The ABC has announced comedian Charlie Pickering will host its New Year’s Eve 2017 broadcast, Countdown Live NYE 2017 on ABC and ABC iview.

Presented from the Sydney Opera House, Pickering takes us through an evening jam packed full of unmissable entertainment from an all-star line-up including Jimmy Barnes, Phil Jamieson, Marcia Hines and Kate Ceberano, with plenty of fun for all-ages, including the Family Fireworks at 9pm, culminating in the world-famous Sydney Midnight Fireworks.

The evening events will commence with a Welcome to Country with Rhoda Roberts AO, followed by The Early Night Show, co-hosted by Hoot the Owl and the one and only Kitty Flanagan. Featuring the Play School band, jugglers, acrobats and a marching band, it promises to be fun for all the family!

The show will cross to ABC ME’s Grace Koh and Giggle and Hoot’s Jimmy Giggle who will be live from Sydney’s Botanical Gardens. There will be a very special performance from Casey Donovan, we take a look at some hilarious Play School auditions, and some of our younger viewers give us their views on hot topics and what was the “best-thing-ever” that happened to them in 2017.

At 9pm, the winner of ABC ME’s Design your own Firework competition, 7-year-old Lucia from Adelaide, will set the Sydney sky alight with the Family Fireworks display featuring her own unique firework design.

After the 9pm fireworks, Charlie will take us through a variety of hilarious and heart-warming segments including comedian Sammy J, who will present his unique take on some of the year’s key stories, and a behind the scenes look at the rehearsals for the biggest concert of the year.

Then it’s time to do yourself a favour and get your groove on when the legendary Molly Meldrum welcomes Australia to Countdown Live, a live concert celebrating the songs of the iconic show Countdown performed by many of our most loved artists.

Audiences can enjoy live; Jimmy Barnes, Phil Jamieson, Colin Hay, Casey Donovan, John Paul Young, Marcia Hines, Kate Ceberano, Ngaiire, Montaigne, Isaiah Firebrace, Mahalia Barnes and Prinnie Stevens. They’ll be performing the music that is, quintessentially, Australia’s song book, with a few international classics thrown in for good measure.

At midnight, stand by as Sydney becomes the focus of the world as thousands of fireworks light up Sydney Harbour and we welcome 2018.

RUNDOWN HIGHLIGHTS (exact times subject to change):

8:35pm: New Year’s Eve 2017 commences on ABC and ABC iview

8:38pm: Welcome to Country

8:41pm: ABC Children’s NYE commences

9.00pm: Family Fireworks

9.30pm: Countdown Concert commences

12:00am Sydney Midnight Fireworks