During the two weeks leading up to Eurovision 2021, press and fans will be eagerly reviewing all the press conferences and backstage info from the contest. Now, Dutch host broadcasters AVROTROS, NOS and NPO have announced the names of the four online hosts who are set to guide people through all of this. Koos van Plateringen, Hila Noorzai, Samya Hafsaoui and Rutger Vink will lead the press conferences and also present an online series taking fans backstage.
What will the Eurovision 2021 online hosts do?
Koos, Hila and Samya will moderate all 83 press conferences as Press Conference Hosts, staring on 8 May. All of the 39 participating acts of Eurovision 2021 will have two press conferences, one following each of their rehearsals on the Rotterdam Ahoy arena stage.
There will also be press conferences following each semi-final with those acts who have qualified, and a winner’s press conference after the grand final. In addition, there are usually a couple of other press conferences with members of the EBU and the organisers of Junior Eurovision set to be held later this year.
All of these press conferences will be available for the 500 on-site journalists and the 1,000 journalists that are set to work remotely and have access to the online press centre.
Next to leading the conferences, Koos, Hila and Samya will present a daily show called News Updates. This will be made available through the online press centre and will tell the press what is happening each day around the contest.
However, organisers haven’t forgotten about those who don’t have access to the online press centre. Samya and Rutger will present an online series called All Access, which will give fans a unique backstage experience. This consists of seven episodes that will be uploaded to the AVROTROS YouTube channel every other day between 10 and 23 May.
Adding to that, Samya and Hila will also host a daily show titled Eurovision Newsflash. This will keep fans informed about all the latest news surrounding this year’s contest. Eurovision Newsflash will also premiere on the AVROTROS YouTube channel, starting from 8 May.
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Who are the online hosts of Eurovision 2021?
Koos van Plateringen
Since 2009, Koos van Plateringen has been the face of Eurovision on Dutch commercial television channel SBS6. Over the years he has attended numerous editions of Eurovision, giving his expertise on TV programme Shownieuws. Speaking to AVROTROS, Koos said: “I find it fantastic to be part of the hosting process this year. We will make it an unforgettable contest.”.
Hila Noorzai
Hila Noorzai started her career as a DJ on commercial station Qmusic. However, she has recently switched from the radio to television, making her debut as a presenter on AVROTROS’s news programme EenVandaag. Talking about her new Eurovision role, she told AVROTROS: “I have not left my love for music in the radio studio, therefore, I cannot wait to start backstage at Eurovision.”
Samya Hafsaoi
Samya Hafsaoui has become known in the Netherlands for her numerous interviews with big stars such as Billie Eilish and Lizzo. Thus, moving from music journalism to press conference hosting at the biggest music event in the world is a logical step for her. She says to AVROTROS: “Eurovision is the Champion’s League of music journalism. I feel that all those hours of studying English and all these years of watching, writing and of course listening a lot will melt together perfectly. This year will be unique and to be a small part of this really feels like a peak.”
Rutger Vink
Rutger Vink has been close to the contest for many years. On his popular YouTube channel Furtjuh, he has parodied Eurovision music videos with great love and pride as early as 2012, when the contest was not as popular on Dutch soil. Talking to AVROTROS, the Eurovision lover declared: “The fact that I am now a part of the contest myself is a great honour and I am especially looking forward to it!”
Are you looking forward to the press conferences? What do you think of the choices for online hosts? Let us know in the comments down below!
Read all our Eurovision 2021 news here
Photo credits: @anneclairephotography (Hila), Bete van Meeuwen (Samya), Saskia Beek (Koos)
So what’s Nikkie’s job again? Is she still a part of the team, and if so, what is her job?
Nikkie is a host besides Chantal, Jan and Edsilia. Last year she would be an online host but this year she is a regular host.
Goes to show what a force Nikkie is. She was bumped up to being a host this year and they have to sort of replace her with FOUR people. 😀
love the diversity
The job should go to whomever is the most qualified. It shouldn’t have to do with diversity.
Eurovision 2017 hosts say hello.
Me too!
why is this downvoted-
Imagine getting mad at the fact that 99% of Europe is white.
love how you’re downvoted for just saying something nice. She did not say death to white people damn. Remember if you are triggered by the word “diversity” then you are probably trash.
Wasn’t Nikkie supposed to do these things? Seems like a packed ESC this year!
This is clearly what “Open Up” should be about. Thank you, Avrotos!
Is this comment really offensive enough for 42 downvotes? I kinda feel like there’s been some tempering with the system because almost no reactions manage to get this amount of votes even under more popular articles.
People just don’t like MYY aka KESC aka KRM etc. She has shown open hate on minorities and seems to defend anything Azerbaijan or it’s representative does.
Oh MYY is KESC, the girl who ruined everyone’s New Year here by downvoting everyone else’s comments like -50 and her’s +70, that KESC?
No one is downvoting her, she just does it to herself so she can have those self pity rants again on how people don’t like her and then she gets all the attention to herself once again as the “Most Hated Person Ever, That Needs To Be Loved By All”.
The Dutch really are trying their best despite difficult times. Thanks so much to the team at Avrotros.
Damn! Both of the guys are smokin’! <3