Cornald Maas will not present the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020 in Rotterdam. Cornald revealed the news during an interview with the Dutch TV show Shownieuws on Monday.

Cornald is a very important Eurovision figure in the Netherlands. Maas is responsible for the commentary of the ESC live shows for Dutch television and has spent years working behind the scenes. As many of you will know, he’s also hosted several editions of Eurovision in Concert — the biggest Eurovision promo event — which takes place annually in Amsterdam.

Cornald is appreciated for his involvement with ESC partly because he’s always remained positive — even in the years when the Dutch failed to qualify for the grand final. Yes, during that period of eight consecutive non-qualifications from 2005 until 2012.

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#TeamDuncan is klaar voor de finale! ??

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So for many Eurofans it would be a logical step for Cornald Maas to present Eurovision 2020. Earlier he stated that he would like to do so. But this will not be happening. It is still unclear who will do it. Maas hopes that Jan Smit will have the opportunity. In recent years Maas and Smit have provided commentary together for the live broadcasts of the Eurovision Song Contest. Both presenters were on our wishlist for hosting for ESC 2020 in Rotterdam.

Dutch media have sensationalised the news that Cornald won’t be hosting with several newspapers stating that he was “rejected” by Dutch broadcaster NPO. Cornald says this is not the case and has hit back on social media.

 

“Oh dear — there are always these kinds of headlines after some selective reporting,” he tweeted. “I have stated myself that I would prefer to continue providing commentary during ESC, partly because this gives me more freedom and space. The #Eurovision organization has not yet decided on who is going to host.”

Last month it became clear that Cornald had a different task within the organization: he’ll serve as the creative advisor of Eurovision 2020. Because of his involvement and his great love and passion for the contest, it’s no surprise that Cornald has been given this important job.

Watch Cornald and Jan’s reaction to Duncan winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 here:

Do you think it’s a pity that Cornald won’t host? Who is your favorite to present Eurovision 2020? Let us know in the comment section down below!

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Julle
Julle
4 years ago

I had the pleasure of being the delegation host for the Netherlands during Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm, and I really only have immense love and respect for Cornald Maas. He and I had several intense discussions of Eurovision of yesteryear and today that lasted hours. His love and passion for the contest, as well as his prediction skills (he thought Jamala would win pre-final) combined with his very friendly nature was truly one of the highlights for me during those weeks. Sad to see he will not be hosting though, he would have been great!

dandy
dandy
4 years ago

Apart from Cornald, this country has Melisandre. If they will not involve her (at least like Gal Gadot in 2019) it’s so sad.
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Gino
Gino
4 years ago

Idk how anyone wants either him or jan smit as hosts, they should be fucking fired as commentators instead. They are so rude and awful and have a very narrow minded view on music and their whole energy just ruins the show.

dandy
dandy
4 years ago

Cornald Maas wants to host and deserves to host. The only difference between The Netherlands and Ukraine is that Ukraine would have made a public scandal, but The Netherlands keeps the things private. Just put this man on stage you ungrateful…..

James
James
4 years ago

Guy is already stretched thin with the number of responsibilities he has for the contest next year so it’s obvious that hosting it is not in the cards.

How about Jan Smit and Kim-Lian? Kim already has experience as presenter of the previous times The Netherlands hosted JESC.

dandy
dandy
4 years ago
Reply to  James

“hosting it is not in the cards”

Are you trying to convince yourself of that? Global fame is not in his cards? How can you lie to yourself like that? This guy must be on stage. Eurovision In Concert is in his cards, but not global fame?

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  dandy

How does hosting equate to “global fame” exactly?

Cornald is sure to do commentary on all three shows for Dutch TV plus he is also involved with the show’s production from now until May. To also be its presenter would be an unnecessary burden, like having to run back and forth between the stage and his booth. While Terry Wogan did that in 1998, he’s not part of that year’s production team (nor were there two additional live shows) so it wasn’t as daunting a task.

dandy
dandy
4 years ago
Reply to  James

Has to do with 200 mil viewers and being on the most important stage that a musical event can give in this world. Nowadays people prefer to watch online because they don’t want commentary. It’s easy, of course this guy who was loyal to ESC when nobody else cared, wants to be on the big stage.

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  dandy

If you can give me statistics on the number of people who watched the Eurovision Youtube stream LIVE as they happened while not counting repeat viewings afterwards, and compare them with collective ratings data showing how many (of those subscribed households to firms that record viewing data like Nielsen) across the world watched the same shows live on television as the contest aired terrestrially, then perhaps I would believe you.

But considering what you just said about “200 million watching the show” yet “nowadays people prefer watching (the Youtube stream) online for no commentary” defeats the point of your argument.

daniel
daniel
4 years ago
Reply to  James

I guess the point is that is better for Cornald Maas to be host, not commentator.

Jake
Jake
4 years ago

Doubt we’ll get another Petra Mede this decade ;(
For the last couple of contests the jokes have felt forced and awkward, but I think the Netherlands will host well 🙂

Funkycoffin
Funkycoffin
4 years ago

We will probably get the boring Dionne Stax to co-host. Believe me there will be no diversity with the hosts next year.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago
Reply to  Funkycoffin

Diversity does not guarantee to not make it boring. Look at 2015.

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago
Reply to  Funkycoffin

so what they shouldn’t decide on the hosts based on their colour for the sake of diversity, but they should decide based on their skills, we will never end racism if we will hire people based on colour, if all the hosts will be white so be it, if all hosts will be black so be it, they should host it because of their skills not because of their skin colour.

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

+ Netherlands is not USA, the Netherlands have at least 90 % of people who are European, it’s not expected to have diversity included like in USA where diversity is much bigger…

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

The Netherlands have experienced an influx of immigrants, many from their former colonies and present overseas territories.

Add to that are those coming from the rest of Europe.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago
Reply to  James

What’s your point?

dandy
dandy
4 years ago
Reply to  James

The question is if these immigrants can host ESC. How do you think a casting should be made?
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Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
4 years ago

I love him as a commentator, and I love him for staying with the contest during the Dutch highs and lows. I hope Jan Smit and Eva Jinek or Edsilia Rombley get the hosting gig.

Trollope
Trollope
4 years ago

Jan Smit and Edsilia Rombley would be the perfect hosting pair imo. They can present, sing, and both are familiar with Eurovision.

Lisianthus
Lisianthus
4 years ago

Edsilia Rombley would be great as a host. Jan Smit will make everyone cringe.