For Euro saga

that? I’m now playing Will

Ferrell’s dad?’ ” Brosnan laughs.

“Actually, I remember when Abba won Eurovision with Waterloo, in 1974. It was a big night,” he recalls. “I was living in London, everyone watched it.

“It was kind of gloriously grand and silly and passionate, and people wore their hearts on their sleeve for their country. And I thought this was pitch perfect for the world of Will Ferrell.”

Ferrell returns the compliment. “It was pretty nice having James Bond as your dad,” he says of the Irish actor, only 15 years his senior.

“And he really is James Bond. He doesn’t ruffle, ever.”

Did Brosnan harbour any fantasies of participating in the competition back then?

“Good God no, no, no, no,” he roars laughing.

“I was deep in my world of acting and wanting to be Marlon Brando and wanting to be Robert De Niro. The Eurovision Song Contest was just very frivolous fare for me. I was 25 years old and it had no deeper meaning to me than a rather delightful show on the telly.”

Rachel McAdams was entirely unfamiliar with Eurovision.

“As a Canadian girl I didn’t know anything about Eurovision until (transgender performer)

Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams in scenes from the new hit film

Conchita Wurst won for Austria, and I feel like that hit the radar around the world because it was such a special moment,” she says.

“But I was lucky to go on a research trip to last year’s Eurovision in Tel Aviv. And I have to say, I’m a fan.

“There was something about being there in person and feeling the electricity in that arena, especially the Australian act (Kate Miller-Heidke) performing Zero Gravity on those poles was amazing to watch.”

McAdams sang and also lipsynched for the role, but those tasks paled next to the job’s most challenging aspect.

“The hardest thing about the shoot was keeping a straight face with Will,” she laughs.

“And I failed miserably at that task.” is now streaming on Netflix

UK pop trio Bang Bang Romeo have had their 2020 tour plans thrown into chaos like every other band on the face of the planet, so instead have announced their Stone Cold Superstar Virtual tour. They will be blowing off the cobwebs performing live music to an audience for the first time in four months, streaming live from home at the Live Nation Facebook page from 7pm tomorrow.