Eurovision 2024 NOTES
Marion MCMULLEN on what to expect from the world’s biggest music contest
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 O iplayer. T competit will see a from 37 countries compete for the title.
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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.
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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.”
2Olly 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.”
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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.
3Swe edi com after its e year, Lore for the se time with power ba track Tatt making he the first woman to the conte twice. She won in 20 Euphoria.
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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. 4
Contestants will take to the stage at Malmo Arena n Sweden for the first emi-final on Tuesday ollowed by the second n Thursday. This will e the seventh time weden has hosted the ontest. The nation has reviously staged shows n Stockholm in 1975, 000 and 2016, Gothenburg in 1985 and Malmo in 1992 and
013.
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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.