Heartbeat f latlined, but Irish partied on
Bad news for Kasey, but a breakthrough for Whitmore
TV PRESENTER Laura Whitmore may have been a Eurovision virgin before this week – but she enjoyed it so much, she’s looking to retain her BBC gig next year.
Despite the disappointment of Ireland not qualifying for the final, Laura was one of a number of Irish celebs who partied on regardless.
This week the Bray native was thrown in at the deep end, broadcasting two hours of live uninterrupted Eurovision TV coverage on two separate nights on BBC3.
‘It’s brilliant and we have had a lot of fun’, she said.
‘You grow up watching the Eurovision and I always remember Terry Wogan doing the commentary and then Graham m [Norton] took over. You imagine doing it yourself but I never thought it would happen so it is a bit surreal. Thankfully I
‘The Irish didn’t let the result ruin the weekend’
am co-hosting it with Scott Mills who has done it a few times before and can hold my hand.’
She managed to cope without help from m veteran host Graham Norton, who didn’t t turn up until Friday afternoon.
‘He is a pro, he doesn’t need to rehearse. e. But I do laugh because there have been n three Irish people doing the Eurovision n for the BBC in the UK,’ she said.
‘I have really enjoyed it. So it would be e nice to do it again but we will see how w tonight goes first.’
The MTV star wasn’t the only Irish face turning heads in Copenhagen. Flame-haired stylistturned-presenter Angela Scanlon was backstage at the show being shadowed by documentary maker David Blake Knox – the duo are making a special documentary to mark Ireland’s 50th anniversary of Eurovision participation.
Of course the disappointment of Ireland’s semi-final loss was never far from people’s minds.
Scanlon sympathised: ‘I felt so sorry for Kasey, the song was great. But the Irish like a party no matter what and they didn’t let the result ruin the weekend.’
Eurovision legend Johnny Logan made a fleeting appearance at the event’s B&W Hallerne venue, as did Jedward – although they were using the opportunity to promote their self-funded single Free Spirit to the corralled press corps.
They left before Thursday’s semi-final and missed the drama when Ireland was knocked out.
The let-down on Thursday was a far cry from the optimism on show earlier in the week, when the festivities kicked off at the Shamrock Inn just off the Eurovision square on Monday. In front of 20 or so fans Kasey Smith gave a showcase of Heartbeat and kick-started a sing song that went on until 2.30am.
And this was a tame start by the standards of the week which, through the wonder of staggered licensing laws, saw a green army drinking lager until 5am.
The party went flat on Thursday night for some – after being knocked out, Kasey and her family and friends had a subdued bash in the Shamrock Inn.
Not in party mood that night was commentator Marty Whelan, who was lamenting Ireland’s result: ‘I don’t know what happened because it was a great song. It is difficult watching other entries that aren’t as good as ours, but made it through due to tactical voting or vast amounts of money,’ he said.
Despite the deflation in spirits, some Irish fans were spotted making their way to Christiana, a commune known for the availability of soft drugs. On Friday, several Irish jerseys were spotted weaving in and out of its colourful buildings and shops.
‘The Irish were great fun’, one resident said. ‘They are welcome back any time.’
Let’s just hope next time they have something to celebrate.