Presenter Amy Irons on making her debut in BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay hot seat

She’s been used to watching teams climb up the leagues in her sports broadcasting career but, this year, Amy Irons completes her own promotion run.

Having worked her way up from welcoming in the New Year in the chilly confines of Stonehaven harbour and atop Edinburgh Castle, this year she’s making her debut in the BBC Scotland Hogmanay studio hot seat.

“I like to think I’ve come from League Two and now I’ve been trusted with a big Champions League match,” Amy, 33, laughed.

“From 2019 outside in Stonehaven, absolutely freezing by the sea with three jackets on, it’s almost been a test of my physical strength.

“I was at Edinburgh Castle with the piper in 2020, which was great. I had about a minute live on air and honestly, I probably rehearsed it 100 times and didn’t sleep for about five days worrying about it.”

New Year celebrations

Getting the call up to host was a milestone moment for Amy, who will lead the studio celebrations ahead of the big countdown to midnight with former Wet Wet Wet lead singer Marti Pellow on hand for entertainment.

Trad band Skipinnish will also welcome the audience into 2025 with a rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

© BBC Scotland / Alan Peebles

“I actually stopped and thought, ‘Right, just appreciate how far you have come’,” said Amy, daughter of Scottish football stalwart Davie Irons.

“Ten years ago I was working at WestSound, getting up at 3:30 in the morning not knowing if I could keep doing that.

“If you’d said to me then that I’d do one of the biggest programmes on television in Scotland I wouldn’t have believed it.”

It’s certainly the right time of year for a celebration, and Amy reflects fondly on family memories of New Years gone by.

“The liveliest parties I remember were at my granny and grandad’s wee house in Torbrex in Stirling,” she said. “It would just be full of people, everybody with party boppers on, Babycham and having a good sing along.

“Everybody has memories of Hogmanay. You think of Jackie Bird and the fireworks, being glued to the screen for that famous moment welcoming in a new year.

“The fact I’m now part of that is mind-blowing.”

Taking the Hogmanay baton

Jackie, who hung up her Hogmanay boots in 2019 after 20 years, has always been an inspiration for Amy.

She’ll follow in her footsteps again hosting the new Reporting Scotland: News At Seven alongside Laura Maciver in the New Year.

© Supplied by Amy Irons

“To be in the same industry and a similar role is quite remarkable,” she said.

“Growing up, the media was a completely different landscape. You didn’t have YouTubers, people on social media or all the channels.

“Jackie was this absolute icon, a mammoth of broadcasting. I used to pretend to be her, actually!

“With my brother Lewis, we did our own programme called Irons Lookaround in Dumfries with the family video camera.

“I’d sit behind a table in the utility room and would get really annoyed if someone put on the washing machine because it would make a racket!

“We’d interview my dad about the weekend’s football results – depending on how he got on.

“I’m so aware I’m following in the footsteps of amazing female broadcasting talent in Jackie, Susan Calman and Edith Bowman. To be able to take the baton from incredible women really means a lot to me.”

‘And finally, meet my brother’: Siblings Amy and Lewis Irons on teaming up at the BBC

Dream career

Amy has become a familiar face on our screens, something she’s manifested from a young age having initially wanted to be an actress.

It was starring as a newsreader in a Dumfries theatre group production that sparked the idea of doing that as a career.

She feels lucky to have done a bit of everything over the years, from hosting glamorous awards bashes to braving the elements on Scotland’s football touchlines.

“At STV I was covering breaking news stories like going to Spain after the Brexit vote, then I was at Capital doing daft things like trying to eat as many Jaffa Cakes as you possibly can or holding a tarantula live on air.

“I’ve found there’s strength in versatility. It also means work is always interesting. For as long as it continues, I’ll just keep saying yes to things.”

© BBC Scotland/Jamie Simpson

With the screen time comes a new phenomenon of being recognised in the street, and the self-confessed chatterbox says she loves having a blether with viewers.

But the rise of social media has also brought pitfalls for those with any degree of prominence.

“I can’t pretend it’s easy,” Amy admitted. “I’ve definitely developed a thicker skin. Earlier in my career any comment would make me really upset and it would knock my confidence a bit.

“Things will naturally upset you. You just have to try to let it wash over you.

“I always try to keep it in perspective. My dad’s been really good for that. Working in football, he’s so used to ups and downs. I remember him always saying not to let things go to your head when you’re doing well, but also don’t get too down with the lows.

“He’s still probably the first person I’d pick up the phone to when I’m struggling with a decision or something’s not going well. His wisdom and advice has helped through tougher times.”

Sacked in the Morning

Amy has also become close to another football manager in her Sacked In The Morning podcast co-host Craig Levein.

And she reckons she’s managed to chisel away at the former Scotland boss’s grumpy exterior.

“When we first started I’d only interviewed Craig twice when he was at Hearts and I was at STV. I remember thinking he was terrifying!

“Now he’s like a teddy bear… that’s maybe a wee bit far, but I certainly think I’ve won the man over. Our podcast is one of the highlights in my week.

“Listener engagement has been amazing. We’re never going to run out of stories, and because football managers get sacked all the time, we’re not going to run out of guests either!

“I really want to get Sir Alex Ferguson on. I saw the picture of him with Dick Campbell recently, who owes us. He’s been on the podcast a few times, so maybe he can make the introduction.”

2024 reflections

As it’s a time for reflection, how will Amy look back on 2024?

“With a lot of pride,” she said. “I left the comforts of the BBC staff job, it’s been my first year as a freelancer, which is quite scary but I’ve been able to broaden my work whether it’s with Premier Sports or Sky or starting my radio show on Heart. I’ve worked more than ever and at some point I’d like a holiday!”

© Supplied by Amy Irons

And does she have any resolutions?

“I never stick to them,” Amy laughed. “It normally involves stopping eating as much chocolate because I’m an absolute chocoholic! I’ve never quite managed.

“It does sound clichéd, but I just hope it’s another year of everyone in my life being happy and healthy.

“I never set big professional goals. I’m very much day-to-day and just totally winging it – as I think we all are!”

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Hogmanay Live, BBC One Scotland, Tuesday, 11.30pm