After weeks of speculation, SVT have confirmed – Gina Dirawi will present Melodifestivalen, joined by a series of co-hosts for each show. And the big surprise – rumoured Eurovision 2016 host Petra Mede is one of Gina’s co-hosts.
On the live webcast, Melfest boss Christer Björkman presented Gina and her seven co-hosts:
Semi-final 1: Gothenburg – Gina Dirawi and Petra Mede
Semi-final 2: Malmö – Gina Dirawi and Charlotte Perrelli
Semi-final 3: Norrköping – Gina Dirawi and Henrik Schyffert
Semi final 4: Gävle – Gina Dirawi and Sarah Dawn Finer
Andra Chansen: Halmstad – Gina Dirawi, Peter Jöback and Ola Salo
Final: Stockholm – Gina Dirawi and William Spetz
Gina Dirawi – TV host and actress Gina co-hosted Melodifestivalen in 2012 with Helena Bergström and Sarah Dawn Finer, and co-hosted in 2013 with Danny Saucedo.
Petra Mede – Petra presented Eurovision 2013, and co-hosted Eurovision’s Greatest Hits along with Graham Norton. Petra also hosted Melfest 2009.
Charlotte Perrelli – Charlotte is best known for winning Eurovision 1999 with “Take Me To Your Heaven”. She won Melfest again in 2008 and participated in 2012. Charlotte has also co-hosted Melodifestivalen, presenting semi-final one in 2003, and co-hosting the 2004 series along with Peter Settman and Ola Lindholm.
Henrik Schyffert: Comedian and TV host Henrik previously presented semi-final two of Melfest 2005, and also performed as part of the internal act for the final.
Sarah Dawn Finer: SDF is a singer, songwriter, actor and TV host. She participated in Melfest 2007 and 2009, and then came back to host in 2012 along with Helena Bergström and Gina Dirawi. She has promised that her close personal friend Lynda Woodruff will make an appearance.
Ola Salo: As the lead singer of glam rock band The Ark, Ola Salo represented Sweden at ESC 2007.
Peter Jöback: Singer and actor Peter competed in Mello way back in 1990 where he placed ninth, then again in 2010 where he reached the final.
William Spetz: Comedian and actor William Spetz made his name through YouTube videos, but has since branched out into television. At 19, he’s the youngest Melfest host, and the only one of this year’s line-up to not have previous Melfest experience.
What about Petra and Eurovision?
Fans were surprised to see Petra Mede introduced as Gina’s co-host for the Gothenburg show. After all, Petra has been strongly rumoured to be one of SVT’s picks to host Eurovision along with Måns Zelmerlöw. Does her role in Melfest mean that Petra is out of the running for ESC? Or is it just an acknowledgement of how amazing Petra is?
I wanted Gina and Petra to host the contest itself so this seems like a demotion and thus I’m a bit sad.
I love Gina, but I want to see her hosting Eurovision as well.
The fuzz around Petra Mede is a bit too much for such a music event … the focus is not on the host … is the music for heaven’s sake … nonetheless I like Gina … cool, funny and relaxed ..a believable host … without the need for an almost naked Saucedo for no reason.
@Jonas: ESC fans today hardly remember that there was ever an Eurovision before it came out of the closet in 98 ….
Peter Jöback also competed in Melodifestvial 1990, don’t forget!
@ Branko
Because a lot of people find him funny as f*ck? He started off on Youtube (just like Gina) and got a job to do a webb series on SVT (just like Gina), so it was a really predictable choice by SVT.
William and Gina both have a witty sense of humour and share admirable moral values, causing me to think that their chemistry is going to be awesome in the final!
Lynda <3
I think one can only guess why / how William Spetz got his job…? The world is so … these days!
Bruh,Måns is so gonna be ESC host????
What’s people obsession with Danny? He got criticized for being chosen and got bad reviews, even being called the worst host ever. Don’t think SVT will contact him again, and even Danny himself said he was horrible so don’t think he wants to do it again. He even “won” the award for worst host of the year. That’s how well his hosting went down. He’s good-looking and can sing but that’s that about him.
Last time Danny Saucedo hosted Melfest he got so very, very bad reviews that I’m pretty sure Svt will not let him near Esc. And since he himself admitted that he wasn’t good at hosting, I doubt that he even wants to. Also I think Petra Mede is in the first semi (instead of the final) because that will leave her time to prepare for Esc. Otherwise we’re just left with one person – Måns Zelmerlöw.
Dunno…seems kinda like a demotion for Petra to co-host with someone who will co-host all the shows.
Knowing Chridter Bjorknan I think the main esc hosts will be Mans Zelmerlow and Danny Saucedo. Aka a dream come true.
After Vienna had 3 female hosts think Stockholm could easily have 2 male hosts. And we know Christer and Svt will want to make lgbt references
For me Anke Engelke is one of best host in recent years. My favorite host are from 1985, 1987 than 2011.
For me Petra is overerated by eurovision fans as host of Eurovision 2013. For me she is not funny…. and I hope SVT don t give her to host Eurovision 2016.
As much as I’d love to see Petra back at hosting Eurovision, it would seem that the spot will be taken by Måns. Oh well 🙁
Eclectic list with some interesting choices. Gina together with these personalities leaves opportunities to watch and can be great fun William Spetz is fun but why the final? I would rather have Sarah Dawn Finer to host the final with Gina. Perreli is surprising. She wasn’t that great of a host last time around and I would rather have Lena Ph take her place. She was great and funny. Peter Jöback is interesting and of course Petra Mede. Does that mean that they have someone else in mind for ESC? All in all, interesting choices. But since it’s a jubilee… Read more »