After much speculation on who will be hosting Eurovision 2016, the wait will soon be over. On Monday, 14 December, Swedish broadcaster SVT will reveal the person or people who will host Eurovision 2016. And if rumours are anything to go by, it will be Måns Zelmerlöw and Petra Mede who have the hosting gig.
The official Eurovision Twitter account made this announcement today:
The presenter(s) of the 2016 #Eurovision Song Contest to be unveiled at a press conference held by Swedish broadcaster SVT, Monday 12:00 CET
— Eurovision (@Eurovision) December 10, 2015
Fans have noted that the EBU aren’t saying whether there’ll be one host or more. The tri-lingual Petra Mede proved she was more than capable of hosting solo in 2013, but as there aren’t many Swedish hosts who could confidently present a three-hour television show in both English and French (and Swedish), there has been speculation that SVT will use more than one host in Stockholm.
There’s also the possibility of a green room host, in addition to the main show hosting role(s).
Swedish newspapers Expressen and Aftonbladet are both saying that Måns Zelmerlöw and Petra Mede have signed contracts and will be presented as the Eurovision 2016 hosts at the press conference on Monday. Expressen’s source is reported as saying “SVT is very pleased. Måns and Petra are really perfect for the mission.” Aftonbladet notes that Petra was deliberately chosen to kick off the first Melfest semi-final, linking to her Eurovision hosting.
Who are the favourites to host?
Wiwi readers agree with the rumours. We’ve been running a wiwi poll asking who your favourites are to host Eurovision 2016. The winner, with almost one quarter of the votes, is Måns Zelmerlöw, who has previously hosted Lila Melodifestivalen 2007, Melfest 2010, and hosted singalong show Allsång på Skansen for three years.
Your second favourite is 2013 host Petra Mede, who also co-hosted Eurovision’s Greatest Hits earlier this year. This matches the rumour, reported by Swedish newspaper Expressen in August, that SVT’s preferred hosts were Petra and Måns, while later in the year, Aftonbladet reported that SVT were brokering a deal with Måns.
A number of popular names in the wiwi poll have since been revealed as having hosting roles on Melodifestivalen 2016. While main Melfest host Gina Diwari can be ruled out of contention for Eurovision, it’s still possible that her co-hosts Petra Mede, Sarah Dawn Finer and Charlotte Perrelli would still be in the running for the ESC gig.
The poll’s top 10 also includes Melfest 2015 host Sanna Nielsen, 2013 green room host Eric Saade, Melfest 2013 host Danny Saucedo and Melfest 2015 host Robin Paulson. Whoever SVT has selected, they have had a wealth of talent to choose from!
Wiwi Poll results: Who should present Eurovision 2016?
Melodifestivalen hosts are in bold.
- Måns Zelmerlöw 23.17% (1,085 votes)
- Petra Mede 17.45% (817 votes)
- Sanna Nielsen 12.68% (594 votes)
- Sarah Dawn Finer 11.27% (528 votes)
- Eric Saade 9.67% (453 votes)
- Gina Dirawi 7.43% (348 votes)
- Danny Saucedo 3.72% (174 votes)
- Robin Paulsson 3.2% (150 votes)
- Other: 2.61% (122 votes)
- Charlotte Perrelli 2.03% (95 votes)
- Carola Haggkvist 1.69% (79 votes)
- David Hellenius 1.07% (50 votes)
- Lena Philipsson 0.96% (45 votes)
- Shirley Clamp 0.68% (32 votes)
- Marie Serneholt 0.6% (28 votes)
- Andreas Lundstedt 0.56% (26 votes)
- Jessica Almenas 0.41% (19 votes)
- Martin Stenmarck 0.36% (17 votes)
- Nanne Gronvall 0.26% (12 votes)
- Anders Lundin 0.18% (9 votes)
Who do you want to see host Eurovision 2016? Should Petra come back? Or is it time for fresh talent? Share your thoughts below!
Eugene and Österrike, you also should take in consideration that the English being taught in Swedish elementary schools are precisely RP, or the Queen’s English, or BBC English. That’s the preferred “school English” here, and every single material here is really posh and strict sounding. This can of course change once you move to secondary and university levels, and most young people here in fact speak “L.A- English”, due to U.S dominance.
But yes, that can explain why Petra sounded posh. That’s simply how she’s been taught. Though sounding THAT posh requires some training.
@EugeneESCUK, the command of English language is generally very high in Germanic countries, so it is not a surprise that with the exception of Azerbaijan, the English skills of the hosts were very high profile. Although I would say that Stefan Raab could not get quite rid off his strong accent. Recently I have learnt that Polish and Slovenian students would be among the best English speakers in Europe right now, which is quite stunning since the Slavic language is not related to English, which itself is a crossover of German and French (to put it bluntly). The worst English… Read more »
Sarah/Lynda would be ameising 😀
Those rumours Expressen have should be taken with a pinch of salt. They always seem to have “sources with insight to the contest”, yet nothing turns out to be true. So how close are those sources:)
And wouldn’t SVT do something about these sources? I think they would rather all keep this under wraps rather than having it sip out.
Sweden is full of amazing potential hosts! I can’t wait to find out who gets this coveted position hosting this wonderful event. My personal faves are Mans, Petra, Sanna, and Sarah (or Lynda). <3
@Robyn galagher Those early preparations was what Måns Zelmerlöw did. I guess it’s dependant on what kind of host she’s planning to be.
@robyn galagher I don’t know but it doesn’t seem to matter anymore since expressen just revealed that Måns Zelmerlöw and Petra Mede will be the hosts.
Mans och Petra snalla!!
Nooo please not mans green room fine but not the main show no way I’m praying he wont host it alone
As much as I love her, I think it is time to move on from Petra Mede. We need someone new (mind you, we need someone who is as competent as Petra).
I think Mans Zelmerlow will host.
My favorite would’ve been Gina Dirawi, however I don’t think she’ll do both MF and ESC… Sarah Dawn Finer would be terrific as well, although she already features in MF as well.
I’m rooting for Mans and Sanna now, I love both of them. Moreover I think a duo would be the best choice – one person is not enough, three are one too many.
I hope SVT gives a chance to someone new and doesn’t choose Petra again.
I really hope for Petra or Sanna.
But I must be one of a few that really dislike Mans the guy just rubs me the wrong way and if he host I think it will be unwatchable.
I think Mans Zelmerlow and Sanna Nielson should host the main show with Petra hosting the Green Room, she is funny enough to get a humorous interview out of the contestants, while Mans and Sanna would look great together..
Also hoping that the logo and theme art will also be revealed at the press conference, that usually happens in December I think.
I have a suggestion, for your poll advent calendar.
Which christmas song would you vote for if they were performed in ESC?
I would probably vote for Last christmas-Wham!
@EugeneESCUK, as a Briton how would you rate the English speaking command of the hosts of the past few years?
I want someone sweet and charming, and not someone arrogant and full of him or herself. So I would go for Sanna Nielsen. She is a sweet lady, very pleasant and full of joy. Petra Mede is all the opposite, a heartless dominatrix. And I hope SVT finds someone better than Eric Saade to host the Green Room, a drooling over himself hyperbolic selflover. So that would also rule our Danni Saucedo. Gina Darwari would also be great. Mans Zelmerlöw appears to me too as a gentleman, so I wouldnt mind him as the presenter, although I dont agree with… Read more »
According to Måns Zelmerlöw they start the preparation for Allsång already in february each year. So, I don’t see how Sanna Nielsen could do both? And by the way MZW speeks french to.
Måns & Sanna would be a great combination. But no green room hosts, please. That should be part of the hosting job.
Hopefully it’ll be like 2013, just without Eric Saade. Keep Eric Saade far away.
I swear if Petra hosts again -_- She wasn’t bad at all I just want to see someone else 🙂
I hope it’s Sanna, cuz I thought she hosted quite well in Mello, but I also hope it’s Alcazar (because they’re not doing Mello this year).
I hope no Petra Mede. She is not funny , she try so hard to be funny .
Petraaa