U-turn in Malta as 10 finalists are revealed: Public will select their representative for Tbilisi!

Back in March, PBS announced a revamp of their Junior Eurovision selection process. For the first time in several years, the Maltese broadcaster were to select their artist for the 2017 contest behind closed doors. Here, an expert panel would judge and decide a winner between 10 finalists. However, today PBS have revealed that they have made a U-turn and changed this decision. Instead, Malta are reverting back to a format more similar to that of previous years.

Who are the ten finalists?

84 young singers applied to take part in this year’s Maltese selection with the 20 shortlisted acts being announced earlier this month. Now, PBS have revealed the 10 finalists and these are as follows:

• Thea Aquilina
• Jahel Cardona
• Gianluca Cilia
• Kira Copperstone
• Riona Degiorgio
• Rianne Demicoli
• Aidan Jay Drakard
• Demi Galea
• Kylie Meilak
• Veronica Rotin

The Maltese public will choose their representative!

Now, in a change from the previously announced selection method, these ten artists will perform live on TVM for the Maltese public on Saturday 1st July. As was the case for the national final for the adult contest earlier this year, the Maltese televoters alone will determine their entrant for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Tbilisi in November. In this show, the ten artists will perform covers to earn the Maltese votes. PBS will internally select a song for the winner which will most likely be revealed in either September or October based on previous years.

Following in Gaia and Destiny’s footsteps?

Whichever artist takes victory in just over one month’s time will surely be hoping to follow in the footsteps of previous Maltese Junior Eurovision winners Gaia Cauchi and Destiny Chukunyere. Of course, right now Destiny is taking part in the live semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent.

Destiny to take part in Tuesday’s BGT semi-final

As revealed at the end of tonight’s first live semi-final, Destiny will be taking part in the second live semi-final tomorrow evening! Make sure you tune in on ITV1 from 7.30pm BST and UK viewers will be able to send 5 free votes Destiny’s way via the official Britain’s Got Talent app.

Do you have an early favourite of the ten finalists in the Maltese selection? Are you pleased that PBS are reverting to a live public vote rather than selecting behind closed doors? Let us know in the comments below and via our social media channels @ESCXTRA!