Despite this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam being cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the BBC will still mark the weekend, with programming across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four.
BBC One
Graham Norton will be on hand to kick off a night of Eurovision fun on BBC One on Saturday 16 May.
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.
Eurovision: Come Together is a BBC Studios production for BBC One, commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director BBC Content and Kate Phillips, Controller Entertainment Commissioning. The Executive Producers for BBC Studios are Mel Balac and Andrew Cartmell and the series Producer is Lee Smithurst. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Rachel Ashdown.
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.
BBC Two
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 16 May 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 16 May on BBC Two.
BBC Four
Eurovision At 60: First shown to celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest’s 60th anniversary in 2015, BBC Four joins the celebrations with an appreciation of the joy, madness, scandal and intrigue that has defined the Eurovision Song Contest.
It’s a story of pioneering songs, singers and programme makers; complex and extraordinary technology, laborious voting and a bit of naughtiness. Above all, it can be argued that Eurovision is a symbol of tolerance. As Graham Norton says of Conchita Wurst’s 2014 win: “The people had spoken… and they were nicer and more tolerant people than their governments let us think.”
Featuring interviews with Graham Norton, Conchita Wurst, Sir Terry Wogan and a whole host of Eurovision stars, songwriters and programme makers.
Watch Eurovision At 60 at 9.30pm on Friday 15 May on BBC Four.