Eurovision: Last News

Sweden's Loreen sent fans wild as she performed at the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Contest favourite Loreen, who won for Sweden in 2012, performed Tattoo for the Eurovision audience at the M&S Bank Arena on Saturday. She wore a flesh-coloured outfit and danced in an illuminated enclosed space on the stage as she performed in hope to secure victory for a second time.

Eurovision entry Käärijä has proved an early favourite to win with fans watching at home.Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra opened this year’s Eurovision song contest with an emotive rendition of their 2022 winning song, ‘Stefania’. This year’s instalment of the concert is taking take place in Liverpool, following the ongoing political conflict taking place in Ukraine.The opening also saw the band joined by musicians and famous figures from afar.

The Princess of Wales has made a surprise cameo during the opening performance of the Eurovision Song Contest. Kate played a pre-recorded instrumental piece which was recorded at Windsor Castle earlier this month.The clip, which is around 10 seconds long, appeared in a performance by last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra, which also includes contributions from Lord Lloyd-Webber and Sam Ryder.

As Eurovision reaches it’s exciting conclusion on Saturday, actress and comedian Catherine Tate will be the lucky star reading out the results of the UK’s vote at the annual song contest. The actress and comedian, 53, will deliver the results of the country’s national jury – including the coveted “douze points” – live from the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Saturday. It will be the first time a UK spokesperson has announced the scores from the same location as the contest itself.

The Eurovision song contest is officially set to be held in Liverpool tonight after last year’s winners Ukraine were left unable to host due to their ongoing war with Russia.The much beloved singing contest, which is set to be presented by British stars including Rylan Clark, invites viewers to vote for their favourite acts. After each participating country performs their chosen song, a series of points are awarded by the other European countries participating.

Eurovision entry Let 3 have spoken to NME about the meaning of their song ‘Mama ŠČ!, and how they’re looking to pull off a “condensed anti-war opera”.The band caused a stir online with their drag-meets-military pomp-pop extravaganza got them through the semi-finals this week. Speaking to NME backstage in Liverpool ahead of the final tonight (Saturday May 13), bandmember Dražen Baljak explained that the week had been “heavy, but worth it”.“We were a bit surprised at people’s reaction, but when it pays off it’s so exciting,” he said.Explaining the inspiration behind the song, Baljak revealed that it came about members of the band putting on an adaption of an anti-war play.

Fans of the long-running ITV talent show Britain's Got Talent may be disappointed to see that the show is absent from tonight's ITV schedule - although there is a good reason for it being pulled.The show returned for its 16th season last month, with Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden all returning to the judging panel.They were joined by former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli, who stepped in to replace former judge David Walliams after he quit the show after leaked audio saw him making derogatory remarks about contestants. And while the show usually airs on Saturday and Sunday evenings, the latest episode has been pulled from screens tonight.

Eurovision hopefuls Voyager have spoken to NME ahead of tonight’s final in Liverpool, arguing why Europe should vote for them and agreeing that New Zealand should be allowed to compete too.The Aussie rockers have been in the UK all week, wining themselves a place in the final after successfully making it through the semis with their track ‘Promise. Speaking to NME from backstage at the Song Contest, drummer Ash Doodkorte said that “the vibe around Liverpool is blue, yellow and electric”.“It’s been heckers, but in a good way,” he said.

Eurovision 2023 entry Luke Black has spoken to NME about what went into his “cyber-punk, hyper-pop” song ‘Samo Mi Se Spava’ – and how he hopes it “sends a wake-up call” to viewers and his home nation.Black’s dramatic entry made it through the semi-finals earlier this week to be competing in the grand final in Liverpool tonight (Saturday May 13). With the song’s title translating to ‘I’m Just Sleepy’ and the chorus ‘I just wanna sleep forever, I like it better when I dream‘, the Grimes and Bring Me The Horizon-esque ‘Samo Mi Se Spava’ was born of the artist feeling uneasy with the state of the world.“I had an initial idea of a mantra before the pandemic saying, ‘I just want to sleep for a long time’,” Black told NME from backstage at Eurovision 2023.

Eurovision star Daði Freyr has spoken to NME about the shift in attitudes towards the Song Contest, as well what to expect from his performance tonight and his upcoming album.The grand final of Eurovision 2023 will be held at Liverpool Arena tonight (Saturday May 12), with Sweden, Finland and Ukraine currently leading the bookies’ favourites to win.Freyr is no stranger to the contest, having been set to compete with the viral song ‘Think About Things in 2020 before the event was pulled due to COVID lockdown, and eventually represented Iceland at Eurovision 2021 with his track ‘10 Years’.“It was fun, although one of members got COVID and we had to quarantine, which was pretty boring,” he said of his last appearance at the show. “I never would have written ‘10 Years’ or ‘Think About Things’ if it wasn’t for Eurovision, and it’s a huge stepping stone towards bigger things if you really capitalise on it. It’s a huge ad for me as a performer.”Now, he’s among the likes of  past competition favourites Sam Favourites, Kalush Orchestra and Netta who are set to return at tonight’s event.“I’m doing a cover by a Liverpool band,” he teased of his performance.

NME about what the long-term impact of Eurovision may or may not be on Liverpool and it’s local music scene.Last year it was announced that Liverpool had beaten competition from Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield to be named as host city for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, being held in the UK in honour of last year’s winners Ukraine. The grand final takes place tonight (Saturday May 13), after a week of events and celebrations around the city – including star-studded concerts at Liverpool’s Eurovision Village and Frankie Goes To Hollywood reuniting for their first performance together in 36 years.The city has also received widespread for the sense of community support show for Ukraine throughout recent weeks, as well as open events celebrating music and culture.In October 2022, it was reported that Eurovision could bring in a potential £30million of revenue to the city – marking the next wave of international cultural tourism that has occurred in the city last 15 years.

Loreen, the singer representing Sweden at this year’s Eurovision, has opened up to NME about the meaning behind her song ‘Tattoo’ and explained what it would mean to her to be the first-ever woman to win the competition twice – following her victory in 2012.For Eurovision fans, the artist representing Sweden at the song contest this year needs no introduction. Set to take to the stage and represent her nation with her track ‘Tattoo’ at the final tonight (May 12), Loreen stands a strong chance of becoming the first-ever female artist to win the iconic competition twice.Already named as the bookies’ favourite, the singer revealed to NME what it would mean for her to claim that second victory, and what tempted her to return to the competition, 11 years after she first won with the track ‘Euphoria’.“It started with the song… It was just an embryo at the time, but I could sense that there was something with this song and me that was going to happen,” she said.

The Eurovision Song Contest is widely known for its fiendishly complex voting system. To make things more complicated, the European Broadcasting Union, which produces the competition, has made some tweaks for the 2023 edition. Ahead of the grand final on Saturday night, here is a refresher.

The UK’s Mae Muller has said she is “ready to get this show on the road” ahead of today's Eurovision final, after it emerged Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky had been barred from addressing the event. After months of preparation, the 25-year-old singer from north London will finally perform her track, I Wrote A Song, for the international voting public.

TV personality Rylan Clark and radio DJ Scott Mills were rescued by Merseyside Water Rescue after they had dinner and found themselves stuck on a boat during Eurovision pandemonium in Liverpool last night. Speaking to his followers on Instagram, Rylan, 34, revealed that the duo went out for some late dinner and left the restaurant at the same time crowds were leaving the M&S Bank Arena.

Eurovision Song Contest.The finale is set to take place tomorrow (May 13), following the closing of the two semi-final rounds which occurred on Tuesday (May 9) and Thursday (May 11).This year’s instalment will take place in the UK city of Liverpool, which is hosting the ceremony on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine, due to the country’s ongoing war with Russia. Despite this, however, it has been revealed that the Ukrainian president will not be granted permission to address the public at tomorrow night’s final.As per reports, this lack of airtime is because the organising committee of the annual song contest wish to retain the programme’s non-political basis, and “strict rules” prohibit such statements from being made using Eurovision as the platform.“The Eurovision Song Contest is an international entertainment show and governed by strict rules and principles which have been established since its creation,” read a statement from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organisers behind Eurovision (via the Independent).It continues: “As part of these, one of the cornerstones of the contest is the non-political nature of the event.

Eurovision preparations are well underway across the nation, and DJ and presenter Zoe Ball has debuted a fresh new hairstyle ready for the weekend ahead. The former Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two presenter will be hosting The Ultimate Eurovision Pre-Party in Liverpool tonight (Friday 12 May) as part of her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, and it seems as if the DJ has made sure she’s got a brand new look for the weekend of festivities.

Eurovision Song Contest is back in the UK for the first time since 1998.Taking place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, this year’s contest is being held on UK shores after last year’s winner, Ukraine, were unable to host due to the country’s ongoing conflict with Russia.Eurovision 2023, however, will still have Ukrainian elements with singer Julia Sanina, frontwoman of Ukrainian rock band The Hardkiss, hosting the event alongside Graham Norton, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and Alesha Dixon.Of the total 37 countries from across Europe and Australia who are competing in the contest, 26 will perform in the final: the top 10 winners from each respective semi-final, the Big Five (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) and Ukraine.UK viewers can watch the Eurovision 2023 Final live on Saturday May 13 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 8pm BST.Along with hosting parts of the show, Norton will share UK commentary duties with former Great British Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc.In the US, the final will be available to stream via Peacock from 3pm ET/12pm PT on Saturday May 13.

Rita Ora says her wedding to Taika Waititi was planned “in two or three days”, and that the occasion had been “perfect”. The British singer, 32, said she had wanted to keep the ceremony private “because my life and career aren’t” and had really wanted the 47 year old Hollywood director’s children to be present. RIta confirmed the marriage earlier this year, and that the pair had begun dating in 2021 after she went to Australia to work as a coach on the local version of The Voice.

Eurovision Legacy gigs across the UK.The initiative was launched with a special free concert for 15,000 people in the Eurovision Village on Wednesday (May 10) and follows the successful delivery of the Liverpool leg of the National Lottery’s United By Music Tour, which sees artists such as Lightning Seeds, The Coral and Miles Kane playing local venues in support of the live music sector.Starting in mid-June, the United by Music Tour will see both established and up-and-coming artists performing in over 130 locations across the country. Blossoms, Metronomy, Cat Burns and more will be playing one-off shows to highlight the importance of grassroots music venues.We’re over the moon to announce @TNLUK #UnitedByMusic summer tours, featuring some of the UK's most exciting artists.

EastEnders was the latest soap to get into the spirit of Eurovision this week ahead of the show’s grand final on Saturday. With the show taking place in Liverpool this year on behalf of Ukraine, the residents of Walford were keen to embrace the lighthearted joy of the annual music competition as it became the theme for Kathy Beale’s birthday party.The cafe owner celebrated her birthday during Thursday’s episode of the BBC soap, with all of her closest friends and family from across Albert Square attending the bash to boogie the night away.