EUROVISION 2024 NOTES
MARION MCMULLEN on what to expect from the world’s biggest music contest
1
Years & Years singer
Olly Alexander (left) is
representing the UK
in the competition with his
dance-infused track Dizzy.
He is already through to
the final, along with others in the “big five” – France,
Germany, Italy and Spain –
as well as last year’s
winner Sweden. They will
perform during the
semi-finals for the
first time but will
not compete for
votes. 2 Olly Alexander’s Road to Eurovision ’24 documentary will be shown on BBC1 on Tuesday. The 33-year-old singer has collaborated with Sir Elton John, Kylie Minogue and the Pet Shop Boys in the past and says: “I’ve always loved Eurovision and I feel like this is just like a once-in-alifetime experience.” 3
Sweden is hosting the 68th edition of the competition after its entry last year, Loreen, won for the second time with her power ballad track Tattoo – making her the first woman to win the contest twice. She first won in 2012 with Euphoria. 4
Contestants will take to the stage at Malmo Arena in Sweden for the first semi-final on Tuesday followed by the second on Thursday. This will be the seventh time Sweden has hosted the contest. The nation has previously staged shows in Stockholm in 1975, 2000 and 2016, Gothenburg in 1985 and Malmo in 1992 and 2013.
The stage has been designed by lighting and screen content designer Fredrik Stormby from Green Wall Designs and production designer Florian Wieder and took around six months to complete. Green Wall Designs also worked on Beyoncé’s
Renaissance Tour. 6
The final will be broadcast next Saturday with Graham Norton, below, back to offer his commentary on the songs and performances for BBC One and iplayer. The competition will see acts from 37 countries compete for the title.
7
Radio DJS Rylan Clark, below, and Scott Mills will oversee coverage on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds and Richie Anderson will be leading the semi-finals commentary for the first time on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Rylan says: “Olly is amazing. I love the track and I know he’s going to smash it.” 8 Voting will open just before the first song is performed in the final. Viewers at home will be able to cast their votes as the songs are performed, rather than waiting until all entries have been presented. The event will be hosted by Hollywood star and Eurovision veteran Malin Åkerman, known for known for romantic comedies like 27 Dresses The Proposal and Couples Retreat and TV’S Billions.
9
This year’s event coincides with the 50th anniversary of Swedish group Abba (below) winning the competition in 1974 in Brighton with Waterloo. They have reissued the album Waterloo as a limited edition box set to celebrate. It features songs like My Mama Said and Honey, Honey. 10
The UK last won Eurovision in 1997 with Katrina (below) and the Waves’ Love Shine A Light. Sam Ryder finished second for the UK in 2022 with Space Man and Sandie Shaw was the first UK act to win, in 1967, with Puppet On
A String.