Later... with Jools Holland

Jools Holland (Host)

Best Known For: His brilliant musicianship.

Early-life: Born Julian Miles Holland on January 24, 1958, in Blackheath, London. He has twin younger brothers, Richard and Christopher. He comes from a working-class background; his father, Derek, had stints as a mini cab driver and chef, but was keen on art, music and literature. Jools' parents split when he was 11, and he spent time living with his maternal grandparents, who let him play their piano. He claims that everyone in his family could sing and play, but that he's the first of them to turn it into a career.

Career: Holland's professional career began as a session musician, but in 1974 he became a founding member of the pop band Squeeze, but he left in 1981 to pursue a solo career. He also hosted TV show The Tube with Paula Yates from 1982 to 1987. He also rejoined Squeeze from 1985 to 1990, since when he's concentrated on his solo career with the 18-piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. In 1992 Holland began hosting Later... with Jools Holland, a hugely successful series that showcases musical talent from across the globe - it's still enormously popular, as is its New Year spin-off Jools' Annual Hootenanny.

Quote: 'The piano has disappeared from working-class family life, which is a shame. It's associated with the middle classes now.'

Trivia: The design of Holland's recording studio, Helicon Mountain, was inspired by the 1960s TV series The Prisoner, of which he is a massive fan.

Ellie Goulding (Performer)

Born: December 30, 1986 in Hereford

Best Known For: Being a singer-songwriter.

Early-life: Elena Jane Goulding was born in Hereford on December 30, 1986. She has a brother and two sisters. Her parents separated when she was five. Ellie began playing clarinet when she was nine and by the age of 14, she was learning to play guitar. While at Hereford Sixth Form College, she entered a singing competition and won. She went on to study drama, politics and English at the University of Kent. She was spotted by Jamie Lillywhite of Turn First Artists at a university talent contest. He became her manager and she left university. Ellie signed to Polydor Records in July 2009.

Career: Goulding's debut single, Under the Sheets, was released in November 2009 and reached number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. Her debut album, Lights, came out in March 2010 and reached number one in the UK Albums Chart. Later that year, she opened for U2 on the U2 360 Tour in Zurich, Munich and Vienna. In April 2011, she performed at the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton. In December the same year, she sang at the White House during the National Christmas Tree lighting. Her profile increased further in the United States when she opened for Katy Perry's California Dreams tour. Since then, Goulding has released two further albums and she now headlines her own tours around the world.

Quote: 'The first time I sang, everyone was completely in awe.'

Trivia: Goulding has the vocal range of a light-lyric soprano. She is a keen runner.

Mitski (Performer)

Pigeon (Performer)

Wesley Joseph (Performer)

Westside Cowboy (Performer)

Courtney Pine (Musical guest)

Simon Le Bon (Guest)

Born: October 27, 1958 in Near Bushey, Hertfordshire

Best Known For: Being the lead singer of Duran Duran

Early-life: Born in 1958, in Bushey, Hertfordshire. Encouraged by his mum, he discovered a love of performing at a young age _ he was a member of a choir and also appeared in adverts and local theatre productions. It appeared he was going to concentrate on acting when he enrolled on a drama course at Birmingham University, but in 1980, his then girlfriend introduced him to the fledgling Duran Duran, who were looking for a lead singer. They gave him the job, and within months the group had a record deal.

Career: Duran Duran reached the top 20 with their first single, Planet Earth, in 1981, but it was their third release, Girls On Film, that really got them noticed, thanks in part to its raunchy video. They soon became one of the biggest bands in Britain _ even Princess Diana was a fan _ and success followed in the USA with the release of Hungry Like the Wolf. By the late 1980s, it appeared their star was on the wane, but they made a comeback in 1993 with Duran Duran (known to fans as The Wedding Album) which spawned the hit Ordinary World. Since then their career has seen more peaks and troughs, but their 2003 reunion tour was a huge success, and they recently released a new album, All You Need Is Now.

Quote: On why he's put his wild days behind him: 'If you're going to play a great show the next night, you can't stay up until six in the morning trying to pull some bird and drinking as much vodka as you can.'

Janet Fraser Crook (Director)

Caroline Cullen (Series producer)

10:00 pm - 10:45 pm, Sunday, June 7 on BBC Two England (2)

About this Broadcast

Season 68, Episode 4

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