He’s the ever outspoken singer turned TV boss, who recently stepped away from Sweden’s Melodifestivalen after two decades at the helm. Now, Christer Björkman has touched upon a whole range of topics in a recent two-part episode of the Eurovision Legends podcast, including his views on the United Kingdom’s recent run of poor form at the song contest.
Christer Björkman on the United Kingdom at Eurovision
Christer’s musings on the Brits’ Eurovision fortunes come when he’s asked which country should take a break or step up at the contest. And he doesn’t hold back.
“I don’t really know what is wrong with the BBC. It’s remarkable how badly they handle this competition. You don’t really need to keep back on that criticism because it’s now even in British media. This year, they really put the finger on it correctly, saying ‘we cannot blame anyone. It is not the Brexit. It is not that people don’t like us. That’s a myth’. They send crap. And that is the fault of the BBC. It’s not the fault of the fans. It’s not the fault of media. It’s not the fault of UK. It’s the BBC. For god’s sakes, get it right!”
When asked whether BBC’s partner BMG should shoulder some of the blame, he says: “Well, it could be BMG. But on the other hand, if they don’t know what they should be looking for… I mean if the input they get is ‘don’t take it seriously’, I don’t know. In the end, it is the BBC. Because if they had a person who was responsible for this, a little like me, that person would tell BMG ‘no, that’s not good enough, on the level we’re supposed to be’. And I would show them clips of at least 20 songs in the last two, three years that are valid from the competition and say ‘this is where you have to be’. It has to be original, it has to be up to date, it has to have an air of the year you’re in. Oh, this makes me really fired up, I have to tell you. I mean seriously, seriously.”
Find the full Eurovision Legends podcast online, on Spotify and on Facebook.
Christer Björkman previously told the UK to stop mocking Eurovision
This isn’t the first time Björkman has shared his two cents on the topic. Speaking in 2016, he specifically zoned in on the tone of the BBC’s coverage: “Terry Wogan did the commentary for 25 years and it was always mocking. Now Graham Norton also has this flippant tone. It doesn’t work. It’s a lot easier to joke than to win”.
At the time, he also suggested the UK should give up its Big 5 status and compete in the semi-finals: “I can understand why you don’t risk taking that step but if you look at the songs that travel, they start in the semi-final and they become stronger and stronger during the week. Conchita wasn’t even mentioned as one of the favourites before the semi-final and then she became a shooting star – that’s only because she revealed herself before. And you need to do that.”
What do you think of Christer’s comments on the United Kingdom? Are they fair? Let us know below.
I agree with him 1000%! I’ve been saying exactly the same thing for the last few years. The rot started when Terry Wogan started sniping and aiming low brow comments at the ‘foreign’ artists and delegations. Overnight it started to change people’s perceptions of the contest. It almost seemed that after our win in 1997, his tone became quite egotistical and he had an arrogance about him, which was a bad move for the perception of the contest when it came to the public. The BBC are solely to blame for the bad results. You literally cannot blame anything else.… Read more »
What if the U.K. decided to go all-out and hold a contest with a MelFest-style format? Maybe 2 rounds, 10 artists each, and the top 5 in each round come back for the finals? One of the problems I saw with their ‘You Decide’ contest is that there was not enough variety. Six in a contest is not nearly enough. The head-to-head format in 2019 mare things worse. And the internal selection process is a disaster (back-to-back zeroes under the 2013-15 scoring system).
Graham Norton commentary is as old as he is. When the hosts announced Italys winning performance and said “lets enjoy once again” he replied “enjoy?”. And now this band is one of the most successful winners in Eurovision history. Which just shows how out of touch this old man is.
I agree with him completely, especially on his point about Big 5. While the Big 5 rule may be good for viewing figures, it hurts contestants and makes them less likely to win – of course, it’s not impossible (after all, we had a Big 5 winner this year as well as in 2010) but it certainly hurts their position in the competition.
He’s right.
This deserves a wiwi video discussion. Get DebanAderemiatwiwiblogsdotcom on standby.
I am not a fan of what he did the last ten years with MF and the Swedish participation, but he is absolutely right on that one and is indeed a serious professional that take ESC seriously. This credit is due!
I recently binged all entries of the UK from 2006 to the present. For the most part, they’re mediocre or worse. Even the decent ones (2017, for example), aren’t of the same caliber that, say, Italy sends. I’m not a huge Bjorkman fan, but he’s exactly right. The UK needs to take this competition seriously. Lose the snarky attitude (which you haven’t earned in years) and get your act together.
This from a man who was placed last in the 1992 Eurovisin Song Contest, everything he touches doesn’t always turn into gold, he should grow old gracefully, shut up and stop embarrising himself
It is also from a man who managed the Swedish national selection which produced 2 winners and several other top 10 placings during his tenure. He may not be the best performer but he knows how to succeed at Eurovision, irrespective of what one thinks of his work at Melfest.
Ultimately. the buck stops with the broadcaster from every competing country in regards to the entry, so he’s kind of stating the obvious. But, he’s right that it is quite astonishing that one of the most respected broadcasters in the world gets this so, so wrong year after year.
he spilled. the bbc are true losers who give up in advance
Graham Norton is also part of the problem! His commentary approach on the show is dated and all about mocking the contestants, under the same “don’t take it seriously” philosophy of the BBC.
At least Graham Norton is willing to praise the songs he likes and his joking mostly comes off as playful joking. No, what was part of the problem was Terry Wogan. You listen to his commentary from the last 10 or so years he did Eurovision, my god he sounded miserable. Constant insults and snide remarks while complaining about the politics, he never had anything positive to say, and the BBC treats him as the god of Eurovision or something. All those years of miserable commentary adds up, convinces the UK that Eurovision is joke to the point where people… Read more »
Wogan was a xenophobe who destroyed Eurovision in the UK. Norton is heading the same way – the only stuff he praises is about a decade out of date.
It depends on how one interprets what is the cause of Britain’s failure in Eurovision.
Low interest in the competition due to poor results is probably partly behind the failure
There isn’t low interest. Check the recent ratings. Imagine how much even higher they would be if the UK put in a serious contender (ratings were higher when Blue were entered.)
They really have low self-esteem.
If we really want a domestic comparison here, just look at how watered-down and toothless NHS have become because of a leadership that clearly wants private healthcare in its place. Eurovision is like NHS in this situation and Idol/The Voice/X-Factor is akin to private healthcare here. BBC has to acknowledge that and put more resources into this.
Good comparison! The BBC has to do more than half-ass it.
I agree 101% the BBC is to blame . They are so arrogant and because they are one if the big 5 they don’t think they need to try. I also don’t think they want to host it. We have such great talent look at Adele, Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran but they don’t go and look for those unknowns. Plus we.cannot rely on the public to choose. I am.British and this year I was.ashamed.
Lee Smithurst really should reply to these points. He won’t bother, will he?
The BBC are definitely at fault. What annoys me is they they seem to think finding a song is the only task. If we could have some amazing performers, and some decent staging for once, the UK would do a better. It is the whole package now. Other countries put in far more effort, and the BBC seems stuck in the 1980s where a cheesy song, and average singing were enough.
Do you think they even find good songs? Cry Baby, Still in Love with You, Never Give Up on You, Storms, Bigger than us, Embers. Turd after turd
Sadly he’s right. Someone has to say it as it is. They send crap songs
It’s not just the BBC. The British music industry is also to blame as 99.999% of it look down their noses at Eurovision and want nothing to do with it.
But that’s because the BBC treat it like garbage. If they got behind it properly, the industry interest would follow and grow organically. Definitely not overnight of course, but the problem begins and ends with the BBC because you can’t just dump a rotten carcass in the middle of everything and expect a healthy industry ecosystem to flourish around it.
and we blame YOU and your Swedish team for hijacking the contest and for turning Eurovision into a bland X factor wannabe show. Get outta here lol
Jess Glynne would be great for eurovision I think. She’s been pretty quit for the last 1’5 years.
Very true and reflective comments from Christer. Fact , end of ! BBC needs to get their act together.
We really don’t care about Eurovision, its just cheaply produced and a nice ratings pop to get drunk to. Get used to it.
You think its a joke to get drunk to, but then British media spends the next day complaining about how “Europe hates us” and how upsetting it is and blah blah blah. Either face the contest with a desire to do better, or take it as a joke. You can’t have it both ways.
Then why you even bother to read a blog dedicated to it and even making comments?…
I came across this question on a Q&A platform called “Quora”.
“Some British people are seen as ignorant fools by the Eurovision fans community because they act like they know everything about Eurovision and trash-talked the contest by blaming their poor results on politics. What do you think?”
https://www.quora.com/Some-British-people-are-seen-as-ignorant-fools-by-the-Eurovision-fans-community-because-they-act-like-they-know-everything-about-Eurovision-and-trash-talked-the-contest-by-blaming-their-poor-results-on-politics-What?ch=10&share=ea898753&srid=87hH
That question receives some negative responses from Britons.
Quora is very much for idiots, by idiots. I really wouldn’t put too much stock in anything on there.
For once, that ‘ever outspoken’ (nice choice of words right there, David) egomaniac is perfectly right. Sure, James didn’t deserve to finish last. But also no one really expected the UK to end up better than 15th. I feel like the BBC never aimed for the win, while they also didn’t dare to take a risk. Yet, nowadays (2016 and onwards), I’d say one would have to go for one of these two. Sending merely alright middle-of-the-road stuff appears to get an immediate punishment most of the times. At the same time, ‘failure‘ is no longer a crime anymore, as… Read more »
When competition is based on talent UK comes 2nd in Euros, 4th in Olympics (top in Europe)
When competition is based on voting for your friends, UK comes last.
Do you also include cheating on talent UK for Euros and the Olympics (i.e. doping and diving)?
Yeah, it’s well known that Cliff Richard took a valium before singing in 1973.
Lol, the UK hasnt put their own Eurovision entry into their OWN top 20 chart since Scooch!!!!!! They dont even like their own songs!
Technically we didn’t even finish last. You have to get a score for that. Like the high jumper who knocks off the bar with all three attempts at his opening height, we were unplaced.
In Eurovision, everyone gets a result
The UK also didn’t make it past the quarter-finals of Euro 2020. They also didn’t qualify at all. England is not the UK.
And there’s never any accountability when it comes to the poor results. No one steps up and says “this is what we did wrong” or even apologises for the lack of effort. The BBC seems perfectly satisfied embarrassing the UK. It sucks being a British Eurovision fan sometimes…
I think one of the issues is certainly that the BBC do not want to take ESC seriously. Which is sad. Another issue is the X Factor and similar singing show broadcast in Britain, the show has really influenced what the british public likes when they vote for a singer. Usually they prefer a white, nice looking, pretty good singer. But usually these singers are very stale on stage, and has the stage presence of paint that dries. What can work when you follow a contestant on a singing show for 12 weeks does not work for Eurovision. Case in… Read more »
What’s pathetic about the UK at Eurovision is that when other countries such as Switzerland or the Netherlands do poorly at Eurovision they learn from their mistakes, try to do better, and subsequently end up doing well at the contest. The UK on the other hand seems to be stuck in a perpetual state of mediocrity and indifference with regards to Eurovision and I don’t see it changing anytime soon.
Spain was the same way, but they’ve surprised me this year with their plans for next year. My point is: I would’ve never expected Spain to get ahead before the UK
The sad thing is, I think the BBC thinks it is putting effort in with our entries.
We already know 2022 will follow the same pattern. The video will be well received. People will say it’s our best entry in ages. Then all we’ll get is a mimed performance on CBBC or Graham Norton, quickly followed by underwhelmnent when the staging is revealed. The song, meanwhile, will peak at #93 on the iTunes chart and then get a single-figure total on the big night.
Spot on. Crap entries gets you crap results. The BBC loathe the UK doing well at anything- its part of their woke culture. So you have to wonder if they are doing it on purpose, especially when you look at the roll call of the last 20 years – including electrovelvet, Michael Rice waddling about aimlessly wailing bigger bigger into an imaginary hole on the floor, Suri the poor man’s Annie Lennox tribute act and Lucie Jones droning that dreary dirge. This year they found an international charismatic number 1 artist, and chose to send his untalented and less attractive… Read more »
The media in the UK keep giving a voice to negativity around Eurovision. The only names that I’ve heard mentioned as UK 2022 contestants are Bill Bailey, CBBC Sam and Mark, The Frock Destroyers etc- all acts that see it as a bit of fun and not a serious music competition. I quiet liked the UK approach when choosing Molly Smitten Downs. More of this and less joke acts is required.
I thought BBC Introducing was a huge step in the right direction, and was very disappointed that this wasn’t continued, despite the disappointing result. It’s an excellent resource of untapped talent hungry for a big opportunity, and the BBC should use this and promote Eurovision as a music competition rather than an entertainment show. They also really need to get away from the usual “Buck’s Fizz’s skirts” clichés they have been trotting out for years. 2007 was a big example of this, when we wasted the opportunity to send Big Brovaz and wasted time with Scooch (still mad they made… Read more »
I was gutted when Big Brovaz didn’t get through. Their song was awesome and man those girls could sing. Please know that the fans don’t want us to send those screechy fat drag queens. It will be humiliating
I agree a return to BBC introducing would be promising and to stick with it over time and get people excited about UK entries again.
I think people are excited about eurovision. It’s been the same for years now. The BBC announces the entry, die hard fans try to convince themselves it is good or at least “left hand side” material. People like me who call it out as being garbage are vilified only to then be proven correct on the night. Fans care, UK viewers care its just the BBC who don’t and who seem to think it is a chance to take the mickey out of other countries
I think the BBC is way more concerned about doing this event on the cheap instead of doing well. There is been a trend for a while overall for co-productions with American networks, moving production to places like Cardiff, etc in order to slash costs. Outsourcing the decision of Eurovision to BMG just seems just another example.
I’m no fan of the Björkman, but he’s absolutely right. The BBC approach to the contest is terrible, it’s like they’re mentally stuck in the era of the language restriction rule, where it was enough for them to send a half decent song to get a top 5 position.
The BBC are going for ‘adequate’, which is the surest way to finish at the bottom. To succeed in Eurovision they should go for ‘exceptional’, ‘unique’ and ‘unforgettable’. It doesn’t necessarily work every single time, but it pays off in the long run.
This comment, right here. Someone at the BBC print it out and throw it at whoever at BBC Events is in charge of their Eurovision calamaties.
It’s remarkable how badly they handle this competition.
Maybe because Eurovision is just a 3 night show?
The comment about originality is exactly the point!!
The UK doesn’t have the unique identifiable sound of certain countries because the British sound is quite mainstream but there’s definitely opportunities. The UK urban sound isn’t really replicated elsewhere… would love to hear it at Eurovision.
Stormzy would be the dream – great sound and great performer but someone who’s been quiet for a while in that genre would work just as well. Lethal Bizzle… Dizzee Rascal…. Or of course an up and coming artist but I don’t see them doing Eurovision.
How about a Celtic EDM track next year?
Jade Ewen in 2009 was a definition of quality British music. She could´ve won with that song in 2010 and 2011 but not 2009.
Not really
He is absolutely right. He’s saying it as it is without fear. The problem is BBC.
EBU should be open and ask more broadcaster to take over the Eurovision project like they do with Euro football games.
Embers was nice, nothing special though but James was the wrong artist to perform the song. Staging was poor and boring.
This 100%. The song was ok but compared against other entries it did not stand out, and the staging was horrible.
I have Italy, Ukraine, Cyprus, Israel etc on repeat. I’ll listen to Embers but it just cannot hold a candle to other entries and this is consistently an issue that we have in our entries.
ok just ain’t gonna cut it.
I was very pleased when I first heard Embers and thought we had a good choice, I was also pleased to hear they had an experienced staging team too (“We’re in safe hands!” Was an official quote). They had worked on many big shows with superstars- so why was the staging so poor? The big trumpets added nothing and it left no impact- even my attention was drifting. Did they just have a bad idea? That was the biggest problem. Whilst James is a very nice person, and certainly has talents writing and producing, he isn’t a natural leading man,… Read more »
*Nicki Minaj voice* “DID I LIE!?”
And no he didn’t. The UK is essentially sabotaging themselves and then blaming other people for their poor results
One problem is that they send songs who doesn’t even reach top 20 in UK charts. If your home crows doesn’t believe in you, how are you going to convince Europe?
Look, I’m strongly against BBC’s behaviour in the contest in general and they seriously don’t care at all but I can give them that they AT LEAST seem more interested than before with the Jessie J invitation. Still, it’s the slightest they must do and just inviting a famous artist doesn’t always do the trick but hey, them and RTVE seem to be in the right way!
“They send crap.” – Says the man who finished bottom 5 on home ground with a “crappy” song. Cannot believe how disrespectful he is considering how the artists must feel. He thinks he knows best how Eurovision works, cause he was in charge of running order many times. He is so arrogant! What a disgrace, poor James! He is no crap for sure. Every song is good in its own way, the problem is the ranking: not every song can finish in Top 10, only 10 songs can! Calling songs crap is a slap in the face of songwriters, composers… Read more »
Lol, he also was responsible for two wins in three years. meanwhile how many times has UK ended up among the last 5?
Well the UK hasn’t been in the top 10 since 2009, so clearly something isn’t working.
And most people would agree that the songs they have been sending for the last 10+ years are below par.
Nobody likes the song. Not a single jury. Not a single nation in europe, including the united kingdom. Therefore it’s crap. And it’s high time we stop addressing mediocre white male singers as artists, please.
A few jurors ranked the UK song in their respective top 10. But they were the lone people who voted for it in their own jury so it didn’t muster any points as a result.
BBC is indeed a problem here, but it’s only the motte in this. The bailey in which their knights are living and working are as much of a problem here. They reinforce the fallacy that Eurovison is a genre to reassure BBC that their approach is the correct one.
I cant stand Bjorkman, but he has absolutely hit the nail on the head. The BBC are the ones with the overall responsibility. We could be the Eurovision powerhouse we used to be if it was taken seriously. And when we look back at it, why are the BBC always so secretive about their results in national finals (at least in eurovision you decide). I still think there was some underhand work going on there. I dont like the man. But I would rather him be in charge of our entries instead of whoever it is now. At least he… Read more »
I don’t think there was anything underhand with You Decide, I expect they only had a couple of thousand votes, which is much more embarrassing
I just think that they should show the voting results. I’m not necessarily saying it was from the public vote however, perhaps from the jury votes. But it is a common theme with the BBC, where shows like Strictly and the Andrew Lloyd Webber shows never showed the voting results. Whereas ITV always showed the voting results.
But they do not have to show it as number of votes. I assume the songs are given points as there is a jury/tele split. So they could show the number of points someone had. If you know what I mean.
The Brits are terribel in competition. They always are in it to win and get upset when they don’t. As a Dutchman I see the contest more as a show, a fun game in which not always the best wins in my opinion but that makes it al the more fun! Brits don’t get that! Even in the Wogan time, listen to his comments, the songs are always compared to the British entry as if they set the norm. Well that station has long passed I’m afraid. The English rather than anyone else need to grow up! I dare say… Read more »
I agree with him, and I’d add Ireland or specifically RTÉ to that mix too. UK and Ireland could be powerhouses again the competition if they actually tried.
But also, Bjorkmann is way too arrogant too, Sweden are on the decline regarding ESC too and could follow ourselves and UK if they don’t stop being generic. Pride before a fall and all that….
I disagree on Ireland
I think they kinda try their best in the recent years (except for 2019) but they always have something missing in their entries
I think Ireland do try and do care. It did not work this year with Lesley but the focus on the whole package seems to be a step forward. Previously they have had good entries but the final showcase has let them down e.g Cann Linn, Molly Sterling. I think now Ireland are committed to choosing a good song and selling it.
This year with that storybook thing on a treadmill the poor girl looked just a bit mad
I also don’t think one so so result is a sign of decline. It needs to be years and years of bad results to say it’s in decline. Every country can have a bad result every now and then.
I’d agree with that statement but the fire behind Sweden has been gradually dying out since around 2016.
Personally think they’ve peaked between 2011 and 2015.
It’s not to say they will end up like UK and Ireland, but the trend is very similar for sure.
How would the trend for Sweden equal Ireland and UK
My comment already stated how.
I mean, no lies detected here ?????
He’s right
he spilled