As we prepare to say hello to 2024, The Standard grilled a number of celebrities on the New Year's resolutions they will be making.
The Welsh actor and singer, 44, has been making a name for himself in Hollywood of late, but in 2023 made his highly anticipated return to the West End stage after 15 years in Backstairs Billy. The comedy-drama, which also stars Penelope Wilton, runs at the Duke of York's Theatre until January 27. Somehow, he has also found the time to quietly write and record new music which he's hoping the world may get to hear in 2024 and should all go well, a tour could follow.
Asked about New Year's resolutions, he said: "I don’t do any of them. I just think live the best life you can, and be the best person you can and don’t just wait until the 31st December to make that decision. I think every day should be a resolution of doing something good, paying it forwards and being a nice person and sharing the love, I think that’s what it’s about, there isn’t enough of that nowadays."
Mollie King
Former The Saturdays singer-turned-BBC Radio 1 presenter King, 36, has confessed to suffering with anxiety and wants to address what triggers her.
"Maybe to just try and improve at staying present," she said. "I think that’s quite a big one for me because I can be a worrier and I can be an overthinker and I definitely suffer from anxiety a lot and I think actually when I’m just present and thinking about what’s happening that day and what’s in front of me, then everything feels a lot more manageable. I definitely think that’s something I should work on."
Katherine Ryan
The Canadian comedian, 40, has been busy juggling being a mum-of-three with her career in recent years, but hopes to be able to return to her stand-up comedy roots over the next 12 months.
She said: "I’m just trying to get back on stage. I have to do bath and bed time and then slip out, that would be the easiest way to do it."
Julia Bradbury
The TV presenter and outdoor enthusiast, 53, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021 then underwent a single mastectomy in October and is now in remission. The Countryfile star is now hoping for a happy and above all, a healthy new year.
She said: "My New Years Resolutions are to find out and explore more things that I can do and learn about to keep myself and my family healthy and there’s always something else to learn.
"Self-care isn’t selfish. I think it’s very easy to get wrapped up and sort of caught up in the business of life and actually, there isn’t anybody who doesn’t need time for mental health and for nourishing and for exercise. Exercise is probably one of the most important things that we can all do to maintain our health and to ward off chronic illness. I’ve sort of thought about exercise as a little bit of a luxury and it’s not, it’s essential. We all need to move our bodies, we need to exercise, we need to build our strength because it builds our immune system, it helps keeps our brains healthy and helps us live longer."
Sam Ryder
2023 is going to be a hard one to top for the 34-year-old former TikTok star who became a Eurovision sensation. He started off the year with a number one debut album and goes into 2024 with an Emmy Award nomination for his song Fought & Lost.
Reflecting on what he wants to work on going forward, he said: "I’ve got to work on my patience as always but we’ll get there! I’m impatient to be more patient!"
Joe Swash
The actor and TV presenter, 41, who is married to Loose Women panelist Stacey Solomon, has his hands full as a dad-of-six, but hopes to make some more time for the gym in 2024.
He said: "We’re going to try and be a healthier house as in we’re going to be a lot more active, Stacey and me are starting to go the gym a lot more. I want to try and get fit again."
Lauren Laverne
As if helping the UK wake up with her BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show every weekday from 7.30am-10.30am and keeping little ones entertained narrating cartoon series Tee and Mo wasn't public service enough, the Sunderland-born broadcaster, 45, wants to dedicate 2024 to improving the world and lives of those around her.She said: “It comes down to the old phrase 'we must cultivate our garden' - and looking at what I can do to try and live better (more helpfully and healthily) with the sphere of influence I have. So (I hope it’s not too cheesy to say) I’ll be looking at my relationships, my neighbourhood and other ways I can try and do something constructive in the world and trying to be a better friend, support those around me and try to be constructive and positive in the work I do.”
Leona Lewis
The 38-year-old former X Factor winner has swapped London for LA in recent years where she lives with her husband and their one-year-old daughter. While she has largely turned her back on fame, she runs two successful coffee shops in the US, which she hopes to expand to the UK in future. There are a couple of other things that she hopes to achieve going forward.
"I don’t make resolutions, but I give myself little promises," she explained. "So this year I’d like to be on my phone less, be in nature more, spend some time learning a language."
Scott Mills
Radio presenter Scott Mills, 50, has lots to look forward to in 2024, including his wedding to partner Sam Vaughan in June. Before that, he's hosting Your Ultimate Madonna Song on BBC Radio 2, January a from 2-5pm, and on BBC Sounds from Boxing Day. Aside from his marital status, he says one thing he wants to change going into the new year is reading more books.
He explained: "My fiancé has taken to reading every night before bed and I feel embarrassed that I don't read more and I think it would quieten my mind before bedtime."
The broadcaster also wants to stop biting his nails, but has found it an uphill struggle, saying: "I have tried everything, I had Shellac nails done which I was told I wouldn't be able to bite because they're rock hard, didn't work. I was told to try oregano oil because it tastes disgusting, that worked for a while but you just stink of oregano which isn't ideal and I smelt like a herb rack."
Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens’ new BBC Radio 6 Music show (Tuesdays – Fridays, 4pm-7pm), broadcast from Cardiff, begins on January 9. The Welsh broadcaster is hoping to be able to use his platform to help struggling independent music venues.He said: “My resolutions for 2024 are to drink more water, and take more steps. I’ll be starting my new early-evening show on BBC Radio 6 Music, which we’ll be taking on tour for Independent Venue Week. We know how important those venues are so support your local music venue when you can, they are hugely important for everyone.”
