Rick Astley joins Dermot O’Leary for Reel Stories on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer

Rick Astley, left, and Dermot O’Leary

Singer and songwriter Rick Astley will join BBC Radio 2’s Dermot O’Leary for the next edition of BBC Two and BBC iPlayer’s Reel Stories next month.

Reel Stories, which launched in 2018, sees O’Leary sit down in a London cinema with some of music’s biggest stars to watch back the pivotal moments of their lives and careers.

Astley spent his early years as the drummer and then lead vocalist in the soul band FBI, while at recording outfit Stock Aitken Waterman he evolved from tea-maker to global popstar with the release of his debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody in 1987.

He later became an internet cult as part of the viral Rickrolling phenomenon, which led to a career resurgence that saw him release his number one album 50 in 2016 and appear on Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage in 2023.

Astley’s edition will be broadcast as part of a themed night in February, featuring another chance to see the Never Gonna Give You Up singer’s Glastonbury 2023 set, and Stock Aitken Waterman at the BBC, featuring classic BBC performances from Astley, alongside Dead or Alive, Donna Summer, Bananarama, Mel & Kim, and Kylie & Jason Donovan.

Previous Reel Stories interviewees have included Dave Grohl (2021), Jon Bon Jovi (2024), Kylie (2018), Noel Gallagher (2019), Pet Shop Boys (2023), Robbie Williams (2022), Shania Twain (2024) Rod Stewart (2019), Sting (2021) and Take That (2023).

Reel Stories: Rick Astley was commissioned by Rachel Davies, commissioning editor, BBC Popular Music TV. The head of BBC Popular Music TV is Jonathan Rothery. It is produced by Craft Films and Ora Et Labora.

Davies said: “Reel Stories is all about telling artists’ stories in a unique way – one which allows audiences to reflect alongside them, as we relive footage of their achievements and career milestones together on screen.”