For a real Eurovision superfan like me, flying the flag for Scotland is a dream come true
Award-winning soloist and TV host can’t wait to hit the stage in Sweden with high hopes of leading Gaelic singers to glory
BBC weathereather presenter Joy Dunlop’s dream forecast since she was a little girl was that she would perform in her beloved Eurovision Song Contest.
Superfan Joy would make up a Eurovision score chart to play a game with her family, where they would give their own points to every act taking part in the competition.
She never misses a contest and gets goosebumps when she watches recordings from past shows.
Now the award- winning singer is gett ing ready to lead Scotland’s performance as they make their debut in the Eurovision choir contest.
In preparation for the event, she has met up with Eurovision commentator Scott Mills for hints and tips.
Joy, 35, said: “I used to make my brothers and parents join me in watching the show and voting with special score cards I had made for us all – I was so sad. But now I’ll be the one up on the Eurovision stage – conducting the choir for Scotland – and it will be me hoping to get the judges’ top scores.
“I know I’ll be shaking like a leaf inside but this is such an amazing opportunity and I just hope we can all enjoy every moment and do Scotland proud.”
Broadcaster Joy will lead a choir of 35 singers representing Scotland in what is just the second Eurovision Choir of the Year contest.
Joy, who performs as both a soloist and in choirs, was asked if she would put together a choir of Gaelic singers for the competition, which will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, on August 3.
She will also present a TV show on BBC Alba documenting the choir’s preparations for the contest.
Joy, who was brought up in Connel, near Oban, said: “I don’t know how old I was when I started watching all things Eurovision but my mum was a fan of the showsh and got me hooked. To this day, I get goosebumps when I see Michael Flatley and Jean Butler performing Riverdance, which they did for the first time as part of the half-time entertainment when the show was hosted in Ireland.
“I was only 10 and I spent the next six months watching it over and over again in my living room.
“But there have been so many great shows. I was lucky enough to go to Tel Aviv to watch this year’s show, which was amazing and absolutely everything I dreamed it would be.
“I wanted to get an idea of what it was really like to be there and I wasn’t disappointed. I felt like I had become part of the huge Eurovision family. Everyone seemed to know each other – people go wherever it is being held each year and see the same faces.
“And no one takes themselves too seriously. They take their work and singing seriously – but not themselves.”
Joy, who has performed at Gaelic
I hope we can enjoy every moment and do Scotland proud
festival the Royal Nat iona l Mod since she was a little girl, said it was no easy task picking the 35 singers for the Scottish choir, which has been named Alba. She suspect s her decision over who to include may have cost her some friends. She said: “I was asked to put this choir together so it was up to me to find who I thought were the right singers for this competition. “It wasn’t eas y deciding who to include – there are so many talented choristers out there – and I had to leave out a lot of friends. “Everyone in the Gaelic choir community knows everyone else so I knew who I wanted to invite to take part.
“There were so many people who wanted to be involved in this project and there are people out there who are disappointed that I didn’t include them.
“But I had to go with the people I thought were right for this very specific choir.”
Joy has chosen singers from across the country to join Alba.
They will compete against 10 other nations in the competition, including Germany, Denmark and Wales.
Each choir must perform music that reflects its nationality.
Rather than each country having a panel of judges who will award points to their rivals, just three international judges will grade the choirs. And Joy turned to Radio 1 DJ Scott, who has commentated on the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals since 2011, for advice.
She said: “This competition is such a wonderful way to showcase our Gaelic language and heritage across Europe.
“I went down to London to visit Scott at Radio 1 to pick his brains on all things Eurovision.
“He was lovely – and so positive about what it’s like to be involved in Eurovision and involved in an event that is broadcast to such a huge audience.
“He gave me lots of hints and tips that I plan to pass on to the choir.
“But his biggest piece of advice was that we should just make sure we enjoy it.”
Former River City actor Tom Kearney will be stepping into the shoes normally occupied by Graham Nor ton to commentate on the show.
Joy added: “I feel so lucky to have been given this amazing opportunity.
“I was just a little girl when I first started making radio shows from my bedroom and forcing family and friends to listen.
“I’ve loved singing too for as long as I can remember and taking part in events like the Mod led to me getting involved in TV presenting and now even presenting the weather.
“I started doing the weather on BBC Alba at the start of the year and now I’m presenting it on BBC Scotland too.
“You don’t have a script when you present the weather, everything is in your head and you really need to understand what you are talking about.
“I’ve not got any meteorological background but I’m learning fast and love the challenge.”