Holland began playing piano at the age of eight

Holland, 45, who has delighted audiences around the UK with his boogie-woogie piano, has become perhaps even better known as a broadcaster than for his considerable musical talent.

He has built a 20-year TV career which began alongside Paula Yates in the early 1980s as co-presenter of Channel 4's pioneering music show The Tube.

Two decades on he remains a champion of live music through his late-night BBC Two series, Later.

Holland's Later show on BBC Two champions live music

Holland was playing piano by the age of eight after learning the basics from his uncle.

By his teens he was playing in pubs and clubs in south London and the city's East End.

Aged 15 he had teamed up with musicians Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook to form Squeeze, who ran in on the new wave of British bands following the late 1970s punk explosion.

Within five years the group had made a minor dent in the pop charts with their 1978 single Take Me I'm Yours.

With Holland on piano and keyboards, Squeeze went on to bigger achieve success with radio-friendly hits such as Cool For Cats and Up The Junction.

Holland now records with his own band, Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, who perform sell-out shows around the UK.

They have evolved into a disciplined 18-piece band, capable of selling out dozens of shows each year.

Holland has performed with some of the world's most respected artists, including Eric Clapton, Sting, BB King, George Harrison and Paul Weller.

His broadcasting credentials received another boost when he was chosen to conduct the interviews for the landmark Beatles Anthology series.

But perhaps his greatest TV trick appears to be his ability to become instantly matey with all of his TV guests - regardless of their personal nature or musical persuasion.