The world’s biggest music competition returns to BBC One with an array of special programming and the UK’s Olly Alexander taking centre stage.
The Eurovision Song Contest, one of the world’s longest-running and most-watched non-sporting events, returns to BBC One this week, with an extensive lineup of special programming across TV, radio, and online. The 68th edition of the contest will be hosted by Sweden following their victory in Liverpool last year with Loreen’s ‘Tattoo’.
The Grand Final will air live from the Malmö Arena on Saturday, 11 May, with Graham Norton providing commentary on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Scott Mills and Rylan will also oversee proceedings on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
This year, the UK will be represented by multi-award-winning music superstar Olly Alexander, formerly of the pop band Years & Years. Alexander will perform his synthpop anthem ‘Dizzy’, co-written with Danny L Harle, for the first time on the Eurovision stage during the first semi-final on Tuesday, 7 May.
The semi-finals will see a Eurovision first, with the ‘Big Five’ countries—France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom—along with host nation Sweden, performing their songs in full. While these countries automatically qualify for the Grand Final, their performances in the semi-finals will not be part of the voting sequences.
The first semi-final on Tuesday will feature 15 countries competing for 10 spots in the Grand Final. Among the highlights are Croatia’s Baby Lasagna, an early favourite with a catchy song ‘Rim Tim Tagi Dim’, and Ireland’s Bambie Thug, who describes their sound as ‘Ouija-pop’. The second semi-final on Thursday will see 16 countries vying for 10 spots, including Switzerland’s Nemo with their unique blend of pop, opera, and electro, and Joost Klein from the Netherlands bringing a 90s dance vibe.
In addition to the semi-finals and Grand Final, the BBC will air a range of special programmes celebrating the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s win for Sweden in 1974 with ‘Waterloo’. This includes Olly Alexander’s Road to Eurovision ’24, an exclusive documentary following Alexander’s journey to the competition, and ABBA: Against the Odds, a feature documentary on the iconic group’s rise to global fame.
The Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Finals will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday, 7 May, and Thursday, 9 May, at 8 pm. The Grand Final will air live on Saturday, 11 May, at 8 pm.
