Radio 2 reveals legendary artist for last Piano Room performance of 2025

BBC Radio 2 has today revealed the artist who will make the last performance of 2025 from Radio 2’s Piano Room in its Maida Vale studios.

From a Yorkshire pit town to the West End, to Glastonbury and everywhere in between, the final Radio 2 Piano Room guest of 2025 has performed around the world and sold millions of records along the way.

He’s also the only Piano Room guest to have appeared in a music video with legends Queen, The Happy Mondays and Ronnie Corbett – it is, of course, Tony Christie.

Tony will be performing a couple of classics alongside a special cover version, and he’ll be doing it with The BBC Concert Orchestra, from the surroundings at Maida Vale.

Still packing out theatres at the age of 82, Tony’s ‘Up Close & Un Plugged’ tour continues into 2026, and earlier this year he released his latest album ‘A New Life’, which he recorded in Nashville.

Radio 2’s Piano Room this year has gone from strength to strength, with February’s Piano Room month featuring performances from new artists at the beginning of their musical career such as Myles Smith, to artists who have entertained us for decades, including Elkie Brooks and 10CC, to global superstars such as Coldplay.

Brandi Carlile is the latest star performer to appear in Radio 2 Piano Room’s autumn and winter series, following standout sessions from Chrissie Hynde, Sam Ryder and Perrie.

You can hear Tony Christie’s Piano Room performance on BBC Radio 2 during Vernon Kay’s morning show on Thursday 18 December.