Part of what has made the show so special is the format – all those bands, singers, stars and newbies brought together to listen as well as to perform in Jools’ circle of dreams.

Later’s New Year’s Eve spin-off show, Hootenanny, back this year as a big-ticket item for the first time since 2019, came together, like its progenitor, as much by opportunity as by design.It was Mark who had to explain to Jay-Z why he couldn't just do his numbers and split, who told Seasick Steve why he had to play 'Dog House Boogie' on the Hootenanny and persuaded Johnny Cash that he simply had to come in, even when The Man in Black wasn't feeling well. During lockdown, the show abandoned its traditional format in which musicians gather in the same studio in front of an audience and became a more intimate affair in which Holland interviewed a single guest and drew on Later’s considerable archive.

Interesting to read about which performers 'got' the concept and which ones were not too keen on the format. With Jools Holland this exploration into the last 30 years of an electric mix of great music and artist will surely keep entertained.

It was a joy to share tales of the likes of Iggy Pop, Seasick Steve and Adele on the studio floor of the legendary Later …with Jools Holland show to a keen crowd at the equally legendary Dimbola. Dimbola Museum and Galleries recently hosted a 2nd talk on the exhibition ‘Experience the Isle of Wight Festival 2002 to 2023’ with Mark Cooper, ex-head of music at the BBC, and creator and Producer of ‘Later…with Jools Holland’. Dave Grohl and Alicia Keys loved it, Björk treasured it, Ed Sheeran’s life was changed by it, Kano felt at home while Nick Cave was horrified but inspired, and they all kept coming back. If the initial age verification is unsuccessful, we will contact you asking you to provide further information to prove that you are aged 18 or over. Of course, this eclecticism is what has made Later… what it is, less a TV show than a BBC institution, a place where music legends such as Van Morrison can hang out in the same studio as a new artist who has still to make their first recording.

It takes us behind the screen from the beginnings of Later… as a segment in BBC Two’s arts and media showcase The Late Show, to its latest incarnation, which is recorded in its new home at Alexandra Palace. Part of what has made the show so special is the format all those bands, singers, stars and newbies brought together to listen as well as to perform in Jools circle of dreams. A must-read for music fans everywhere, Later with Jools Hollandpulls back the curtain on classic performances to reveal that the show is just as magical, if even more chaotic, than you imagined. d. Lang, Richard Thompson, Nick Cave, Ed Sheeran, Jack White and Dave Grohl) - and some great photos over the years. The show brings out the best in musicians, where they feel they’ve escaped… the genre they started in.Mark was interviewed by Dr Brian Hinton, Chair of Dimbola, on his career and told the story of how ‘Later…with Jools Holland’ came into being – a revolutionary studio music programme when it began 30 years ago; its unwavering popularity has proved the test of time. That and seeing him and Dave sat next to each other in the photo of the 25th anniversary line-up, with Taylor looking a bit like he's sitting for a school photo, hands neatly on his knees, even as he's distracted, looking off to the side. This first-hand account, written by the show’s co-creator, music journalist Mark Cooper, tells the story of how the show grew into a musical and TV institution. The director Janet Fraser Cook’s decision was to bring the lights way down, screening out the audience and fellow artists, and concentrating on the performances. A fun book to read covering the musicians featured over the past 30 years on this great TV programme including numerous contributions from the artists themselves about their unique experiences performing on the show with lots of behind-the-scenes information.

Mark Cooper is the co-creator and founding producer of Later… with Jools Holland and the Annual Hootenanny, booking and shaping both for 26 years without missing a single recording.Dave Grohl and Alicia Keys loved it, Björk treasured it, Ed Sheeran's life was changed by it, Kano felt at home while Nick Cave was horrified but inspired, and they all kept coming back. From Stormzy to Bjoerk, from Smokey Robinson to Norah Jones, from Britpop to trip hop, here is the word on how Later.