , NORTHERN ESSEX.

THESE ARE REGULAR PERFORMERS IN THE LORD MAYOR SHOW, NOT OUR COMPETITION, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROGRAM, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SHOW.

THEY LOOK PRETTY WET, ACTUALLY.

>> THEY ARE A DRUM AND TRUMPET CORE AND THEY WERE GOING TO BRING IT.

>> EXTREMELY TALENTED, AND THEY HAVE BEEN GOING FOR A LONG TIME.

>> IN THE LEAD UP TO CHRISTMAS ME I BELIEVE THEY WERE AT THE ROYAL CAROL’S , OF COURSE CHRISTMAS WITH PRINCESS OF WALES AND PRINCE OF WALES , WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN ONLY THEIR SECOND MOST FAVORITE THING THEY ARE DOING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> I WOULD THINK MAY BE EQUAL .

LONDON CHINATOWN, CHINESE ASSOCIATION, THE PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZED THE CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON EVERY YEAR , A COLOR SPECTACLE FROM THE CHINESE COMMUNITY IN CHINATOWN .

HERE WE HAVE CLIENTS, TIGERS , DRAGONS , AND I SUSPECT WE WILL HAVE PANDAS IN A WHILE, GETTING A GLIMPSE OF THE FABULOUS KILGORE COLLEGE RANGERETTES.

I SAW THIS ON BBC BREAKFAST , ACTUALLY, THEY WERE AMAZING.

>> I CANNOT GET OVER A, HOW QUICKLY THEY KICKED, AND HOW HIGH .

ALSO, IT IS LIKE ONE PERSON.

THEY ARE SO IN SYNC .

THE FIRST OF THEIR KIND IN THE UNITED STATES.

BY THE WAY, THEY HAVE A REALLY, REALLY RICH HISTORY OF WHICH THEY SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY PROUD .

OF COURSE, THAT TREND SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

>> WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

>> THEY ARE FROM TEXAS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FRIEND, TEX , BY THE WAY, IT IS HER BIRTHDAY TODAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TEX .

HERE WE GO.

>> WOW!

>> THEY HAD TO TURN AROUND , THEY HAVE BEEN KICKING SINCE 6:00 THIS MORNING .

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN KICKING ACTUALLY SINCE 1939.

LIKE I SAID, WHAT I RICH HISTORY FROM KILGORE COLLEGE RANGERETTES.

>> THEY TELL US, THERE PERFORMANCE IS STUNNING, I TELL YOU, IT IS.

>> I HAD TO TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT THAT ONE, PULL MY GLASSES DOWN AND REALLY WATCH THE SHOW.

>> AND THEY HAVE EVEN PERFORMED AS BACKUP DANCERS FOR MARIAH CAREY, DID YOU KNOW ME DURING THE GRAND FINALE OF THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE .

THEY ARE NO STRANGERS TO BIG EVENTS.

>> THEY TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD.

ASIA, EUROPE , ALL OVER KICKING THEIR WAY THROUGH EVERY COUNTRY, I THINK .

>> THIS IS A GROUP WE ARE ANNOUNCING UP IN PICCADILLY STILL , I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING DOWN HERE.

IT IS CALLED ESPERANTO FOREST.

A MEXICAN COMMUNITY MAINTAINING THE FOREST, BUT LIVING IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA.

ESPERANZA FLORES HER SELF STARTED THIS ABOUT 14 YEARS AGO.

JUST LOOK AT THE PRECISION OF THE MAJOR RATS.

THEY ARE STILL IN PERFECT, PERFECT, PRECISE ORDER.

JUST BACK TO ESPERANZA FLORES AND HER GROUP OF DANCERS.

>> AND OF COURSE ICONIC BIG BEN .

AND OF COURSE, BIG BEN IS THE BAIL, NOT THE TOWER.

>> THE TOWER IS KNOWN AS ELIZABETH TOWER, VERY GOOD.

IT IS NAMED AFTER THE LATE QUEEN.

STAYING IN TEXAS NOW WITH THE HARDIN SIMMONS UNIVERSITY .

>> WORLD FAMOUS COWBOY BAND.

THEY PERFORM PRETTY MUCH EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR BETWEEN GAMES, RODEOS , INAUGURATIONS , AND LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

THEY ARE BUSY!

>> LET’S LISTEN TO THEM.

>> WELL, THEY WERE FUN, WEREN’T THEY?

THAT IS NOT JUST THE STUDENT BAND, LOTS OF ALUMNI INVOLVED AS WELL, PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TO COME BACK AND PLAY WITH THE BAND.

THE DIRECTOR, JAY LISTON, HE HIMSELF WAS A MEMBER OF THAT BAND GOING WAY BACK.

TERRIFIC PERFORMANCE .

THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING PERFORMANCES AS A PART OF THE LONDON PARADE CONCERT SERIES IN LONDON OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS AND THEY HAVE GOT ANOTHER ONE COMING UP ON THE 2nd OF JANUARY, TOMORROW NIGHT AT ST. JOHN SMITH SQUARE .

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND EVERYBODY-- THERE ARE STILL A FEW TICKETS AVAILABLE, THEY ARE FANTASTIC CROWDPLEASERS.

SEEING THE MASSIVE BAND OF OCEAN SPRINGS, THE BIGGEST BAND IN MISSISSIPPI MAKING ITS WAY AROUND THE CORNER INTO WHITEHALL .

THEY WILL BE JOINING US IN A FEW MINUTES IN THE PERFORMANCE ARENA .

I HEARD THEM THIS MORNING.

I THINK MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SEEN THEM ON "BBC BREAKFAST" AS WELL.

>> AND LOOK AT THE PRECISION THEY ARE GOING AROUND THE TURN, IN PERFECT FILE.

THESE BANDS REALLY DO PRACTICE ALL YEAR LONG .

FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND SHOW US WHAT THEY DO IS TRULY SPECTACULAR.

>> GETTING A GLIMPSE HERE OF ALL THE QUEEN SOURCES, ONE OF THE FEW GROUPS ALLOWED TO PERFORM ON THE STREETS OF WESTMINSTER, BECAUSE SUCH CARE AND ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE CARE AND WELL-BEING OF THE ANIMALS.

OF COURSE, LOOK AT THE COSTUMING THAT GOES INTO THIS.

>> LOOK AT THE ARTISTRY, NOT ONLY ON OUR HUMAN DISAPPEARANCE, BUT ARE EQUITY AND PARTICIPANTS AS WELL.

SO MUCH CARE IS TAKEN .

I THINK I SEE A COUPLE OF MINIONS BACK THERE INTERSPERSED WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH 1 , IT SEEMS .

ALL OF THESE COSTUMES, PEOPLE WORK ON THESE FOR MONTHS , LEADING UP TO THIS VERY, VERY SPECIAL DAY.

>> BACKUP TO THE OTHER END OF THE ROUTINE, THE START OF THE PARADE ROUTE .

>> AND I HEAR THE LOW RIDERS GOING PAST OUR BOOTH HERE , YOU CAN HEAR THEM REVVING UP.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME RIGHT THERE.

OF COURSE, LOW RIDERS, HAILING FROM MY SECOND PART OF THE WORLD TO ME BEING HALF-AND-HALF, MY HALF IS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

>> WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, MY GOODNESS!

YOU CAN FEEL IT, IT IS A REAL THROBBING, ISN’T IT?

I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE AND YOU WERE KIND ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.

I AM STILL A LITTLE LOST , TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

>> THE SHOCKS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, THEY RIDE LOW TO THE GROUND.

IT IS A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRADITION AND IT STARTED WHEN CLASSIC , SOUPED-UP CARS WOULD CRUISE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT AND MOTOR HEADS WOULD GET TOGETHER AND TALK A LOT OF YOU KNOW, RADIATOR, CARBURETOR ME THAT TALK .

>> I GET YOU.

WE STILL HAVE A THING LIKE THAT, THE KING STREET RUN?

>> I THINK SO, AND THEY ARE ALSO KNOWN FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE SOUND SYSTEMS .

YOU NOT ONLY HEAR THE REVVING OF THE ENGINE , OFTEN YOU WILL HEAR THE REVVING OF GOOD BASE , GOOD MUSIC, AND OF COURSE, THE SONG, "LOW RIDER " IS ABOUT THESE INCREDIBLE CARS.

>> TALKING ABOUT THE SORT OF PEOPLE I WOULD OFTEN SCREAM FROM MY CAR , TURN THAT DOWN!

>> NOT IF YOU HEARD THAT SONG, TRUST ME.

>> WE JUST GOT A QUICK GLIMPSE, PERFORMING THEIR WAY AROUND.

THIS IS THE SECOND ENTRY FROM CARNAVAL DEL PUEBLO , I THINK DESCENDENTS FROM ECUADOR, BOLIVIA, PERU I KNOW FOR SURE COMING THROUGH.

THEY ARE STILL IN PICCADILLY .

IT WILL BE A WELCOME BEFORE WE SEE THEM IN THE PERFORMANCE ARENA.

THAT IS WHO THEY ARE, REGULAR ATTENDEES AT LONDON’S NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE AND ALWAYS SPECTACULARLY COSTUMED.

>> THEY LOOK LIKE THEY CAN’T READY TO GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD.

>> THEY ARE ON THE ROAD, BUT THEY TAKE A WALKER.

NOW, ALL THE QUEEN SOURCES COMING DOWN.

A MARVELOUS DEPICTION OF THE FIRST QUEEN ELIZABETH.

>> THAT’S RIGHT!

>> THE PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS , WHAT WE KNOW ?

>> THEY ARE A LONDON TRADITION .

NO TWO OUTFITS ARE THE SAME.

THEY ARE PHILANTHROPIC.

THEY ARE SYNONYMOUS WITH LAMBERT , DOING THE LIABLE WALK .

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.

WHAT A WONDERFUL SOCIETY, ALL FOR CHARITY.

>> AND ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO MAKING THOSE COSTUMES JUST A TINY BIT, IT TAKES SO LONG TO MAKE THE PATTERN .

>> EACH INDIVIDUAL TO THE PERSON WEARING IT AS WELL.

THIS ONE IS FOR THIS SPECIFIC PERSON , FOR THIS SPECIFIC WAIVER .

AND AGAIN, JUST A REALLY LONG-STANDING , FANTASTIC LONDON TRADITION.

>> ALL THE QUEEN SOURCES PASSING THROUGH THE ARENA NOW.

ON THEIR HEELS, THE MARCHING BAND FROM THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA ON THIS OCCASION, FIRST TIME APPEARANCE OF THE PARADE GROUP .

WHEN THEY REACH US IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES TIME, THEY WILL BE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JAMES RIVERA TODAY AND THEY WILL BE PLAYING, OF COURSE, WHAT WOULD THEY PLAY, ANYTHING OTHER THAN, OH WE HAVE GOT IT.

THAT IS THE ONE.

>> OKLAHOMA!

>> MEANWHILE, ALL THE QUEEN SOURCES , I THINK THEY HAVE HAD FUN MAKING THEIR WAY OUT OF THE PARADE.

AND HERE, WE HAVE THE FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND .

THEY COME FROM A COMMUNITY JUST OUTSIDE OF SAN FRANCISCO , IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

PLEASANTON IS THE NAME OF THE TOWN.

IT IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND TIME THIS GROUP HAS BEEN WITH US IN LONDON.

THE FIRST TIME, A LONG TIME AGO BACK IN THE EARLY 90s.

IN FACT, IN ABOUT THE TIME THE EURO STAR TRAIN STARTED , AND THE RELEVANCE OF THAT FOOTHILLS HIGH SCHOOL IN PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA MIGHT BE LOSING IT A BIT, DAISY , BUT THEY HAVE SET A RECORD IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS , BECAUSE THEY WERE THE VERY FIRST , AND I THINK THE ONLY GROUP EVER TO MARCH INTO PARIS, PLAYING THEIR MUSIC , GET ON THE EURO STAR TRAIN, PLAY UNDER THE CHANNEL INTO LONDON , INTO WATERLOO INTERNATIONAL, WHICH WAS THEN THE STATION YOU CAME INTO ON THE EURO STAR, AND PLAYED THEIR WAY ONTO THE TRADER , THE TRADE EVENT STARTED ON WESTMINSTER BRIDGE .

THERE YOU GO .

THEY HAVE THAT RECORD AND PLAYED RIGHT THROUGH THE PARADE, AND EGO.

>> BINGO, INDEED.

>>\ NOW WE HAVE A GROUP FROM YUKON, THE ONES FROM OKLAHOMA, WHO ARE GOING TO PLAY THE SONGS YOU JUST THINK, ARE WE GOING TO SING ALONG, OR JUST HIM HYMN?

>> YOU KNOW I WILL BE SINGING ALONG , TURN MY MIC OFF.

>> THE YUKON MARCHING BAND FROM OKLAHOMA .

>> OKLAHOMA .

>> IN DEED.

WE HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, OF COURSE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

YOU ARE JUST MENTIONING FOOTHILL , FROM CALIFORNIA, MY NECK OF THE WOODS, AND IT IS AMAZING YOU HAVE FANS FROM THE ENTIRE COUNTRY .

EAST COAST, WEST COAST, NORTH, SOUTH , YOU COVERED THE WHOLE THING.

FOR THOSE WEST COASTERS , IT IS PRETTY EARLY IN THE MORNING.

THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE WAKING UP TO WATCHING THEM WALKING THESE BEAUTIFUL STREETS OF LONDON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHATEVER THE WEATHER THROWS UP, THEY STILL SEEM TO KEEP SMILING , WHICH IS GREAT AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED HERE’S >> ABSOLUTELY , BRINGING THE SUNSHINE FROM CALIFORNIA.

>> THESE ARE THE OCEAN SPRINGS GUYS LOOKING TO JOIN US IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, PLAYING BRILLIANTLY.

>> WHICH EACH BAND WILL BE WEARING THE COLORS OF THEIR SCHOOL .

THEY WILL HAVE PARTS OF THEIR OUTFITS THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SCHOOLS , AND IT IS A POINT OF PRIDE FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PLAYERS.

>> I THINK THAT IS THE BAND BANDA COMUNAL LA FORTUNA , AND THIS IS THE ENTRY FROM THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HARROW , ACTUALLY GREAT SUPPORTERS OF NEW YEAR’S DAY CELEBRATIONS AND THEY ALWAYS PLACED QUITE HIGH IN COMPETITION .

WE NEED TO GET A GREAT DEAL OF THANKS FOR THE PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES WE HAVE HAD , FROM HARROW , TO THE TEAM -- >> HAVE YOU SPENT MUCH TIME IN HARROW , BOB?

>> HAVE I SPENT MUCH TIME?

I HAVE, BECAUSE I LIVE NEAR.

>> THE WORD IS HARROW IS HOME TO MANY GHOSTS.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> ALEX FRANCIS , EVERYBODY.

>> I FEEL LIKE TODAY IS THE PERFECT REMINDER THAT WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE PLANET TOGETHER.

WE BEAT AS ONE .

THANK YOU, ALEX FRANCIS .

>> VERY IMPORTANT , INDEED.

AND OCEAN SPRINGS GETTING EVER CLOSER TO THEIR KEYNOTE PERFORMANCE IN THE ARENA .

REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

I THINK IF WE ARE LUCKY, WE WILL HAVE A CHAT WITH THEIR DIRECTOR, KEVIN SHIRA IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR PERFORMANCE.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE TREAT, SOMETHING VERY UNUSUAL, SOMETHING FROM I THINK YOU CALL IT NEW ORLEANS , I CALL IT NEW ORLEANS.

>> NOLA .

>> SOMETHING UNUSUAL FOR OUR VIEW, BUT JUST UP, OCEAN SPRINGS, THERE THEY ARE, PRESENT CITY CRESCENT CITY FAE WITH THEIR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, ZACH , AND PIXIE AND ELF DIRECTOR, MARISSA PATTY.

THEY ARE A CARNIVAL CREW FROM NEW ORLEANS .

LET’S LISTEN TO THEM .

WE HAVE SEEN THEM BEFORE.

♪ >> LOOK AT THAT, DAISY!

>> THEY BROUGHT A LITTLE CAJUN SPICE!

>> A LITTLE CONFETTI TOO.

YOU’VE GOT TO SAY, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT STRANGE, BUT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

>> I AM SURE THEY FEEL RIGHT AT HOME .

ELVES.

>> OF COURSE, THE CRESCENT CITY IS NEW ORLEANS.

>> IT IS, IT IS INDEED.

I THINK THEY MADE THEIR HOMETOWN VERY PROUD.

NOW IT IS TIME TO GO INSIDE FOR A WARM DENIER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> I GUESS IT MIGHT BE A BEGNIET OR SOMETHING MORE STRONGER OR LIQUID .

>> IT MIGHT BE, OF COURSE OF THEIR FAMOUS DRINKS, THE HURRICANES.

>> OH MY, THE BOOGIE STORM!

ARE THEY YOUR FAVORITES?

>> IF YOU NEED A DANCING STORM TROOPER IN YOUR LIFE, WE’VE GOT THEM FOR YOU RIGHT HERE.

>> IT IS A GREAT ACT.

EVERY YEAR, I LOVE IT.

BOOGIE STORM.

>> I SAW THEM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THERE IS A FIREMAN IN THERE.

THESE ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL DANCERS , NECESSARILY.

>> THE MOST AMAZING THING, THEY BE DAISY, THEY ARE THE MOST-WATCHED DANCE GROUP GLOBALLY , OVER 350 MILLION ONLINE VIEWS .

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE ?

MY GOODNESS .

ARE THESE YOUR FAVORITE CARS?

>> MY GOODNESS, MY MOM TRIED TO TAKE A MINI TO AMERICA WHEN SHE MOVED OVER THERE, THE CARS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE AMERICAN ROADS AND THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW IT.

THE NEW ONES, THEY WILL ALLOW, BUT THE ICONIC, OLD ONES, THE NEW, PRECIOUS, PERFECT MINIS , THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW IT.

CERTAINLY, ALONG WITH THE RED PHONE BOXES, DOUBLE-DECKER BOXES BUT THIS, YOU THINK OF BRITAIN WHEN YOU SEE A MINI , DON’T YOU?

>> YOU DO, AND I THINK YOU KNEW THIS BEFORE, I DON’T KNOW IF YOU CAN REMEMBER, THERE IS A WORLD RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN FIT INTO A MINI.

>> YOU TOLD ME LAST YEAR, I THINK.

>> 27 , HOW ON EARTH CAN THEY BE ?

>> AND THEY ARE ALL DRESSED UP AS CLOWNS , I’M KIDDING .

27 PEOPLE IN A MINI .

>> THERE IS ONE OF THE LAST AMERICAN MARCHING BANDS IN THE PARADE THIS YEAR , DESERT MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL, MAKING THEIR WAY AROUND COMMUNITY SERVICE RIGHT NOW.

THEY GET BETTER AND BETTER .

WE WILL ENJOY SEEING THEM IN A WALKER.

TRISTA FOR NEWPORT UNIVERSITY MARCHING CAP VINCE FROM NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA .

THEY ARE MAKING THEIR SECOND APPEARANCE IN THE LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THIS , THE LAST TIME THEY CAME, WE HAD A VERY WET DAY AS WELL.

I AM NOT GOING TO HOLD IT AGAINST THEM .

>> LET’S NOT .

I TOOK A REALLY GOOD LOOK AT THEIR CAMPUS ONLINE, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS!

REALLY STUNNING .

SURROUNDED BY WONDERFUL CITIES AS WELL, JUST CLOSE TO EVERYTHING .

FANTASTIC.

>> I WAIT FOR EVERY GROUP AND ENJOY EVERY GROUP , BUT THIS ONE REALLY, REALLY IS FANTASTIC .

SAW THEM ON "BBC BREAKFAST " THIS MORNING.

THEY SAID, THEY HAVE BEEN ON DUTY SINCE ABOUT 7:00.

OCEAN SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL GROUP, THE BIGGEST HIGH SCHOOL BAND IN MISSISSIPPI, AND I THINK THE BEST.

HERE THEY GO.

>> FANTASTIC , GO GREYHOUNDS!

>> THAT IS FABULOUS.

OCEAN SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL FROM MISSISSIPPI, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF KEVIN SHIRA , A TERRIFIC MAN.

IF WE ARE LUCKY, WE MIGHT GET KEVIN TO POP INTO THE STUDIO TO HAVE A QUICK WORD OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE OUT THERE.

THOSE KIDS LOOK SUPER HAPPY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN AT WORK REALLY ENTERTAINING CROWDS SINCE FIRST THING THIS MORNING.

A GREAT GROUP, WONDERFUL GROUP FROM MISSISSIPPI.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK AGAIN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

COULDN’T AGREE MORE.

IT IS EXCITING , AS THEY FINISH IN THE ARENA, THEY WALK PAST THE BOOTH WE ARE IN .

WE CAN HEAR THE DRUMS, SEE THEM WAVING TO THE CROWD AS THEY ARE DAY IS SORT OF COMING TO AN END.

THEN, AS THEY WALK INTO PARLIAMENT SQUARE AGAIN AND SEE THESE ICONIC BUILDINGS, IN SOME WAYS, I GUESS IT IS JUST BEGINNING FOR FUN.

>> THE ELIZABETH TOWER, MAKING THEIR WAY OUT BACK TO THEIR HOTEL, DRY OFF A BIT AND SAY TO THEMSELVES, THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD, I’D LIKE TO DO THAT AGAIN.

I HOPE, ANYWAY.

>> PRETTY GREAT!

>> SO, I THINK ANY MINUTE NOW, WE WILL HAVE A QUICK WORD WITH KEVIN SHIRA , WHO DIRECTED THAT GREAT BAND WE’VE JUST SEEN .

WE HAVE THE POLLS IN LONDON GROUP , WONDERFUL POLISH GROUP HERE IN LONDON.

>> THE SECOND MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGE HERE IN ENGLAND AND THE THIRD MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGE BEHIND ENGLISH AND WELSH.

>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

WHAT ABOUT AMERICA?

HOW MAY PEOPLE SPEAK THAT?

>> COME ON, BOB!

YOU KNOW I SPEAK BOTH LANGUAGES FLUENTLY.

>> I KNOW YOU DO.

YES.

BEFORE WE GET OUR NEXT BAND IN HERE, IN FACT IT WILL BE A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE WE DO, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE WORD WITH KEVIN SHIRA, THE GENTLEMAN WHO DIRECTS THAT THE PHENOMENAL BAND THAT WE HAVE JUST SEEN.

KEVIN , HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?

>> IT WAS WONDERFUL.

WE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC TIME.

A LITTLE WET, BUT WE ARE USED TO THE RAIN IN SOUTH MISSISSIPPI.

WE HAD A GREAT PERFORMANCE, AND THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

>> WELL, GOOD.

FOR YOUR BAND PROGRAM , HOW INCREDIBLE HAS IT BEEN HAVING THIS AIM, THIS AMBITION COMING TO LONDON TO PERFORM?

>> I THINK FOR A TEACHER, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO IS TAKE THEM ABROAD.

NO BETTER TO START OUR FIRST ABROAD TRIP THEN IN LONDON.

THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.

YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SUCH WONDERFUL PEOPLE .

THEY HAVE HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

WE DID HAMPTON COURT YESTERDAY, AND THEY WERE MIND BLOWING.

AS AN EDUCATOR, NOT JUST MUSICIAN, AS AN EDUCATOR, IT WAS REALLY UNIQUE TO SEE ALL OF THAT.

>> DO YOU RECKON THIS HAS CHANGED THAT THE KIDS’ LIVES?

>> I THINK SO.

FOR A LOT OF THEM, THIS MAY BE THE ONLY TIME THEY GET TO DO THAT.

WE TRIED TO MAKE IT A TRIP OF THEIR LIVES.

WE HAVE THE WEATHER UP CITY CONCERT TOMORROW, SO WE ARE NOT DONE YET.

THIS WAS REALLY SPECIAL.

>> SO IT WAS ALL WORTH IT?

>> IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

>> YOU WILL STAY HERE AND LOOK AT ANOTHER BAND AND TOLD US ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS.

THIS IS-- >> THIS IS I THINK THE NORMAL MARCHING BAND.

IT IS, INDEED.

♪ >> WHAT A GOOD PERFORMANCE FROM THE NORMAL MARCHING BAND, A COMBINATION OF TWO SCHOOLS THERE , DIRECTED BY CARL CARTER.

"DEFYING GRAVITY" FROM "WICKED ," OF COURSE, EVERYBODY’S FAVORITE RIGHT NOW.

>> FANTASTIC, VERY APPROPRIATE FOR THE TIME NOW.

>> PROFESSIONAL LOVE YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

FANTASTIC SHOW INDEED .

HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>>> WHERE ARE WE GOING NEXT, THEN, DAISY?

WHAT IS HAPPENING NEXT?

>> CERTAINLY OUR MINIS ARE COMING DOWN INTO THE ARENA BEHIND US.

THE .

WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE CARS , YOU DO WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CLUB, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL LIKE-MINDED.

ALL KINDS OF EVENTS DURING THE YEAR.

OF COURSE, PHILANTHROPY IS INVOLVED.

OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOBBY OR YOUR COLLECTION, THAT JUST FILLS THE HEART OF EVERYONE ON THE STREETS OF LONDON.

>> WE ARE NOT HAVING A LOOK AT THE GASTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 32 MARCHING BAND, ACTUALLY IS A SMALL , MORE LIKE A POP BAND , BEHIND THE GASTON GROUP .

THESE ARE AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

SOME OF THEM VERY YOUNG , ACTUALLY.

AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT GOING RIGHT TO HIGH SCHOOL.

SOME SUBSTITUTES THERE.

AND THEY COME FROM A COMMUNITY RIGHT SOUTH IN ARIZONA .

WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT GADSDEN AND A WALKER.

>> THE RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING RANTS!

HERE WE GO , ALL THE WAY FROM LEESBURG, VIRGINIA.

>> THAT WAS FASCINATING , WASN’T IT?

>> IT WAS GREAT, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HEAR BRUNO MARS WITH A MARCHING BAND.

>> AND IT CERTAINLY WAS GOOD.

RIVERSIDE MARCHING BAND WITH BRUNO MARS , UPTOWN PHONE .

>> AND HE WAS HERE BEFORE WITH ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND IN 2015.

ANOTHER ONE THAT JUST WANTS TO COME BACK TO THE LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE.

SEGMENT THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING ABOUT LONDON .

>> CERTAINLY SOMETHING ABOUT THE EVENT.

>> THIS SECOND GROUP COMING AROUND, THEY HAVE JUST MADE IT AROUND THE CORNER, GOING TO WIND UP IN INTO FALCON SQUARE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

THIS IS ANOTHER BARGAIN TREAT COMING DOWN.

IT IS THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HOUNSLOW OUT TO THE WEST OF LONDON, HALF OF HEATHROW AIRPORT, BUT HOUNSLOW HAS GOT A LOT MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

>> IT CERTAINLY DOES.

IT IS FAMOUS FOR IT’S REALLY HISTORIC HOMES .

THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY FAMOUS HOMES IN HOUNSLOW.

AND REALLY BEAUTIFUL, OPEN SPACES AND PARKS AS WELL.

300,000 PEOPLE SPEAKING 188 LANGUAGES .

>> TRULY IS AN EXTREMELY DIVERSE COMMUNITY OUT THERE.

>> AND ALL COMING TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S DAY WITH US.

>> FROM ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AT THE NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE, THE LONDON SCHOOL OF SAMBA .

THEY ACTUALLY WORKED HARD PROMOTING THE EVENT, MAKING SURE NOBODY FORGETS THIS IN THE OTHER 364, OR 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR SOMETIME.

>> THAT IS RIGHT, EVERY FOUR YEARS.

>> TRULY FANTASTIC , ACTUALLY.

THEY WIN COMPETITION, AFTER COMPETITION.

PROBABLY THE BEST SOMBER GROUP IN UNITED KINGDOM .

>> I AGREE, AND THE FIRST TO WALK IN THE NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL, WHICH IS SO FAMOUS.

>> AND TO WIN PRIZES THERE AS WELL.

I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE DOING OUT THERE TODAY ON THAT RATHER WET AND GREASY FLOOR .

I AM NOT ENTIRELY SURE I WANT TO BE DOING THAT.

THEY ARE DOING FABULOUS.

AND DON’T THEY BRING COLOR, LIFE, AND VITALITY?

MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE SUNSHINE TO LONDON NOW, AND BOY, DO WE NEED IT NOW?

>> WHEN MOTHER NATURE IS DOING HER THING, WE RELY ON THESE PERFORMERS TO REALLY BRING THE ENERGY AND ELECTRICITY TO THE CROWDS.

THEY ARE CERTAINLY DOING THAT IN SPADES, BOB.

>> THAT DRUMMING TOO AS WE HEAR IT GOING PAST OUR STUDIO, IT IS VERY UPLIFTING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THOSE LATIN RHYTHMS WILL GET YOU GOING EVERY TIME.

I KNOW YOU WANT TO BE DANCING, BOB .

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER, WE WILL SEE, A WHILE TO GO.

BEFORE LONG NOW, WE WILL BE GETTING A REAL TREAT.

WE WILL BE GETTING BANDA COMUNAL LA FORTUNA, FROM COSTA RICA.

ANOTHER GROUP THAT HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ALL DAY AND IN FACT ALL WEEK .

THEY APPEARED IN THE TIMES, THE TELEGRAPH, THEY HAVE BEEN ON BBC, THEY’VE BEEN EVERYWHERE, THIS GROUP THIS WEEK.

AND BOY, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THEM.

SORRY WE KEPT THEM IN A RATHER DAMP WEATHER.

>> AND THEIR ETHOS IS THAT THEY TAKE FUNDS SERIOUSLY.

THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR FUN , AND WE ARE EXCITED .

>> I WAS OUT THERE TO PRESENT THEM THE INVITATION, AND BOY DID THEY PUT ON A SHOW FOR US.

IF WE HAD MORE TIME, WE WOULD SEE MORE OF THEM.

WE WILL SEE PLENTY, I LIKE TO THINK, AND WE WILL BRING THE COSTA RICA JOY TO THE STREETS OF LONDON.

>> HERE THEY COME .

>> I MIGHT HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND WATCH THIS ONE HERE, BOB .

>> LOOK AT ALL OF THAT CONFETTI.

THEY DESERVE IT .

THEY DESERVE IT .

AND I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING FUN .

>> AND THE FANS , SO HAPPY TO SEE THEM.

♪ >> WHAT A FANTASTIC SHOW THAT WAS .

WE HAVE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT THAT ALL AFTERNOON .

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT ALL DAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY THRILLED WE HAVE SEEN THEM DOWN HERE.

IT IS LOVELY TO SEE SUCH SMILING AND HAPPY FACES.

I AM DELIGHTED I HAVE WITH ME IN THE STUDIO, HIS EXCELLENCY , THE AMBASSADOR OF COSTA RICA HERE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM .

WE HAVE MET A FEW TIMES BEFORE .

WE HAVE TRIED TO GET A COSTA RICAN GROUP OVER HERE, THWARTED BY COVID.

IT IS GREAT TO GET ONE TODAY.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT?

>> WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL EVENT.

LIKE YOU SAY, SOME YEARS AGO WE TRIED, THEN, COVID GOT IN THE WAY.

THEY SAY, GOOD THINGS WILL ALWAYS COME TRUE.

THIS IS SOMETHING OUR GOOD FRIENDS FROM LA FORTUNA HAVE BEEN STRIVING FOR.

THEY ARE A PART OF A RURAL COMMUNITY IN COSTA RICA, IT IS A GLOBAL TOURIST LANDMARK, VISITED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, LOCATED VERY CLOSE TO THE ANNA AND ELSA VOLCANO , A VERY FAMOUS VOLCANO THAT ERUPTED MANY YEARS .

IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS CLOSELY NEEDED , AT THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING A COMMUNITY OF PUTTING THIS KIND OF GROUP TOGETHER AND BRINGING THEM HERE.

BY THAT , REALLY PORTRAYING WHAT COSTA RICA, BEING A SMALL COUNTRY, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES IN CONSERVING OUR NATURE , AND REALLY THROUGH CULTURE , EXPRESSING OUR MOST IMPORTANT VALUES .

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU SAW THEM THERE AS THEY WERE COMING PAST PARLIAMENT SQUARE AND THE HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT.

THAT MUST HAVE MADE YOU FEEL GOOD AND RATHER PROUD .

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN THE UK AND COSTA RICA, WHEN YOU SAY PARLIAMENT, WE SHARE THOSE VALUES OF DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM , AND HAVING THEM COME HERE AND THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO THIS WEEK TO BE ABLE TO TOO MANY OF THESE GREAT LANDMARKS HERE IN THE UK AND LONDON.

I AM SURE THEY WILL TAKE BACK THOSE MEMORIES AND VERY MUCH GOING FORWARD , MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR PEOPLE CLOSER TOGETHER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, INDEED.

DO YOU RECKON WE MAKE IT MORE GROUPS FROM COSTA RICA NOW?

>> I AM SURE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT BANDS , AND I AM SURE PEOPLE WATCHING IN COSTA RICA TODAY WILL BE VERY INTERESTED IN COMING .

WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO DO IT .

I THINK THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF HOPEFULLY MANY MORE TO COME.

>> ALSO, WE SHOULD RECIPROCATE BY VISITING COSTA RICA.

I HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT I HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

I CERTAINLY WILL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING .

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THIS GROUP FROM LA FORTUNA .

THANK YOU, MR.

AMBASSADOR.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR, INDEED.

THANK YOU.

WHAT HAVE WE GOT NEXT, DAISY ?

>> ANOTHER ONE WE LOVE EVERY YEAR, CARNAVAL DEL PUEBLO, AND THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF GROUPS WITH US TODAY.

THEY ARE A BIT OF A FIXTURE HERE AND THEY BRING THAT VIBRANCE OF 19 SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES TO THE STREETS OF LONDON .

>> WE SAW A GROUP FROM MEXICO, AND ANOTHER GROUP FROM MEXICO NOW AS WELL.

WE HAVE GOT BOLIVIA, PERU, ECUADOR I THINK .

>> THAT IS RIGHT, WE SAW ECUADOR EARLIER.

>> ALWAYS SUPERB .

>> AND LIKE YOU SAID, BRINGING THAT SUNSHINE ON WHAT HAS BEEN A RATHER GREAT DAY.

LISTEN , WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR RAIN HATS OFF TO ALL OF THESE PERFORMERS.

MAKE THESE SORT OF PERFORMANCES JUST TO MAKE THE HEART SING.

THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

>> NO QUESTION, PEOPLE ARE STILL OUT THERE WITH THEIR UMBRELLAS, SOME OF THEM WITHOUT UMBRELLAS, STILL ENJOYING ON NEW YEAR’S DAY.

I SEE PEOPLE STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS, BOXES , JUST TRYING TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THESE FANTASTIC INSTRUMENTS, AND THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE OF THE DAY.

>> THESE ARE THE GADSDEN STUDENTS JUST ON THE BORDER OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA.

THEY HAVE PERFORMED ACTUALLY ALL OVER EUROPE AT EVENTS THAT WE HAVE HAD A PART OF .

I THINK LONDON IS THEIR FAVORITE , ALWAYS.

>> OF COURSE IT IS, OF COURSE IT IS.

>> INCREDIBLE ENERGY.

REMEMBER, THEY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLING -- >> THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS ALL DAY.

>> SOMEWHERE IN THE REGION OF SIX HOURS .

IT IS AMAZING THEY CAN STILL DO THIS.

QUITE FANTASTIC, IT IS.

>> AND HIS GROUP HAS VERY YOUNG KIDS AS WELL.

AGAIN, REALLY WONDERFUL.

THESE KIDS WILL ALL THE FAMILY WITH EACH OTHER BY THE END OF THIS TRIP .

THEY WILL HAVE HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE TOGETHER THAT WILL LINK THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>> THEY ABSOLUTELY WILL.

SO, CARNAVAL DEL PUEBLO, THE EL SALVADOR HE IS MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ARENA , STILL OUT THERE HAVING FUN AND ENTERTAINING THE CROWDS, AND KEEPING THE CROWDS WITH , DESPITE THE WEATHER IN THEIR POSITION.

ENJOYING WHAT THEY ARE SEEING.

THERE IS STILL QUITE A BIT MORE OF LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE 2025 TO.

OF COURSE, WE HAD THAT 30 MINUTE WEATHER DELAY AT THE BEGINNING .

INSTEAD OF OUR USUAL FINISH UP AROUND ABOUT 3:30, WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH 4:00 TODAY.

THE LAST GROUP WILL BE PERFORMING UNDER THE LIGHTS HERE IN OUR PERFORMANCE ARENA, WHICH WILL BE VERY SPECIAL.

THIS IS INDEED ONE OF THE LAST GROUPS.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN WITH US BEFORE.

>> MAY HAVE BEEN WITH US MANY TIMES WHAT I WOULD CALL A TRADITIONAL BRASS BAND , A LOVELY SOUND AND THEY ARE LOVELY PEOPLE.

>> AND ANOTHER GROUP WITH A TREMENDOUS AGE RANGE , I LOVE THESE GROUPS THAT HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE JOINED AND STUCK AROUND , AND CHILDREN THAT WANT TO LEARN.

>> PEOPLE AS NEARLY AS OLD AS ME , NOT QUITE, THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.

>> COME ON, BOB!

YOU ARE A SPRING CHICKEN.

>> THAT IS VERY KIND OF YOU TO SAY >> ANOTHER ICONIC -- WELL , WE HAVE JUST GONE OFF A BIT, OF COURSE THOSE RED BUSES IN LONDON , SOMETHING EVERY VISITOR LOOKS FOR.

>> ACTUALLY, I MUST SAY, THE COSTUMES OF CARNAVAL DEL PUEBLO PEOPLE UNDER THE LIGHTS, THEY ARE SUPERB .

WE ARE GETTING A GLIMPSE HERE OF WHAT WILL BE THE VERY LAST ACT IN THE PARADE THIS YEAR.

PROBABLY ABOUT 45 MINUTES OR SO LATER .

THESE ARE THE MAGNIFICENT , THE DOLDRUMS .

>> OF COURSE, DOLDRUMS PLAYED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DRUMS, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON’T KNOW, TAKE A LOOK .

YOU CAN SEE THEM PLAYING BOTH SIDES OF THOSE DRONES.

>> SO, THE DOLDRUMS IS THE LAST ACT IN THE PARADE THIS YEAR, JUST MAKING THAT TURN DOWN FROM PICCADILLY CIRCUS , DOWN REGION STREETS AND JAMES , WHICH MEANS THEY WILL BE HERE IN ABOUT 40, 45 MINUTES .

THE PARADE THIS YEAR, NORMALLY, WE FINISH AT 3:30, IT WILL GO TO 4:00 , SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAD TO HAVE THAT PAUSE FOR ATROCIOUS WEATHER AT THE BEGINNING.

IT HAS GOTTEN A LOT BETTER THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT AS TIMES.

>> IT REALLY HAS.

THE WIND HAS DULLED DOWN TREMENDOUSLY .

I HAVE TO SAY, THE COSTUMES ALMOST LOOK LIKE THE ILLUMINATIONS HERE IN LONDON.

>> THE CHINESE , THE CHINESE DRAGON , CHINATOWN COMING THROUGH IN A WALKER.

ALWAYS ENTERTAINING , EVERYBODY ALWAYS LOVES TO SEE THE CHINESE.

>> OF COURSE, AND AS YOU SAY, THEY ARE REPEAT OFFENDERS IN THIS PARADE .

THEY COME BACK , AGAIN, AND AGAIN , AND THE CROWD IS ALWAYS SO EXCITED TO SEE.

OF COURSE, A LARGE CHINESE POPULATION HERE IN LONDON .

A WONDERFUL CHINATOWN IN LONDON , AND SOME OF THE BEST CHINESE FOOD YOU WILL GET I AM SURE OUTSIDE OF CHINA.

>> NOW, WHEN IS CHINESE NEW YEAR?

>> I DON’T KNOW THE EXACT DATE , AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT YEAR IT IS.

>> I THINK IT IS THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE COMING UP, I THINK IT IS .

I WILL CHECK THAT ONE OUT TOO.

BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO TO THE CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS HERE IN CHINATOWN.

IT REALLY IS SOMETHING QUITE FANTASTIC.

>> YEAR OF THE DRAGON.

IT IS THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON COMING UP.

THIS GROUP FOUNDED IN 1970 TO HELP DEVELOP AND EXPAND BUSINESSES , NOT ONLY IN CHINATOWN, BUT ALL OVER LONDON.

>> THE CHINESE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE ARENA NOW WITH THEIR DRAGONS .

I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE SOME LIENS , PERHAPS, SOME PANDAS , PERHAPS, WHO KNOWS?

VERY SOON NOW, WE WILL BE ABLE TO WELCOME THOSE INTREPID PEOPLE FROM UP, OUR COLLEAGUES SWARZY AND JOE , WHO HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE RAIN ALL DAY.

I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME FUN.

I RECKON THEY HAVE.

>> I THINK THEY HAVE.

>> WE WILL BE CHATTING WITH THEM IN A BUCKLE AND FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE, SAYING THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED FOR SOME OF THE CRAZY THINGS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS AFTERNOON.

THERE WE HAVE THE LIONS VAX , WE HAVE THE DRAGONS, AND THE LIONS ARE FANTASTIC.

>> THEY REALLY ARE, THE WAY THEY MOVED TO ME THEY ARE GIANT PUPPETS , INTERACTING WITH THE CROWD , WAS THRILLED TO SEE THEM.

>> AND FROM MY SIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, THE FOOTHILL MARCHING BAND AND COLORGUARD, WELCOME, CALIFORNIA.

>> BEGINNING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO US.

I WOULD IMAGINE BEFORE TOO LONG, WE WILL BE GETTING ANOTHER MARCHING BAND, THIS TIME FROM DESERT MOUNTAIN .

WE SAW THE DESERT MOUNTAIN BAND FROM ARIZONA , FURTHER UP THE PARADE ROUTE AND WHILE BACK .

THEY SHOULD BE WITH US BEFORE TOO LONG.

JUST THEY ARE GETTING A GLIMPSE OF RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL , WHICH IS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA VERSION .

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

>> WE SAW THE VIRGINIA 1A WHILE BACK.

>> RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA IS PROBABLY PRETTY JEALOUS RIGHT ABOUT NOW, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY RIVERSIDE HIGHS IN AMERICA, A I CANNOT HANDLE IT, NOR THE JEFFERSON HIGH QUESTION.

WE’VE GOT A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> SURE DO.

AND I THINK ANY MINUTE NOW, WE WILL GET A BIG TREAT .

WE WILL BE SEEING THE START OF THE SHOW THIS YEAR.

THEY HAVE ALL BEEN STARS, ALL FANTASTIC.

PERHAPS, THE BEST KNOWN PERSON WE HAVE GOT APPEARING TODAY, WE SPOKE AT THE TOP END OF THE SHOW, THE ABSOLUTE LOVELY, DELIGHTFUL , IT IS PETER ANDRE.

WE WILL BE SEEING PETER ANDRE ON OUR SPECIAL MOBILE STAGE IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE IN A FEW MOMENTS TIME NOW.

>> AND HE WAS SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND SHARING NEW YEAR’S DAY WITH US, CELEBRATING 2025 .

>> HE HAS HAD A LONG NEW YEAR’S DAY TOO.

HE CELEBRATED IT IN AUSTRALIA AS WELL , DID HE NOT?

>> THAT IS RIGHT .

HE CELEBRATES ALL THE TIME ZONES.

>> ANYWAY, WE WILL SEE PETER ANDRE ANY MINUTE NOW, PERFORMING -- WE DON’T KNOW WHAT, HE DID TELL US EARLIER .

HE SAID, HE HAS GOT A GOOD MIX .

>> HE SAID HE IS KEEPING IT UPBEAT, A LITTLE FUNKY, A LITTLE BLUESY, A LITTLE SOUL.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT IN HISTORIC TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

>> THE CROWDS ARE STILL STAYING .

THEY ALMOST CERTAINLY KNOW THEY WILL BE GETTING PETER ANDRE ANY SECOND .

>> THEY KNOW SOMETHING THAT IS COMING.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> THE HEADLINER OF THIS YEAR’S NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE, PETER ANDRE GOING TO BE WITH US RIGHT NOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ , ♪ ♪ >> OKAY, EVERYBODY.

WHAT A FANTASTIC END IT IS FOR THE PBS BROADCAST OF LONDON NEW YEAR’S DAY PARADE 2025 .

DAISY , HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?

>> IT HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING