United Kingdom: Internal selection is the most likely scenario for Eurovision 2024!

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United Kingdom, the host country of Eurovision 2023 recently announced that will not longer collaborate with TaP in order to select its Eurovision acts. BBC first collaborated with Tap Records in 2022, managing to achieve a 2nd place with Sam Ryder. This marked UK’s best result since 1998, which consequently brought Eurovision in British grounds. Sam Ryder’s success, renewed their collaboration for 2023 and the nation was represented by Mae Muller, who did not only repeat 2022 success, but instead finished second-last

Since the announcement of the departure of TaP from the British Eurovision selection, a reasonable question was raised regarding the method under which BBC will choose its next Eurovision act. The answer is given by the Head of BBC Entertainment who commented that:

It has been really good working with Tap, actually, and using their expertise. We have had two amazing finalists and the British public have gotten behind them. Sam Ryder is a proper superstar now. This years entry has been in the top ten and done really well.

People have talked to me ‘should we do a big show on the BBC, how do we select our next act?’ It is a big thing singing live in those giant arenas, and you do need a really experienced performer who has done arena shows before to do that. I think we will continue going to specialists in the industry to help us pick our act going forward.

Bearing in mind the above, we can assume that BBC will continue to choose its next Eurovision act internally for the 5th time in a row. A national selection is probably not in the plans of BBC as its number-one priority on selecting an artist is experience and expertise.

Mae Muller although being a fan favorite did not come to bookies expectations and finished second-last. She was highly criticized inside the UK for her weak performance and vocals and probably her low placement raised doubts on which should the British contestants’ standards be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJEE2ryCRQ

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United Kingdom: Rina Sawayama was approached by the BBC for Eurovision 2023!

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Rina Sawayama was on the verge of accepting the invitation and represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

Being guest on the podcast, The Euro Trip, Nick Levine claims that Rina Sawayama told him during an interview that she had been offered to fly the Union Jack flag herself last May.

Apparently, she thought a lot about the offer to perform at Eurovision, and she was about to accept the offer, however when she replied to the British delegation, she did not receive a response.

You can listen to the podcast below:

Rina Sawayama was one of the most discussed singers to represent the country and many thought that she would be the one, until the moment of the BBC’s announcement. The singer also responded to many fans on social media, creating a positive atmosphere regarding her representation.

@rinasawayamaofficial #duet with @Vanya #eurovision ♬ Frankenstein – Rina Sawayama

If all of the above is true, then it seems that the BBC and their partner, TaP Music, made a serious effort to have a big name for the Contest. Also, if an artist like Rina Sawayama was interested in participating, it seems that in the United Kingdom, there is no longer the reputation of previous years, that Eurovision is a risk for the big names of the music industry.

In the end, Mae Muller was the representative of the United Kingdom in Eurovision 2023, with her song “I Wrote a Song”, ending up in 25th place of the Grand Final:

https://youtu.be/tvJEE2ryCRQ

Source: The EuroTrip Podcast

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United Kingdom: The end of the collaboration between TaP and BBC!

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The TaP Music record company will not collaborate with BBC for Eurovision 2024!

Through a post on the official account of TaP Music on X (former Twitter) it was announced that the record company will not be involved to the preparation of the British entry at the upcoming 2024 contest after a partnership with BBC the last two years.

The entries of the United Kingdom for the 2022 and 2023 contest respectively had emerged through the collaboration between TaP and BBC. In 2022 the UK managed to return shortly back to their glory days after Sam Ryder and his song Space Man finished in the 2nd place having scored 466 points. However the UK landed abruptly back to the bottom of the scoreboard as Mae Muller and her entry I Wrote a Song did not confirm the odds who wanted them in the first ten places. She ended up 25th with 24 points.

https://youtu.be/RZ0hqX_92zI

https://youtu.be/tvJEE2ryCRQ

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Eurovision 2023 United Kingdom: Host city Liverpool honored with Unesco music city award!

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Liverpool,the host city of this year’s Eurovision,is the recipient of its first ever Unesco Music City Award.

The Liverpool Unesco City of Music Award is attributed to the team behind this year’s Song Contest,whose contribution left an indelible footprint upon the local music scene and culture.

The host broadcaster BBC and the events’ organizers were given the award at a ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall,with the Grand Final being reportedly the most-watched Grand Final in the UK’s history ever.

Liverpool’s cabinet member for culture, Harry Doyle, said:

“We were never in doubt that the BBC would stage an incredible show at the arena – and the record-breaking viewing figures are testament to their achievements – but what is really special is how they, and the EBU, embraced the city, they got to know our story and our heritage and they helped us showcase the very best of Liverpool to the world.”

Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, added:

“Home to more number one hits than anywhere else, it’s safe to say that Liverpool wouldn’t be Liverpool without music – and music wouldn’t be music without Liverpool.While few places can claim to have made such an impact on world music as we have, I think the real reason we came out top in the race to host Eurovision was because, quite simply, nowhere else can throw a party quite like us.”

The UK in this year’s Contest

The United Kingdom was this year’s host for the first time in 25 years.Mae Muller defended her homeland with her entry “I Wrote a Song” which earned her the 25th place in the final scoreboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJEE2ryCRQ

Source:BBC News

United Kingdom: Sophie Ellis-Bextor will not represent UK at Eurovision 2024!

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Following media speculation that Sophie Ellis-Bextor could represent the UK at Eurovision 2024, the singer has ruled out participation.

After reports that Sophie Ellis-Bextor had been shortlisted to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest, the singer has commented on the rumors. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the singer commented:

“There’s been no direct conversation with me about it. I feel like this rumour also happened about a decade ago.

“I adore Eurovision. But I feel like at this point, and with what I’m up to, it would be like walking up to a casino and putting all my chips on red. I just don’t feel like I’m up for the gamble. But I will be willing from the wings whoever is doing their thing for the UK.”

She did however leave the door open for getting involved with the contest but not as a singer:

“You know what I’d really like to do: I’d like to write the song. Wouldn’t that be fun. I’d like to have a go at writing a Eurovision song.”

Typically, the United Kingdom announces its Eurovision participant around February or March of the following year, unveiling both the artist and the song simultaneously.

This year saw Mae Muller represent the United Kingdom on home soil in Liverpool with her entry, “I Wrote a Song”. Mae finished in 25th place after receiving a total of 24 points.

https://youtu.be/tvJEE2ryCRQ

Source: Eurovoix.com

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United Kingdom: BBC eyeing Sophie Ellis-Bextor as their Eurovision 2024 representative?

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Just a bit more than a week after the Eurovision 2023 final, BBC is gearing up for Eurovision 2024 having begun the search for their next representative. After the strong criticism of the selection of 25-year-old Mae Muller as the UK’s representative at Eurovision 2023 and her 25th placement in the Grand Final, BBC seems to be moving towards choosing a more well-known and established performer for next year’s contest.

Information so far suggests that the BBC wants Sophie Ellis-Bextor to be the UK’s next representative at Eurovision 2024.

Who is Sophie Ellis-Bextor?

44-year-old Sophie Ellis-Bextor is an accomplished British singer with hits such as “Murder On The Dancefloor”. Sophie came back to the limelight during the pandemic with a series of Kitchen Disco videos that she shared with her Instagram followers, the success of which also earned her a Radio 2 show under the same name. She is also a mother of five children.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, in fact, appears to be the only BBC-shortlisted name for Eurovision 2024 so far. As a source from the British music industry reported to “The Mail”:

So far she is the only person on the BBC shortlist for Eurovision 2024, to which there are no plans to add more.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor seems like the ideal choice for the competition – she is an excellent singer and performer, already largely known to both straight and gay audience, across Europe and worldwide. The criticism the BBC received this year for the selection of Mae Muller has been quite harsh.

We remind you that in order to put the bad results in the past and after James Newman ‘s last place with 0 points in 2021, the BBC last year and this year outsourced the selection of UK representatives to an external agent, TaP Music .

Last year’s outstanding second place finish by Sam Ryder in 2022 was not repeated this year and the UK again found themselves at the bottom of the standings.

The disbelief surrounding the good result that Mae Muller could bring started as early as the pre-parties, where her weak vocals were harshly commented on, and continued unabated during the technical rehearsals.

Her old posts on Twitter , politically colored against the Conservative government in Great Britain and Boris Johnson, also caused a stir .

UK: Mae Muller criticized over political tweets

After the harsh criticism and the poor result, the BBC wants to turn to a more tried and tested recipe, to a more widely accepted artist and certainly more experienced and with his own audience. The race to represent the UK at Eurovision 2024 is just beginning!

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Source: dailymail.co.uk

United Kingdom: Numerous Eurovision 2023 Songs Dominate the UK Charts!

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Now that this year’s Eurovision is over,the Eurovision contestant are able to reap the benefits of their participation in the world’s biggest song contest.The Eurovision Songs that are taking over the European charts are growing at an impressive rate,with an array of them entering the Official UK Charts,which is quite a notable milestone.

In particular,four of this year’s Eurovision Songs have entered the top 10 of this week’s UK chart: “Tattoo” at #2,“Cha Cha Cha” at #6,“I Wrote A Song” at #9 and “Queen of Kings” at #10.Loreen’s entry “Tattoo” is now the second-highest non-domestic Eurovision entry to enter the chart (after Johny Logan’s “Hold me Now”,which charted atop the Official 100),making this her highest charting entry after “Euphoria” charting at #3.

Finland’s Käärijä achieved another important breakthrough with his entry “Cha Cha Cha” being the first Finnish song ever to enter the charts.

The country’s representative Mae Muller charted at #9,achieving her highest entry in the chart ever,with the top 10 being completed by Norway’s Alessandra and her song “Queen of Kings”

You can check all the songs that entered this week’s chart here:

  • #2 Loreen (Sweden)
  • #6 Kaarija (Finland)
  • #9 Mae Muller (United Kingdom)
  • #10 Alessandra Mele (Norway)
  • #45 Noa Kirel (Israel)
  • #48 Salena & Teya (Austria)
  • #56 Blanka (Poland)
  • #63 Gustaph (Belgium)
  • #79 Voyager (Australia)
  • #92 Alex Lambrou (Cyprus)
  • #94 La Zarra (France)
  • #95 Tvorchi (Ukraine)

This year’s Eurovision featured 37 participants with the winner country being Sweden,represented by Loreen and her song “Tattoo”,which won her 583 points.This marks the seventh win for the Scandinavian Nation,tying on the top with Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE2Fj0W4jP4

 

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Source:BBC

Eurovision 2023: See the results of Press Poll just before the grand final!

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As we informed you, Press Poll 2023 has begun. After all countries have had all technical rehearsals, it is now time for the accredited to vote for the country that believes she will be the winner of the 67th Eurovision Song Contest.

Below are the results of the final of today’s 13/5 at 21:45:

In the vote for the winner, Finland leads, Sweden is second, and Spain is third!

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Source: Ogae International

Eurovision 2023: The last bets before the Grand Final!

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With just under ten hours to go until the Eurovision 2023 Grand Final, your favourite column will present for one last time the betting odds for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Liverpool.

Your favourite column will bring you everything that has changed since last night’s Jury Show, both in terms of the winning case and the countries within the Top 10.

Winning probabilities

We seem to be heading towards a deafening victory for Sweden, as the odds for a victory for the Scandinavian country have reached an all-time low during this year’s Eurovision season. The performance in the first semi-final has given Loreen a ‘winning edge’, with the Swedish victory being played at as low as 1.36 at some firms, with the maximum available odds being 1.53.

In second place, with a clear downward trend in some companies, is Finland. Käärijä and “Cha Cha Cha” are Loreen‘s rival in this year’s competition, with Finland‘s win odds now ranging between 3 and 3.75. The Finnish entry has bounced back in recent days, with its odds dropping, effectively becoming the only country that can threaten Sweden from its historic seventh win.

Alone in third place is Ukraine, whose maximum win odds have risen to 15. Israel has moved up to fourth with an odds of 34, now being the highest position it has been in betting-wise during this year’s Eurovision season. The top five is completed by Spain, together with France. Both Big 5 countries are both being played at a maximum odds of 41, having lost ground in recent days after.

In seventh place is Norway, which is offered at odds of 67. Significantly, Norway‘s win odds show a huge discrepancy, with the lowest at 12 and the highest at 67. In eighth place is the United Kingdom at the same odds as ninth place Italy, with their win options offered at odds of 101. Finally, Austria completes the top ten at 126 odds.

Top 10

Of particular interest is one of the most popular markets for betting companies, that of entering the Top 10. Looking at the table below, it can be seen that bookers largely consider entry into the top 10 to be assured for a large proportion of the countries involved in the Grand Final.

Sweden and Finland are seen as the most certain to make the top 10, with bookers offering this particular option between 1.01 and 1.06. In other words, they consider a finish outside the top ten for the aforementioned countries to be an unrealistic scenario.

The same is largely true for Israel and Norway, whose finish inside the Top 10 is offered slightly higher between 1.10 and 1.18.

Quite good chances for another result inside the top ten, continuing the streak of the last few years, seem to be offered by Ukraine and Italy. Both playing between 1.30 and 1.36. Next, Spain and France are seen as the seventh and eighth most likely to occupy a spot within the top 10, being hand in hand as in the win odds. The presence of Spain and France in the Top 10 is being played at 1.44.

Armenia are also among the big favourites to take a place within the Top 10. Brunette and “Future Lover” are the latest country to be offered at odds below double, with Armenia‘s entry into the Top 10 being played between 1.40 and 1.67. If the bookers are correct, it will be the country’s best result since 2016.

A big battle is expected for the final spot in the Top 10; with bookmakers believing that four countries have high enough odds to place within the top 10. Belgium, Austria, Croatia and the Czech Republic return just under 3 times the stake of anyone betting on their presence in the Top 10.

Particularly value for money for those who like high odds is also Slovenia, who made an impression in Thursday’s second semi-final. Slovenia‘s entry into the Top 10 quadruples the stakes.

Conclusions

We are only a few hours away from the big winner of Eurovision 2023 and the truth is that Sweden is considered by the bookers as the most likely to win. Throughout Eurovision 2023, the Swedes have taken the lead and they won’t let it go until the end, with Finland lurking until the last minute claiming their own chances of winning. It remains to be seen whether the predictions will be confirmed this year as well.

As for the rest of the countries, places 3-7 are very close, while for the last Top 10 places the odds keep changing. One thing is for sure, everything can change and the bets are nothing but a reflection of the players’ trends at the betting companies.

Eurovision 2023: Grand Final takes place tonight!

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The moment that every Eurofan waited for is finally here! The 67th Eurovision Song Contest officially comes to an end tonight, as the Grand Final takes place tonight, live from Liverpool!

The twentysix remaining countries will take part in tonight’s show, but only one will be the winner of Eurovision 2023.

The hosts of this evening will be Julia Sanina from The Hardkiss, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon and Graham Norton.

The 26 finalists of this year’s Grand Final are:

1. 🇦🇹 Austria | Teya & Salena – Who The Hell Is Edgar?

2. 🇵🇹 Portugal | Mimicat – Ai Coração

3. 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Remo Forrer – Watergun

4. 🇵🇱 Poland | Blanka – Solo

5. 🇷🇸 Serbia | Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava

6. 🇫🇷 France: La Zarra – Évidemment

7. 🇨🇾 Cyprus | Andrew Lambrou – Break A Broken Heart

8. 🇪🇸 Spain: Blanca Paloma – Eaea

9. 🇸🇪 Sweden | Loreen – Tattoo

10. 🇦🇱 Albania | Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje

11. 🇮🇹 Italy | Marco Mengoni – Due Vite

12. 🇪🇪 Estonia | Alika – Bridges

13. 🇫🇮 Finland | Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha

14. 🇨🇿 Czechia | Vesna – My Sister’s Crown

15. 🇦🇺 Australia | Voyager – Promise

16. 🇧🇪 Belgium | Gustaph – Because Of You

17.  🇦🇲 Armenia | Brunette – Future Lover

18. 🇲🇩 Moldova | Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna

19. 🇺🇦 Ukraine | TVORCHI – Heart of Steel

20. 🇳🇴 Norway | Alessandra – Queen of Kings

21. 🇩🇪 Germany | Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter

22. 🇱🇹 Lithuania | Monika Linkytė – Stay

23. 🇮🇱 Israel | Noa Kirel – Unicorn

24. 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Joker Out – Carpe Diem

25. 🇭🇷 Croatia | Let 3 – Mama ŠČ!

26. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song

Apart from the 26 countries taking part, some non-participating countries around the world can vote, as there is a new category that can vote, in the Rest Of The World.

The Grand Final will be broadcasted on 21:00 CET and you can watch it live from your country’s public broadcaster, or from the livestream on the official Eurovision YouTube channel:

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