2023-05-08 10:43:01
The two semi-finals on May 9th and 11th will be moderated by Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, actress Hannah Waddingham (“Game of Thrones”) and “Britain’s Got Talent” judge Alesha Dixon as a trio of women. One of the most famous television personalities in the English-speaking world will be added to the final on May 13: legendary talk show host, presenter, actor and author Graham Norton (60). The openly gay comedian has been commenting on the ESC shows for the BBC with great wit since 2009.
In his internationally known talk show “The Graham Norton Show”, the native Irishman regularly gets big stars to tell funny things about their lives. ESC fans also know Norton from the Netflix comedy “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”. Despite his job as a moderator, Norton also wants to comment on the finale and therefore somehow commute between the stage and the commentator box that evening. Ukrainian commentator Timur Miroshnychenko will also be involved in the shows.
Last shows with the German ESC voice Peter Urban
In Germany, the deep voice of NDR veteran Peter Urban belonged to the ESC for decades. Since 1997 the man from Hamburg has led the ARD broadcast through the European singing competition – with a mixture of calm, expertise and subtle irony. He only had to sit out once due to illness. Now the 75-year-old stops. Not infrequently, the native of Lower Saxony spoke from the soul of the viewers.
He was always reluctant to discuss or even justify why Germany had a bad place at the ESC. “I’m not the one who’s supposed to judge anything here, I’m supposed to comment on it, and I can’t find explanations for everything,” he told dpa.
As a counter-program to Urban, ESC fans can also follow performances by Jan Böhmermann and Olli Schulz live from Liverpool this year. The two comment for the Austrian radio, for the ORF media library and the radio station FM4. Austria’s TV commentator is Andi Knoll.
The semifinals
The first semi-final on May 9 has 15 participating countries (including Switzerland, Israel, Sweden and the Netherlands), the second on May 11 then 16 (including Austria, Belgium, Poland and for the eighth time Australia (the country has been allowed since join in 2015)). As one of the big donors, Germany is automatically set for the final on May 13 with the Hamburg rock band Lord Of The Lost (“Blood & Glitter”) – as are Italy, France, Spain, Great Britain and last year’s winner country Ukraine.
Germany can vote in the first semi-final. As of this year, the jury is abolished in the ESC semi-final shows. Only the televoting should decide which acts move into the final. (dpa)
#Englands #ESC #Ukraine #free #press