No stopping Eurovision
There may be no actual contest happening this year, but there is no keeping Eurovision of our TV and radio in celebration of the biggest music competition in the world.
From a night of special programmes celebrating this year’s contest to revisiting classic moments from the archives there will be a host of Eurovision content for fans to look forward to this May.
Familiar Eurovision faces including Graham Norton, Ken Bruce, Rylan Clark-Neal and many more will help bring Eurovision joy into homes across the country, uniting and entertaining viewers with plenty of Eurovision programmes and specials in store.
Graham Norton said: “Eurovision offers a real escapism for people, which is something we need more than ever throughout these times.
"This year people at home can celebrate the amazing spirit of the event and hopefully get the chance to take their mind off the current situation for a few hours.”
Ken Bruce says: "It's Virtual Eurovision!
"On Radio 2, I’ll be playing tracks from Eurovision 2020 featuring some of the best of this year's entries which sadly won't get to take part in the final.
"And I’ll also be hearing from previous years' stars - past winners reminiscing about their memories of the Greatest MusicFest in the world!"
Rylan Clark-Neal said: “It’s so sad that Eurovision 2020 had to be cancelled, but it’s understandable and it doesn’t mean we can’t still escape to the Eurovision bubble.
"We’re so excited to be bringing Eurovision content to Saturday, May 16 to keep up the tradition of many years of this amazing event.
"I’m thrilled to be fronting The A-Z Of Eurovision and Eurovision Kings And Queens Of Pop and looking forward to leaving the current situation behind for a night of pure Eurovision gold!”
Eurovision: Come Together
This year’s contest may not be going ahead but fear not, Graham Norton will be on hand to kick off a night of Eurovision fun on BBC One on Saturday, May 16.
In this one-off special from BBC Studios, Graham will give UK viewers the opportunity to take part in a live vote to crown their favourite Eurovision performance from an eclectic short list compiled by experts and celebrity super fans.
Viewers can cast their votes on the night by visiting bbc.co.uk/eurovision
Graham will also have a chat with James Newman, the act who was due to fly the UK flag in The Netherlands in 2020.
Watch Eurovision: Come Together at 6.30pm on Saturday, May 16 on BBC One
Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light
Following Eurovision: Come Together, BBC One will be broadcasting Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light, which will honour all 41 songs that would have competed in the 2020 contest but in a non-competitive format, as well as providing plenty of surprises for fans and viewers at home.
Just like the contest itself, the live show will be simultaneously broadcast across Europe and beyond and will be hosted by the original Dutch presenters for Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit from The Netherlands.
There will also be an unforgettable virtual sing-a-long where fans from across the world will dress up and form a huge Eurovision choir performing Johnny Logan's winning song for Ireland in 1980, ‘What's Another Year’.
Graham Norton will provide live commentary for BBC One viewers.
Watch Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light at 8pm on Saturday, May 16 on BBC One
The A-Z Of Eurovision
Rylan Clark-Neal narrates a guide to all things Eurovision in this brand new compilation of highlights from BBC Studios as he takes a sideways look at the greatest singing contest on the planet.
Moving through the alphabet, Rylan will be taking us from A, which is of course for Abba & Azerbaijan but also animals - featuring the Italian gorilla man and Azerbaijan’s artist dancing with a horse’s head through Z is for Zelmerlöw, Måns Zelmerlöw to be precise. The only Eurovision performer to have won the contest, hosted the contest and taken part in an interval act.
The A-Z Of Eurovision will feature all the disasters, the costume changes and memorable musical moments from 65 years of Eurovision.
Watch The A-Z Of Eurovision at 10pm on Saturday, May 16 on BBC Two
TOTP2 Goes Eurovision!
First shown ahead of the 2007 Contest, Steve Wright introduces a special Eurovision-themed edition of the show, featuring archive songs by stars of the famous competition.
Artists include Cliff Richard, Lulu, Bucks Fizz, Sandie Shaw, Brotherhood of Man, Johnny Logan and Abba, plus 2007’s UK entrants, Scooch.
Watch TOTP2 Goes Eurovision! at 11pm on Saturday, May 16 on BBC Two
BBC Radio 2 will be bringing the spirit of Eurovision to listeners, and all the programmes are also available on BBC Sounds.
On Ken Bruce’s mid-morning weekday show, the featured album of the week will be Eurovision 2020 - the official compilation album of the artists and songs from the contest - plus clips from previous winners and their entries will be broadcast.
Ahead of his tv show on Saturday night, in the morning Graham Norton will be getting listeners into the Eurovision spirit by playing some of contest’s finest songs, both past and present (Saturday May 16, 10am-1pm).
And later that night is another chance to hear Graham Norton, Douze Points in which he looks back on his first ten years as UK Commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest. From Moscow in 2009, to last year’s show in Tel Aviv, he remembers the big winners and the artists the UK sent, from Blue to Electro Velvet.
Along with super fan Paddy O’Connell, he also recalls the controversies and triumphs, shocks and surprises… and that infamous stage invasion in Lisbon, 2018 (Saturday, May 16 9-10pm).
Afterwards, Rylan Clark-Neal presents Eurovision Kings and Queens of Pop where he’ll be selecting his choice of the greatest Eurovision moments from the history of the competition and his favourite songs that would have been a part of this year’s event in Rotterdam.
Also packed with nostalgic tracks the show features Eurovision favourites including Abba, Sandie Shaw, Bucks Fizz, Måns Zelmerlöw, Netta, Celine Dion, Gina G, Dana International, Katrina and The Waves, Conchita Wurst, and last year’s winner Duncan Laurence who triumphed for the Netherlands with his song, Arcade.
Plus there are joyous hand-picked archive clips from the BBC vaults (Saturday, May 16, 10pm-midnight).
