Derham Katie - Last night of the Proms: an official miscellany

The ultimate celebration of the nations classical knees-up!

Ever since Sir Henry Woods Proms were first broadcast in 1927, Last Night has become an annual appointment for classical music lovers and is enjoyed by millions around the world. This first and official miscellany explores the history and traditions that have developed on the last night of the worlds biggest and longest-running classical music festival. Learn about the origins of the Proms and how it first got its name. Discover the stories behind iconic Last Night songs such as Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and Fantasia on British Sea Songs, and prepare to Prom with our dos and donts guide for Last Night Prommers.

From flag waving and Rule, Britannia to the most memorable conductors speeches, and the story of how the Proms survived the Blitz, Last Night of the Proms: An Official Miscellany, is the perfect tribute to a uniquely British institution.

Alison Maloney is the author of several books, including The Mums Book, Womans Hour: Words from Wise, Witty and Wonderful Women, The World of Mr Selfridge and The Official Strictly Come Dancing Annual.

Katie Derham is one of Britains best known newscasters and presenters and fronts coverage of the Proms for BBC Two, BBC Four and BBC Radio Three.

For as long as I can remember, the BBC Proms have been part of my life. When I was growing up, my family watched the Last Night of the Proms on TV every year, and I loved it, even from a very young age. As a keen musician myself I was always fascinated by the orchestra, but I also loved watching all the balloons, the party streamers, the flags and people bobbing up and down. I could see the Prommers were all having a great time, and their enthusiasm was infectious.

Fast forward to 2010, and I was asked to present the whole season of the Proms including the Last Night for the BBC. It was a career-defining moment for me, a change of direction from my news background, and I couldnt possibly say no.

As well as expanding my musical horizons as a child, the Proms had been part of my awareness of British cultural life. They are right at the heart of what makes the British tick. To have the chance of being around musicians of the highest calibre and being involved in something that is such an institution was a dream come true.

For many people watching at home, the Last Night of the Proms may well be the one classical concert they see all year, so it is a huge honour to be there with them.

The first time I presented it, the sense of festivity and the gala element just blew me away. Even though it was a big event in our house when I was a child, I had never seen it live before I found myself presenting it, and I was really bowled over by how genuinely excited the audience was to be there. Its not easy to get a ticket to the Last Night, so being there is a big deal. Theres a slight sense of Willy Wonka and the golden tickets, and a huge air of celebration.

That first Hello and welcome was terrifying but thrilling. When the red light came on the camera I thought, My God! This is the Last Night of the Proms there are millions of people watching, this is BBC One, Saturday night, its live!

With live TV anything can happen and on that first occasion it did. The conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra was the late Ji Blohlvek, who was an utter sweetheart but a bit scatterbrained. He didnt play the pieces in the same order as had been decided, so we were trying to work it out as we went along. He also went offstage between pieces, unplanned, and I was hearing frantic voices in my ear saying, Keep talking, hes walked off. He wasnt meant to walk off. Keep talking. I had to think on my feet What can I say about the flags that we see in the audience? Can I tell more anecdotes about the Proms founder-conductor Sir Henry Wood? It was a baptism of fire, but I loved every minute.

Because its a live event, we always have Plan A, B, C, D, E, F and G in our back pockets. I have a lot of notes, a lot of extra information about every piece of music and about the Prommers. But in the end, as with any live event, you chuck away a lot of that because you are following the director and speaking over the camera shots. The whole thing is very fluid and I really do just go with the flow.

For me, the Proms season is a lot more than just a series of concerts of great music. It is a quintessentially British summer event. Going to a prom is more than just going to a concert. There is something about the atmosphere there, about the sense of history, about the fact that the audience is made up of people from all walks of life. And the venue, of course, is spectacular. Going to the Royal Albert Hall for any kind of event is a special treat, but for the Proms it has a particular resonance. You know you are witnessing the best musicians in the world and yet its not exclusive, and always feels welcoming and friendly.

As well as the music, the Prommers the audience members whove queued up for a standing space in the arena or gallery really make for a unique experience. Some are a little eccentric, its true. But they are all genuine music lovers. Many of them have been coming to the Proms for decades; some come to every single concert. Theyre charming, enthusiastic, and I love the quirky traditions of their chants and the calls, for instance when the piano is moved onto the stage. They raise many thousands of pounds for charity every year, too.

The Proms season for me is a wonderful, hectic time and I love every concert, but the Last Night holds a special place in my heart. I love the Fantasia on British Sea-Songs and the way it changes slightly every year. I look forward to the speech by the conductor and I am always moved by Land of Hope and Glory. As the chords strike up for that, you can feel the whole audience gearing up. Its like a collective intake of breath before everyone starts singing, and its magical.

There is something about that gala feeling that is very engaging. It enthuses you and fills you with excitement, and, after eight weeks of concerts, theres a demob-happy feeling backstage as well.

For the country as a whole its slightly bittersweet. The Last Night of the Proms signals the end of the summer, its back to school and autumn is here. But why not go out with a bang? For me, the Last Night is a real celebration of everything that is good about music, about people and about having fun. And what a swell party it is!

The Proms have become a symbol for accessible, highest-quality music-making around the whole world

Sakari Oramo, Chief Conductor, BBC Symphony Orchestra

When it comes to the Proms and the famous Last Night one man in particular has become indelibly associated with its beginnings. Sir Henry Wood, whose bronze bust adorned with a laurel chaplet looks out across the audience throughout each season, is a familiar name to seasoned Promenaders as the conductor who brought the classics to the masses.

But there are other individuals too, less well known to the general public, who deserve wider acclaim. One in particular is Robert Newman. After all, it was he who had the idea for the Proms in the first place.