I'm not sure I can see the Ukraine reneging on the deal to host. I am sure they want to, and if they did pass, they'd be the first to decline since Israel, who declined to host in 1980 (they'd won two years running and couldn't afford to host it again). In the end, that particular contest was offered to the BBC who
also
declined (having hosted in 1977). NOS agreed to host it in The Hague on a limited budget and using the same venue as the 1976 contest and even recycled bits of the opening film and dispensing with the expense of producing 'postcards'.
Anyway, back on track, it'd be fascinating to see what would happen if Australia ended up hosting, especially given that almost everyone I was watching with thought they were a definite winner - right up to the point at which the new scoring system confused just about everyone (at least in my house!)
Well if the rights are given to Australia, you can rule out Russia, it's neighbours and some of the smaller nations. It will probably be either UK, Malta, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain or Bulgaria.
I thought Australia wasn't allowed to solely host it anyway as it would have to be based in Europe with a European broadcaster, or something like that.
Yes, I think the current arrangement with Australia taking part as a sort of temporary guest (they've licences an "Asia-vision Song Contest" format from the EBU and are developing the idea I believe) is that should it win it would host with an established full EBU member in Europe. It's reasonable to assume that might be the BBC, given that Australia took the BBCs feed of the contest for years before sending their own teams, but in the current climate of BBC being under scrutiny for its finances hosting what is now often a lavish production might be criticised (although slightly unfairly, because other large scale events the BBC covers like The Proms are rarely given any stick for their cost).
We shall see. It's all academic anyway, I strongly suspect the EBU will find a way to host as usual in the winning country.
Yes it seems like a big one next year, Charlotte Pirelli is also back, along with Ace Wilder, Wictoria, Jon Henrik Fjallgren, Mariette, Dinah Nah, Krista Siegfrids, to name a few.
Also 87 year old Owe Thörnqvist.
Eurovision: You Decide, our national song selection for the UK entry returns! The show will take place on Friday 27 January 2017, live from London's world-famous Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith.
This year, for the first time, it will be broadcast live on BBC Two at 19.30 with self-confessed Eurovision superfan, Mel Giedroyc, returning as presenter.
Good choice I think. The Apollo is a great venue choice for this - not to big, not too small and is used to dealing with TV productions. I personally love Mel as a host, for some reason many people don't seem to. I thought last year's show was relatively successful in choosing a decent song, and was disappointed with the resulting placing in the final. It'll be interesting to see what audience it gets.
