The combination of rock stars and live television can be combustible but the BBC is looking to take a big gamble by broadcasting its big music show live for the first time.

Despite its party atmosphere, Later . . . with Jools Holland, a BBC Two fixture for 15 years, is recorded days before its Friday evening broadcast.

With Top of the Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test now consigned to the archives, a breakthrough performance on Later . . . has become the most effective way to catapult performers such as KT Tunstall to stardom.

Viewers complained when it emerged that the New Year’s Eve Later. . . was recorded weeks in advance. A show that promises “live music” should be broadcast live, like its famous predecessors, they said.

BBC bosses have decided that from next month, Later. . . will move to a 10pm slot on Tuesdays, and be broadcast live. The move is causing nervousness among stars and at the broadcaster.

A source said: “Big American stars are nervous that something could go wrong on live television and it will be all over YouTube. But live TV gives a music show a real edge.” Previously, a technical fault or duff note could be corrected by another take.

Despite the surface bonhomie, artists see the show as a competitive fixture. Mark Cooper, the BBC’s head of musical entertainment, said: “Putting people in a room together makes them play better: someone observed that it is ‘communal but gladiatorial’.” Going live adds extra spice to the musical one-upmanship.

For the BBC, the danger is that any artist seeking cheap publicity or a soap box could hijack the airwaves in the slot before Newsnight.

A torrent of abuse on live television secured the Sex Pistols’ legend and anarchic incidents on shows such as The Word and TFI Friday confirmed the danger of letting musicians off the leash. Even Holland, the presenter whose fourletter slip once caused Channel 4’s The Tube to be suspended, must mind his language.

The first live show features a rare performance by the Only Ones, a 1970s punk group famed for their sole hit, Another Girl Another Planet. Singer Peter Perrett once fled the US to avoid an arrest warrant on charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, and also admits he has been a drug addict for nearly 30 years.

The producers are on safer ground with Adele, the teenage soul-jazz singer, who has also accepted the live challenge. Adele was invited on Later . . . last year, on the strength of a demo tape and has now become a chart-topping star.

Gnarls Barkley and the singer-songwriter James Taylor also appear on the live debut on April 1, with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss and Portishead to follow.

The cameras will continue to roll during Newsnight on Tuesdays for an extended hour-long Later . . . which will then be shown on BBC Two on Friday nights as before.

The perils of live TV

Remembering the worst car-crash moments of live music television

Elvis Presley - Outrage over suggestive “gyrations” during 1956 Hound Dog performance on Milton Berle show. Ordered to film from the waist up.

The Sex Pistols - Punk arrives with “F-word” tirade by Steve Jones, egged on by Today show host Bill Grundy. “Filth and the Fury” headlines follow.

The Stone Roses - Power fails one minute into band’s 1989 Late Show performance. Singer Ian Brown shouts “amateurs” at flailing host Tracey MacLeod.

L7 - LA grunge band guitarist Donita Sparks protest against patriarchal society by removing her knickers at climax of appearance on The Word.

Shaun Ryder - Chris Evans promises Happy Mondays hell raiser a pair of shoes if he does not swear on TFI Friday - but it's a forlorn hope and Ryder is banned.

Nirvana - Required to sing over a backing track Kurt Cobain unleashes a low moan during Top of the Pops debut with Smells Like Teen Spirit.

All About Eve - Top of the Pops viewers hear Martha’s Harbour but singer Julianne Regan is unaware the song is playing due to monitor failure.

Editor's choice

• The 100 Best Films of the Decade
• 70 facts you didn't know about Marvel
• The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010