Lots of candidates for loser of the year, but one iconic moment - Vladimir McTavish
Unlike a year ago, Edinburgh actually had a Hogmanay on Wednesday, so we could properly celebrate the start of another year. This is a time to look back and reflect on the past 12 months, and look forward in anticipation of the year ahead.
What were the highlights of 2025? Scotland qualifying for the World Cup, obviously. Apart from that, few and far between. We have just bid farewell to a pretty grim year, so 2026 can only be better, surely?
The old year ended with the annual announcement of the New Year’s Honours. This is normally a list of the great and the good, plus the odd random lollipop man or dinner lady. As ever, some awards were richly deserved while others prompted widespread head scratching.
However, it was good to see Anne Budge’s name on the list, receiving an OBE. Without her contribution to the club 12 years ago, Hearts could well have gone out of existence. Today, they sit on top of the Premier League. I reckon even most Hibees would agree her honour is richly deserved.
And since this is the season to be handing out baubles, I give you my awards for the individuals who contributed most to the cluster mess that was 2025.
Most Sinister Person Of The Year. An incredibly tight contest in a packed field. Any one of a number of candidates could have walked way with the gong, including Donald Trump, Elon Musk,Tommy Robinson and Ryland’s dentist.
But it has to be Nigel Farage, awarded retrospectively in recognition of his schooldays. He was nominated by several old boys of Dulwich College, who named him as the sixth form’s number one anti-semitic bully.
Disappointment Of The Year. Last year’s winner Keir Starmer scoops the award for a second year running in recognition of a dismal 18 months in office. To put this achievement into perspective, the shortlist also included the cancellation of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2025 and Wilfried Nancy’s first four games as manager of Celtic. That’s how much the public feel let down.
Worst Cosmetic Surgery Of The Year. Despite stiff competition from Katie Price, Ryland’s dentist and Kim Kardashian’s arse, it’s that man Elon Musk. Or some wax effigy that looks like his face.
Complete A***hole of the Year. The smart money was on Piers Morgan to win for the fifth consecutive time. But Keir Starmer scooped the award after giving a knighthood to David Beckham in the King’s Birthday Honours. So standing in queue for three days to watch the late Queen lying in state finally paid off. I hope you’re reading this, Phillip Schofield.
As for Biggest Joke Of The Year, there was a runaway winner in 2025. It was impossible to imagine anything more ridiculous than racist thug Tommy Robinson embracing Christianity. What version of the bible has he been reading? Definitely not Christ’s plea that you “love thy neighbour.”
Most iconic moment of the year had only one nominee: Scott McTominay’s overhead bicycle kick that set Scotland off on the road to the World Cup. Which brings us to the one thing we can look forward to in 2026. C’mon, Scotland! Happy New Year.