Fontaines D.C. to air one-off Later… With Jools Holland special on BBC Two on 15 November

Fontaines D.C. have recorded a one-off special edition of Later… With Jools Holland, which will air on BBC Two on Sunday 15 November. The full programme will be available on BBC iPlayer on the afternoon of Wednesday 21 October, according to NME.

The Dublin band filmed the session at Alexandra Palace Theatre in north London earlier this week, performing material from their fifth studio album, 'Dopamine Chamber'. The record is released on Friday 16 October, so the iPlayer date falls five days after release rather than on the same day.

When and where to watch

The special has three outlets. BBC Two will broadcast it on Sunday 15 November, and BBC iPlayer will carry it from Wednesday 21 October. Songs from the session will also go on the BBC's official YouTube channel from 21 October, where NME says they will be available globally.

The BBC's radio networks are also involved. Tracks and new interviews with the band are due that week on Steve Lamacq's show on BBC Radio 6 Music, Jo Whiley's show on BBC Radio 2 and the New Music Show With Jack Saunders on Radio 1.

A familiar stage

The band first appeared on Later… in 2020 and last performed on the programme in 2024. Grian Chatten also played the show solo in 2023. The programme began its 69th series on Sunday 11 October, with Johnny Marr, Skye Newman and Mary In The Junkyard among the early guests. Royal Blood, Jamie T, Violet Grohl and Bloc Party are named as guests on forthcoming episodes.

Album week and the live schedule

'Dopamine Chamber' follows 2024's 'Romance'. Three singles have been released from it: 'Marianne', 'Tongue' and 'Where Is Gone?', the last featuring Rosalía. NME gave the album a five-star review.

The band are marking the release with a small gig at London's Roundhouse on Thursday 15 October, raising funds for the mental health charity CALM. They have also played two unreleased songs, 'Six Shot Morning' and 'Happy For You', at recent shows. NME reports that they premiered 'Happy For You' at Leeds Festival in August.

Larger UK dates follow. A 2026 UK and European arena tour is set for this autumn, and next summer includes a double-header at Manchester's Heaton Park, with Little Simz and Viagra Boys supporting on the UK dates. The band are also due to play two nights at Slane Castle in Ireland, with Hayley Williams opening there. NME also reports that they will headline Primavera Sound in Barcelona next June.

The Later… special draws together the album, the BBC's weekly programming and the band's coming live schedule in one run of dates. Viewers who want the full session earlier can watch on iPlayer from 21 October, while those who prefer the broadcast will find it on BBC Two on 15 November.