The Eurovision 2022 hosts have finally and officially been confirmed, bringing to an end months of speculation within Italian media. Mika — the Lebanese-British singer and X Factor Italia judge — will present the three shows alongside Laura Pausini, among the world’s most famous Italian singers, and Alessandro Cattelan, an experienced and well-known TV host of shows including Total Request Live and X Factor Italia.
Confirmation came during Night 2 of the Sanremo Festival, which will select Italy’s singer and song for the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday evening.
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Mika will host Eurovision 2022 alongside Laura Pausini and Alessandro Cattelan
On January 24, Italian news agency Adnkronos reported that the trio had agreed to the gig of Eurovision 2022 hosts, prompting a wave of comments on our news post. A common thread running through them is that Italy has aimed high and delivered.
Rackham wrote: “I can’t say I know who the two men are, but Laura Pausini is amazing and so charismatic! I’d be very excited to see her host.
Isabella is game. “Funny thing is that Laura Pausini is actually a huge name in my country, and has been for two decades. It’d be amazing seeing her host ESC22.”
A user named Lorena notes that among Spanish fans the late Raffaella Cara was perhaps the most beloved Italian personality. Laura seems like one of the few stars bright enough to follow in her path. “I think that Laura Pausini is the favourite Italian person for the Spanish people, now that Raffaella is no longer with us. It will be great having her hosting Eurovision!”
Some fans are confused why Mika — a British-Lebanese singer — was hosting Eurovision in Italy. Vale took the time to explain. “Mika has been involved on Italian tv and the music scene for many years and he won also the European award for the best entertainment show for his own programme (award managed by EBU).”
As for Mika’s well-documented past criticisms of Eurovision, Vale writes: “It is positive that someone who critisized Eurovision in the past (for the right reasons) he has changed his opinions.”
Commenting on our Instagram post, @ahmadhalloun said: “Just FYI: Mika never bashed the contest itself, but the approach and song selections of certain countries.”
“He battled to bring Lebanon back in 2007 [and said that] is the only country he wanted to represent at the time.”
@wiwibloggs_official Confirmed! Mika, Laura Pausini and Alessandro Cattelan will welcome us to Turin in May 🇮🇹 #Eurovision #ESC2022 ♬ Grace Kelly – MIKA
Mika
In October, Mika and his team denied — for a second time in as many weeks — that he’d be hosting Eurovision.
The denial came in an interview published by the French newspaper Le Journal du dimanche, after a journalist asked Mika once again if the rumour is true.
Mike appeared to be over it. He said: “I really don’t know what you are talking about. You must have read wrongly — change your glasses!”
It was, of course, a predictable outcome given Mika’s negative opinion about Eurovision. On the most recent edition of X Factor, Mika reinforced this sentiment several times, once calling a singer’s choreography “too Eurovision-y” — in a negative way.
The “Grace Kelly” hitmaker was even worried about competitors on his team choosing Eurovision tracks — yet another sign that his opinion on the song contest has not changed since he previously told French journalists that “most of the songs sent to the competition are shameful, they are pure s**t!”
Mika is a well-known performer and personality in Italy. Besides serving as a mentor on the Italian version of X Factor, he’s also starred in the popular variety series Stasera Casa Mika. It was a critical success, winning the Rose d’Or Award for Entertainment.
Laura Pausini
Back in December, Dagospia reported that Laura — among the best-known Italian artists in the world — was a hot favourite to host. She has won pretty much every major award you can think of — including an MTV Italian Music Award, Grammy Awards, Latin Grammy Awards, and Billboard Latin Music Awards.
She broke onto the scene by winning the newcomer’s section of the 43rd Sanremo Festival in 1993 with her debut single “La solitudine”. Her 2006 album Io canto was the best-selling album of the year in Italy.
You may remember that Laura performed her Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated song “Io sì” (“Seen”) at the 2021 Oscars pre-show.
Eurovision fits in with her continued push on the international scene. As the paper reported, she’ll star in a film for Amazon later this year that she conceived herself.
“I was looking for something innovative in the scripts, but I didn’t feel the urge to tell myself. Then I realized there was one thing I wanted to share. I’ll try to tell it as honestly as possible,” she’s teased.
Alessandro Cattelan
Back in September, Rai 1’s director Stefano Coletta confirmed that Rai was in negotiations with Alessandro Cattelan to host the contest.
“I’m talking with Alessandro Cattelan also about Eurovision. As you know at this time Rai is focused on the city. The first communicative act that Rai will shortly provide you with. Then later there will be the work on who will represent and tell us about this event, but before you ask me, I’ve been talking about it for a few months with Alessandro, because there is also some technical work needed there. It’s not only the TV code, which is functional, but also skills, and one must have experienced a bit of that international stuff, that speed of storytelling that goes beyond the local and towards the global. For me, Alessandro can really be an important value for Rai”.
Cattelan, who is hosting Da grande, is very keen on the idea of hosting Eurovision.
“Eurovision would certainly be a great opportunity that, if it happens, would mean having to thank a lot of people because it would be a concatenation of lucky events. From Maneskin’s victory, from Maneskin’s choice at Sanremo, from Maneskin’s discovery at X Factor, from Marta Donà taking them all the way there.”
Cattelan presented X Factor and his manager is Marta Donà, who previously managed the Eurovision winning band.
“I would be almost a consequence of what has happened in recent months. It would definitely be a nice opportunity because my path started in those contexts, with MTV, the big MTV awards were the closest thing to Eurovision there is.”
What do you make of Italy’s choice of hosts for Eurovision 2022? Are you excited to see Mika, Laura Pausini and Alessandro Cattelan present the contest in Turin? Lets us know in the comments below!
Gosh I think these hosts are really really good – Mika and Laura singing together was awesome. Italy you do us proud.
Laura Pausini hosting Eurovision… IT’S GONNA BE AWESOME!!!!!
“Mika isnt even italian why choose him?”
He’s Lebanese. I’ve never known any personally, but wasn’t Danny Thomas one?
Mika, who A) Genuinely hates Eurovision and B) isn’t Italian. Money and attempts to stay relevant will surely change people’s minds….
The other two are great though, but Mika being there is a bit of a sour taste. Hopefully his role is just reduced to green room or tiny “comedic” bits.
It’s not like Mika begged to be one of the presenters… as far as we know, RAI asked him, not the other way around.
So?
If he really cares about credibility and has an actual backbone and sticks to his opinions and ethics, then what does it matter?
I’d prefer someone who hates Eurovision to not be involved in Eurovision. It comes across as fake now in May when he’ll be saying things like “40 amazing singers/songs from all over Europe” etc when he thinks it’s thrash.
Or when he’s congratulating the winner, he won’t really mean it.
If he hates Eurovision, fine, but don’t go and gain money from it either.
Pretty happy with the hosts. I know Cattelan from his shows in Italian TV and I think he’s great, Laura is an icon (not a fan here, but I have to admit she is very charismatic) and finally Mika… not a fan neither, but I like some of his french songs. I hope eurofans won’t be too harsh when he takes the stage in Turin. As far as I can say, his TV shows in Italy were really good and entertaining, I liked them. They are going to do a good job and RAI will finally show that they care… Read more »
very good choice 🙂
Ok guys, if you know Mika then you know he is a joker, so those statements must not be taken too seriously, he’s not even too wrong lol, but other than that I think wiwi is exaggerating it a bit
They just need to let Laura sing as much as possible and I will be satisfied.
I am happy with the choice! Cattelan is a showman, and after seeing both Laura and Mika as coaches in The Voice, I think they work pretty well on TV with music contest formats. The three of them are generally loved by the Italian audience too so, I am excited to see how they carry the semifinals and the final show in May. Good luck! 🙂
Who is Mika? Who is Laura Pausini? And who is Alessandro Catellan?
I guess we will know more in May.
For Laura, google “La Solitudine”, one of my favourite songs of 1993
What a song!
Let me add “Vivimi” to the list :’)
For your questions, lazy fan, there is wikipedia, youtube etc.
My dream was to get -40 dislikes. But it didn’t go well…
Disappointed by this, first the theme and now having Mika as a host? Ugh, he was so obnoxious on The Voice as a judge, trying to tell his team not to choose songs that were in Eurovision. Looking pretty bad as for now.
It’s true that not all ESC hosts are ESC fans, but it sounds that he was actually speaking against the contest, which is not the same. It’s just leaves bad taste to see a person spitting in a well that he’s now willing to drink from. It’s not a tragedy but it’s not amazing either.
Mika’s comments about Eurovision:
“Because most of the entries sent to the contest are shameful, they are pure sh*t!”
“So why don’t you participate with a very good song?” he asked. Mika replied by throwing some more shade on Eurovision: “I don’t know if it’s allowed. It’s not part of the game, you must do terrible things.”
1. He’s not wrong about the first statement.
2. He obviously said the second one in jest.
Get over yourselves, people
Cool choices. Laura in particular is such an icon, with many spectacular songs of her own. She’s also charming and naturally gifted for being on stage. Congrats!
A lot of people in the fandom criticize Eurovision-y songs, that is, songs that sound like they were written specifically for Eurovision. Everyone knows what kind of songs they are, overly theatrical, a bit kitsch, a cheap key change at the end. And now if a potential Eurovision host says he hates songs like that, suddenly it’s a huge problem.
I don’t mean that I agree with this, but I’m sure I’ll be down voted anyway. The eurovision crowd is a very vocal one and hasn’t been afraid to boo in the live performances. Yes for more political reasons, but I wonder if he will be booed for disrespecting the thing we all love.
No, because unlike Wiwibloggs no one really knows what he said. Or cares enough
Mika is just someone you wanna slap….. does the church approve of a gay host?
I don’t care what church approves or not. And I don’t care even more of homophobic comments like yours.
Did you know before who where the hosts in 2017, 2018, 2021 etc. These silly comments just to spit on what RAI is doing are shameful.
Now that we have Mika can we at least be gracious about it? Some of the toxic and out of balance comments really shows a negative side to Eurovision fandom. I am not a fan and I am disappointed about his inclusion but I am not going to moan endlessly about it I am going to enjoy the show!
ok boomer
And you assume I am a boomer? You assume wrong Roodi.
This year I’m seriously wondering if there is even a positive side in the Eurovision fandom because in the comments to the articles of the last months there is only toxicity.
Alessandro has been discussed as a host from the moment Maneskin won last year. If you follow Eurovision and this website then you should know who he is. In reality do we really expect to know who are all the television hosts in any particular country are? I am not even up to date with them in my own country. Why do the hosts need to be a big star? They just need to do the perfunctory role of moving the show on from one point to the next and do it well. Fame often gets in the way of… Read more »
Maybe a bit special considering Mikas view on Eurovision. But the funny part is that two of the hosts have hosted x-factor; a show with so much lower quality. That just makes comedy of Mikas comments.
Two hosts maximum for sure. But RAI should do what they want, it’s their show
The same show that introduced Måneskin to Italian audiences.
X factor in Italy is a quality show nothing to do with the UK version.
Italy choose big stars for competition and hosting too. Pity other countries not.
They do, actually
well I’m sure Laura will be good. Two hosts is plenty btw. One of them is unnecessary.
Mika is like those “Gay for pay” -kinda guys! It’s all disgusting, but once you get paid? Oh boy!
Say what you say, but I would have just gone with two hosts.
This is probably the worst comment I have ever read on the argument. You should be ashamed of yourself. Sincerely. I don’t even write what I think about you because I would be very harsh.
With writing skills like that, why bother. What should Eurovision fans do, be thankful as Mika downgrades himself as a host?
Yes. And a stupid is a stupid. Look at the mirror and you see one.
When will we know information about tickets??? There isn’t any update, is there??
Mika Is The Best
AHAHAHAAAAA
Get lost Mika!
I’m quite unimpressed that Mika has been signed to host Eurovision, considering everything he’s said about the competition. The fact that Mika’s agreed to host, considering everything he’s said about the competition, may say as much about Eurovision as it does about Mika.
He said he would not compete, never about not hosting it. Relax, people have said far worse things about ESC than Mika. Just look at some winners opinion of it..
Its only a TV- Show
When did this fandom turn so toxic? It¨s like you are all Spanish fans or part of the Star Wars fandom! Calm down, it¨s a TV-show. Not everyone who host it will be superfan because believe it or not it’s not a requirement. People on the main ESC site and Facebook are nice and decent about it,why not learn from them? No need to be that catty in here or people will soon start to avoid this altogether.
toxic?
Why does that sentiment only apply to the comments here and not equally to Mika as well, though? There is an enormous world of difference between 1) not being a fan and saying nothing, 2) constructively criticising in a mature & helpful way, and 3) actively insulting and rudely mocking. His comments are #3, and that’s never okay. Also, it’s not about the TV show, it’s about the performers & composers (i.e. real people, who are going to be affected by him presenting them when he may well publicly treat them and their songs like “pure sh*t” as soon as… Read more »
For those who complain about Mika and the choice made by RAI, just watch here (from Mika’s, own show named “Stasera Casa Mika” broadcasted on RAI2, in 2016 and 2017):
https://youtu.be/_Mpqc9oscW0
For the haters, why RAI shouldn’t have made this choice?
Offtopic: Poland, Krystian Ochman just released his entry, like 1h ago. I’m other words all songs from Poland should be out (or at least all songs from favorites)
But his song is not available where I’m from. I guess I’ll have to wait until tomorrow
Mika seems to have a negative opinion about ESC but he is ok with The X Factor and The Voice? But now that he’ll get money and attention to present the show, he’ll be ok! His musical career is over after his debut album and in the last 15 yrs the only career he has is a judge in talent shows in France and now in Italy.
Results:
Not really a fan of Elisa but I’m glad that my favourite of this night is ranked quite high (3rd)
For my part, I am delighted. Laura is a very great artist, who represents her country very well. I don’t see why Mika wouldn’t be welcome, he has an international career, speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish, he’s an incredible singer and performer, he’s a real asset for such a show. As for Alessandro, he masters animation perfectly. For me, it looks good.
They are doing very well in my opinion – nice balance of characters.
I love seeing Gigliola Cinquetti in the Sanremo audience tonight, hopefully she will be there in Torino too.
This fandom is so toxic. As if every single eurovision host till now was huge eurofan. It’s a TV show people, calm down
It’s the fans that are toxic and definitely not the opportunist people who bash the contest and then host it… But get money i guess.
You don’t see these fans hosting Eurovision, now do you?!
I have heard worse comments about ESC from some winners of ESC than from Mika!
Well no, they don’t need to be fans but it helps if you at least ‘get’ the contest. From his past comments I worry that Mika does not, but I hope he proves me wrong.
Honestly can’t fathom why firstly someone who has been very vocal about hating the competition and its entries suddenly decides it’s worth the next 3 months of his life (other than a check from RAI of course,) but sk why RAI knowing all about this STILL approached him. There MUST be one other person who’s Italian and speaks English or someone linked to Italy who could have done this and who actually loves the show they’re hosting. You could tell how much NikkieTutorials loved being involved in the show and it shone through in her hosting. Considering how recent his… Read more »
Maybe there are no italians able to speak perfectly both english and french. Have you ever considered that? Oraybe there are but they have never hosted a musical show. Or maybe they cannot singx dance and perform on stage, together with Laura Pausini. Ok. You are the only intelligent one here, while all the management at RAI area bunch of stupid people. Do you remember 1991? Ok. There will not be 1991 again, this time. RAI is taking everything very seriously, but there are still people like you who likes to bark at the moon.
What a complete sellout! I have zero respect left for him.
Same for you.
Money and fame are amazing forces, they can turn you from a eurovision hater to a eurovision host because all you do is being a judge on singing competitions. Bona fortuna Mika, and always think before you speak
One step closer to knowing stuff about ESC 2022 we theoretically should’ve known two months ago already. Can’t wait for them to reveal the ticket sale dates 2 days before the contest kicks off lmao
Honestly what does it matter if we know it now or 3 months ago?We are still 100 days away from eurovision and it’s only in the last few years that we started getting news earlier and earlier. + tickets are dependent on covid situation. Global artist have been pushing away concert tour dates for the last 2 years. Last year ticket sales happened only in the week before eurovision.
It’s not like there has been nothing happening in the meantime because we are being bombarded with nf’s this year.
Why not Amadeus instead of Mika? He seems to be a great and charismatic candidate for being a host of such important event (and definitely more than Eurovision-hating guy)
He can’t speak english
Well, that’s a shame. He would be perfect for Eurovision.
But he still doesn’t speak english.
Amadeus might be great fir tge Italianos but he’s obviously not the right person for Eurovision!
Absolutely love Alessandro and Laura, glad that Mika has his chance to become relevant again, maybe now he will respect the contest more
Mika is very popular in Italy and France. From what relevant country are you from?
from a country that mika is not acting as a judge to stay relevant
well, not just acting as judge. He had his own TV show, a show which won the award for best European entertainment show of the year, awarded organized by EBU. A show where he celebrated Italian and international music with also international star like Sting and Kylie Minogue. You know what is toxic about Eurovision? People who think every countries should sing in English and consider ‘relevant’ only everything coming from the UK and US. Pathetic and irrelevant
Why Mika? So random.
Your comment is random.
Not you fuming over my comment, boy bye.
Because he’s not Italian… It’s just weird for me to see someone from a different country to host Eurovision, that is all.
When UK has invited Petra Mede or also Mans Zermelow to present Eurovision related TV show was it OK for you?
Petra is a Eurovision icon and it was just a anniversary show, not a UK edition of Eurovision!!!!!!!!!
It wasn’t Eurovision though? Why are you fuming?! I’m not bashing or anything. I just find it interesting.
The last time the UK hosted, the presenters were a Swedish woman and an Irish man.
Something from this century?
Edinburgh 2020.
Fine. Greece 2006, Maria Menonous. Norway 2010- Nadia Hasnaoui. Did people complain about them? Did it bother you when Loreen won too?
Nadia Hasnaoui is Norwegian. Loreen is Swediah.
Nadia is actaully born in Morocco
Maria Menounos is Greek, Nadia Hasnaoui – Norwegian, Loreen – Swedish. And who told you it’s bothering me? I just think it’s unusual.
Maria Menounous is born and raised in Boston, USA. Her Greek consist of knowing few Greek phrases here and there. Like Jennifer Aniston. Nadia is born in Morocco. I only mention it becuase you seem to make a poit that presenters should be born in the country they present..
Maria Menounos is from a Greek diaspora. Mika has no connection to Italy. That was absolutely NOT my point. My point was that i don’t recall we had anything like that before at least not this century and i find it fascinating.
Does it bother you when BBC invites Graham Norton to comment every year even though he is Irish? Or Terry Wogan before him? Did it bother you when Måns Zelmerlöw hosted three BBC selection shows?
Denis, the guy who commented is probably a racist that when he sees a black boy at a station in his town. he shoutd him “you are black, so you are not from this country, go away”. Italy has an history of inviting lot of foreign artists in the TV shows, who became italians, after. Don Lurio (american dancer, coreographer and tv host), Heather Parisi (american dancer and TV host), Thomas Milian (american/cuban actor) and I may continue. For us, Italians, they are Italians 100%. But why am I still ashamed for what the guy wrote? Do you remember Denis,… Read more »
I will add that Laura Pausini is hugely famous and beloved in Spanish speaking countries. She records all her music in Spanish and has worked a lot on Spanish TV (The Voice and X Factor), also in Mexico and Miami. Great choice! Those Europeans that many not know her yet will discover how funny she is and such a great voice she has… Hopefully she will perform in any of the interval acts, who knows if a tribute to Raphaella Carra, who was adored by Laura.
I knew that I posted before, but Raffaella Carra would have been the perfect host. It still hurts 🙁
RAI had in mind from the beginning to have Raffaella Carrà and Mika to host ESC2022. But then Raffaella died. So it was natural to keep Mika and find someone else.
Perhaps, the best hosting team we’ve had in Eurovision.
A note to anyone who wanted all data to be revealed in november: that’s not necessary lol and makes zero difference of the hosting abilities of a country. Italy is doing a great job with their creative theme, the venue, the slogan and logo(s) and i’m sure the stage will be on fire as well. Revealing it early doesn’t matter, it’s not like for revealing it soon it gets better.
Thank youm definitely it is. Many millions of records sold by the hosts. And Laura Pausini and Mika can definitely participate in a wonderful interval act as they did this evening in Sanremo, singing an Abba song.
I said this before, I really love MIKA’s songs (I still have few of them on my phones playlist) but it saddened me to know his ESC point of view. But to think most his song are no different with ESC, they are considered crap by so many beacuase they are lgbt friendly and that’s why I can’t understand his hostility to a contest that don’t differ really to him. But him as a host, I know it’ll be good as he’s fluent with French, Italian and English and very charismatic and alive on stage like he do with every… Read more »
I would prefer an italian host to get this opportunity
Why, so you can eventually complain about the italian accent for the hosts later? RAI is trying all to avoid Rome 1991. And there is still people who complains. I sincerely don’t understand you.
Laura Pausini and Alessandro Cattelan are Italian.
I would prefer Chiara to be the third host but maybe Laura did not want a second woman or they wanted MIKA who is native English speaker.
Chiara (Ferragni) has surely be contacted but she has probably refused bacause she doesn’t have any experience in hosting. But there has been a long discussion about her. So I am sure she was one of the options from the beginning.
wow my previous comment about Laura Pausini was featured in this post. I’m feeling kind of honored ngl
and yeah, I’m obviously game!
While I’m not too familiar with Alessandro, I think he perfectly fits the job. Also, Laura is very famous in Spain and Latin America and she’s such a charming person, I didn’t expect her to present the show but I think she’ll do great!
On the other hand, Mika being announced is very off-putting. But – for now, I hope the disdain he previously showed for the contest was some sort of lousy attempt at denying his involvement before today’s announcement.