The Eurovision Song Contest returns, this year hosted in Basel, Switzerland.
Representing the UK is Remember Monday, a country-pop trio performing “What The Hell Just Happened.”
The Eurovision Song Contest, an annual event organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), adopts a “Welcome Home” theme, marking the contest’s origin in Switzerland in 1956.
Original songs, under three minutes long and unreleased before September 1st, 2024, are required. Live vocals are mandatory, excluding lip-syncing and auto-tune, with a maximum of six performers.
The grand final, held at Basel’s St Jakobshalle, takes place on May 17th.
The event will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 20:00 BST, hosted by Graham Norton, and simulcast on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds by Scott Mills and Rylan Clark.
International coverage within the arena features presenters Hazel Brugger, Sandra Studer, and Michelle Hunziker. Sophie Ellis-Bextor will announce the UK jury’s results, following actor Ncuti Gatwa’s withdrawal.
Thirty-seven countries participate, with Montenegro’s return marking the only change from last year’s Malmö contest. Moldova withdrew due to financial and logistical challenges.
While predominantly European, Australia participates annually following its 2015 invitation, though it cannot host if victorious. Other non-European members of the EBU, such as Israel, also participate. Russia remains banned following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Switzerland hosts after Nemo’s 2024 win with “The Code,” and will also perform as a guest, despite previous criticism of the contest’s artist support. Switzerland’s 2025 entry is Zoë Më with “Voyage.”
The “big five” (UK, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), providing significant financial support, receive automatic final qualification, alongside Switzerland due to its 2024 victory.
Céline Dion, Switzerland’s 1988 winner, shared a pre-recorded message for the semi-final, celebrating the contest’s return to Basel.
The following countries qualified from the first semi-final:
The following countries qualified from the second semi-final:
Remember Monday, comprised of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull, and Charlotte Steele, will perform their harmonically rich pop song, “What The Hell Just Happened.”
The Farnborough-based trio, who appeared on “The Voice” in 2019 and boast West End experience, aim to improve on the UK’s recent poor performances.
Over 70 former Eurovision contestants, including Mae Muller, signed an open letter calling for Israel’s broadcaster’s ban, citing alleged complicity in the Gaza conflict. Eurovision, maintaining its non-political stance, resisted these calls.
Israel’s contestant, Yuval Raphael, anticipates negative reactions. Last year’s Israeli contestant faced similar issues.
Raphael’s participation follows the October 7th attacks in Israel, during which she attended the Nova Festival.
The final scoring comprises jury and public votes. Fans vote for up to ten songs via phone, SMS, or app; votes for one’s own country are prohibited. Points are awarded (12-1) based on ranking.
Non-participating countries’ votes are combined into a “rest of the world” vote.
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