SCOTT MILLS: ‘So much weird stuff happens doing Eurovision!
Closer caught up with Radio 1 star Scott Mills, 43, as he prepares to present the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals
This is your seventh year fronting the competition’s semifinals – excited?
I am ridiculously excited! Eurovision is a chance for fans to forget about everything else going on in the world; it takes over in whatever city it’s held in – everyone’s in a good mood and it’s like a carnival.
Are you looking forward to your trip to ukraine?
I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to travel, so I’ve been reading up on it and it sounds like a really nice city. I’m being shown round by the Russian billionaire Mohammad Zahoor and his wife Kamaliya. I had them on my (radio) show when they were on reality TV show Meet The Russians. They were insane so if I stick with them, I’ll be alright…
is it fun presenting the semifinals with Mel Giedroyc?
It’s great because Mel loves Eurovision like I do. Last year we were in Stockholm, and we ended up doing a silly version of Scandinavian drama The Bridge. It was ridiculous and involved us wearing fancy dress, rolling around the floor of the stadium. So much weird stuff happens in the course of that week!
What else do you get up to?
There isn’t a moment in your day when it’s not about Eurovision. There’s even the Euroclub – which is like a normal club – but it plays Eurovision music and a lot of the acts will perform too.
Do you get to hang out with Graham norton?
Graham comes on the Thursday or Friday before the grand final on Saturday. The bar on the Friday night is hilarious…
What do you think of the uk entry this year?
I remember Lucie from The X Factor, but I’d never actually met her. There was talk of, “Oh, why is it an X Factor person?” but a huge stage in front of 200 million people could really freak you out if you’re not used to it.
Do you have any favourite eurovision moments?
The song that changed people’s views of the competition was Euphoria (by Sweden’s winner
Loreen in 2012). It ‘s the only one in recent years to make it into the Top 10 here. It made people look at the contest seriously again.