Possible Clues:

• One stops at nothing to effect rocket launch
• Consider odds for duo's win maybe ten to one -- blast!
• Procession of figures not unknown in part of Ireland
• Long-running British TV game show based on the French programme Des chiffres et des lettres
• Nobleman's wife coming in to put on show
• Pre-midnight numerical ritual
• Noble not up for launch preparation
• Earl gets depressed coming up to New Year's Day
• What might end the year, and a hint to five answers in this puzzle
• Reckoning that comes to nothing