How to start the New Year: one close-up, national flag, keep it five minutes max

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor

The Iron Chancellor thanks compatriots who helped welcome the more than a million asylum seekers who arrived in Germany in 2015. She speaks from her office, with the Bundestag in the background. Syria, ISIS, war and the refugee crisis loom large: “Our values, sense of justice, language…  underpin our society. They’re the fundamental requirement for everyone in our country to live together with mutual respect.”

Time: 6:54

Vladimir Putin, Russian President

Triumphant fanfare salutes the revanchist Russian as we are graced with a Muscovite view before Putin comes onto the screen. Snow is falling outside but the former KGB spy, although wearing an overcoat, is clearly inside a studio. His main salutations go to Russian forces fighting international terrorism, pays tribute to the motherland and the victory in the Great Patriotic War, ie. World War II.

Time: Just over 3 minutes

David Cameron, British prime minister

In a year in which ‘H-ameron’ was revealed to have defiled a pig’s head, the British PM outlined his government’s intentions for 2016 where he discussed the referendum on the future of Britain in the European Union, saying he was negotiating hard for a better deal; and on the subject of national security, Cameron said he plans to make the country even more secure by tackling extremism. Like Muscat, he talks of economic security, record jobs, and tax cuts. Setting: 10 Downing Street, Christmas tree in background.

Time: 4:19

Barack Obama, US President

The leader of the free world gets a massive close-up at the White House where he vows to tackle the 'unfinished business' of gun violence in his New Year's address as he prepares to announce executive action on firearms. It is an ambitious speech that vows to take on a vocal and strong lobby: ‘I hope you will join me in making America safer.’

Time: 4:05

François Hollande, French President

Terrorism, the Charlie Hebdo massacre and the Paris attacks loom large in the French president’s address, who has more headaches than most of his counterparts. With the French and EU flag in the background, making this address free of any Yuletide symbolism, Hollande spoke of an “economic and social state of emergency” as 2015 drew to a close. With just 16 months to go before the next presidential election Hollande, whose popularity foundered on record levels of joblessness, will not stand for re-election in 2017 unless he can reverse the downward spiral of unemployment.

Time: 9:32