The rumours have been mounting for the past few months, but today everything became official. Petra Mede and Graham Norton will host Eurovision’s 60th Anniversary concert in London.
The news was broken earlier this morning on BBC Radio 2 by Ken Bruce. Entitled “Eurovision’s Greatest Hits”, the show will be held at London’s Eventim Apollo Hammersmith on Tuesday 31 March, with the television broadcast taking place shortly afterwards. The Swedish 2013 host and UK commentator will be joined by an array of Eurovision stars on the night. The first three acts have already been announced – Natasha St-Pier (France 2001), The Herreys (Sweden 1984) and Conchita Wurst (Austria 2014). More names will be revealed every day this week and tickets will go on sale on Friday.
Tickets are available this Friday on our site. We’ll announce the line up each day this week. 1st up @ConchitaWurst! pic.twitter.com/KEaIxzKdi8
— BBC Eurovision (@bbceurovision) February 3, 2015
Speaking to the BBC, Graham Norton said:
I love Eurovision and am honoured to be co-hosting this special show. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate 60 years of the greatest song contest in the world!
There will also be a number of other events to mark the occasion, including an academic lecture organised by BAFTA. But for now, let’s get into the spirit of things by reliving the moments Natasha, The Herreys and Conchita graced the Eurovision stage.
The Herreys
Natasha St-Pier
http://youtu.be/TosviW8OLaU
Good evening,
I just like to say that I’m really impatient to discover this show ! I really like Petra Mede, who has been perfect at the ESC 2013 (and for me the best ever edition of the Eurovision Song Contest). But, I hope that this blog will be post the show, because I’m French (and I speak fluently Spanish, but no English…) and this show will be broadcast in march or april.
Good bye everybody, and sorry for my bad English…
Eurgh another articl with people spamming ont he british. you aren’t british, don’t tell us what we are like, and whether we enjoy the contest or not. The viewing figures of Eurovision in the uk (ie ONLY the people actually tuning in to watch eurovision) was more than the ENTIRE population of Sweden, or Azerbaijan. So yeah…we really don’t hate it! We find funny comments (not necessarily offensive) in literally EVERY situation or event, it’s british humour. we aren’t doing it to be nasty, it’ just what we do. it’s not just Eurovision either that we have a giggle about.… Read more »
Charles, all I’m saying is that an announcement about two good hosts who are well respected and fully capable, along with three of the most successful Eurovision acts, shouldn’t devolve into the same tired, hyperbolic lament about how Eurovision is too kitsch, too comedic. Regarding the hosts, even the BBC itself reformed its attitude towards the contest recently, and Petra gave one of the most elegant hostings in recent history. Yes, there will be people who care too much about aspects of the visual elements. But do you really need to have a flashback to whatever nightmares of 2004 whenever… Read more »
@Alex: No relevant details yet … still what can you expect from the kind of hosting both Graham and Petra can deliver? A comedy … and it’s into the shape of comedy that this whole celebration will be reduced to. I get it though .. people love Eurovision because it’s comedic, pathetic and kitsch … while some people try to do something musically wise that can be relevant and career meaningful … yet no one cares. I said I get it … but that does not mean I appreciate it at all. After all the Barbara Dex award was made… Read more »
Charles…complaining? Well I never.
I’m looking forward to the academic conference part, too. That should be very interesting. Acts look good so far, the hosts are sane choices, good job. As others have said, BBC is not the same as they were a few years ago and neither is the contest. They will handle this one just fine.
Hopefully there is a tribute to Udo Jurgens
Negativity already when hardly any relevant details are known? Not surprising.
And yes Natasha St Pier should have won in 2001 … it was the only song worth listening to among a set of 20-something songs of pure embarrassment, immature approach and no connection to what was really working musically wise at the time in the music industry (besides English lyrics I rather never have to hear again). Going down post-Dana International memory lame is a tough and depressive thing … music has never sounded so bad during a whole decade in the new millenium. And what still baffles me … is that NOBODY cared how bad it was … everybody… Read more »
BBC … two comedian hosts .. one of them conveniently gay … all the ingredients necessary to celebrate 60 years of music … but 60 years of something who is shamelessly regarded as pathetic and kitsch in the worst meaning of the word … if this is how you want to retell the story of Eurovision and celebrate it, fine … have fun getting drunk cause I do have more respect for music than any celebration of Eurovision will ever have. It’s find this so sad … so disappointing! Not only has the UK got mad at Eurovision for all… Read more »
@Dino Thanks for highlighting and forgive us for wiping all memories of the UK 2010 selection from our memories. http://wiwibloggs.com/2015/02/03/karen-harding-chart-debut-single-say-something/76777/
Not to spam but…
Tons of Eurovision sites and blogs and NONE is speaking about Karen Harding, who entered the UK preselection in 2011, and just charted in the UK’S TOP 10 with her debut single.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiwgvQA8ksE
Oh Natasha, my favorite French ESC entry!!!
Happy the BBC are doing this, definitely represents a recent change in opinion towards the comp from the UK. I think people outside the UK underestimate how many people actually do love eurovision here, it still gets some of the highest viewing figures of the year, just sometimes the people who don’t take it seriously are heard louder than the ones that do! I also think there is a whole new audience that have watched recent Eurovision with a slightly less cynical view which helps…As for us not deserving it, isn’t the UK still top of the points charts +… Read more »
Dhani please change your opinion unless you can find substantial proof. Last years show pulled in almost 10 million people according to viewing figures, the BBC and the UK are actually becoming more positive about Eurovision now due to the “dispatch” 😀 of T. Wogan and his obvious issues. Also, because of Guy Freeman’s new positive approach to the contest people are being positive and looking forward to this years entry. This is a great experience for the UK and I hope London puts on a great show!
the UK deserves to host it. After all, it hosted the contest 8 times – more than any other country (60′, 63′, 68′, 72′, 74′, 77′, 82′, 98′). Besides, the last time London hosted was way back in 1977 so it’s only fitting that it gets some tinsel out of the 60th anniversary festivities. I’d much rather have a recorded event with a lot of self-reflexive humor rather than a live event such as the 2005 Copenhagen show where there were plenty of slips and gaffes on air.
dhani still with the same old opinions ..
Didn’t BBC want to host the 50th anniversary just so they could make fun of ESC? I’m not feeling too optimistic about this. And also I agree that it should’ve been hosted in a country where the people actually like ESC and don’t consider it one of those guilty pleasure shows that you’re embarrassed to tell anyone you like.
Eurovision still attracts a large number of Brit audience each year.
i think the hosts could be better. and why host it in the UK, when british people don’t even take the contest seriously??
by the way Natasha should have won in 2001