Rick Astley and Rylan Clark's surprise New Year's duet left viewers divided on Sunday night as they collaborated on a cover of You Spin Me Round.
The 57-year-old Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker stunned fans during BBC One's New Year's Eve Rocks show by welcoming the 35-year-old This Morning presenter on stage to perform Dead Or Alive's iconic hit to sing in 1985 – with mixed reviews.
Twitter was flooded with comments from fans and critics commenting on the performance. Some branded the show “camp genius” while others insisted “the country is devastated” because of the BBC's decision to air the pairing.
While Rylan is more known for his television presenting these days, he rose to fame in 2012 as a hopeful on X Factor in the ninth series, where he came fifth.
He distanced himself from music and turned to reality TV, where he now appears as a presenter – with critically acclaimed appearances on This Morning in recent weeks following Holly Willoughby's departure – but some fans begged him to leave Singing to return.
Rick Astley and Rylan Clark's surprise New Year's duet left viewers divided on Sunday night as they collaborated on a cover of You Spin Me Round
The 57-year-old Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker stunned fans during BBC One's New Year's Eve Rocks show by welcoming the 35-year-old This Morning presenter on stage to perform Dead Or Alive's iconic hit to sing in 1985 – with mixed reviews
While Rylan is better known for his television presenting these days, he rose to fame in 2012 as a hopeful on X Factor during its ninth season, where he came fifth (pictured on X Factor).
Rylan himself made fun of the performance, writing on Twitter: “It can't get any worse than me singing you into the new year.” It's all uphill from here for 2024…
“Happy New Year,” before sharing a snap in which he looked bored as he stared into the camera as he wrote: “New year.” New me. And all that shit.
Fans of the performance wrote on the microblogging site: “Bringing Rylan out for Rick Astley's New Year's show is awesome…Rick Astley and Rylan.” After 20 minutes, 2024 has already reached its peak!…
“Rylan and Rick Astley with You Spin Me Round is the start to 2024 we all needed…Rylan and Rick Astley with You Spin Me (Right Round) 2024 has peaked and we're not even 20 minutes in yet…”
“I'm not normally a fan of anything London-focused, but just turned around to see Rylan singing a duet with Rick Astley, You Spin Me Round.” Give. Me. Life… Rick rolled into 2024. With Rylan. I hate NY, but fair BBC…
“I hope the rest of the year is as fun as a Rick/Rylan duet…Rylan and Rick Astley singing 'You Spin Me Round'.” Hello 2024…Rylan singing Dead Or Alive with Rick Astley, was the best music I saw tonight…
Rylan himself made fun of the performance, writing on Twitter: “It can't get any worse than me singing you into the new year.”
Rylan also shared a snap in which he looked bored as he stared into the camera and wrote: “New year.” New me. And all that shit
Twitter was flooded with comments from fans and critics commenting on the performance, with some branding the show “camp genius.”
“Rick & Rylan – thank you, a great start to #HappyNewYear2024… I didn't know a duet from Rylan and Rick Astley was what I needed, but it's very welcome…”
“So welcome to 2024. Thank you Rick Astley and Rylan for getting us off to a great start with this duet, and goodnight… That’s it!”#
Critics, meanwhile, hit back in support, writing: “Were Rick Rolled and now Rylan is singing what a w**k start to 2024 #HappyNewYear…Rick Ashley and Rylan start 2024. The only way is to above…”
“Rick Astley and Rylan sing You Spin Me Round? Stop the Earth, I'm getting out… Well, Rylan just spoiled the Rick Astley set… Whose idea was that? …
“Rick Astley and Rylan Clarke take us to 2024 on BBC1. The country show has been turned on its head… I'm actually really disturbed by Rylan and Rick Astley's Dead or Alive cover that I just saw on live TV have.”
Over on BBC2, the tradition continued with Jools Holland's Hootenanny, which saw Sugababes and Rod Stewart belt out hits.
Critics tended to loathe the show