Moments ago, the BBC revealed via social media details about the UK national final – Eurovision: You Decide. While many things appear to be the same, there is a fundamental change!
Much like last year, the show will be hosted by Mel Giedroyc and none other than Måns Zelmerlöw, who won the contest for Sweden in 2015. Clearly, the broadcaster loved the chemistry between the two to continue for 2019. The show will be broadcast at some point in February.
In 2018, ‘You Decide’ was broadcast on the 7th Feb… could we looking at a similar early timeframe?
Show shakeup!
In what will probably be a shock to most fans following the UK’s Eurovision journey, there will be a few shakeups next year. First, the show will be broadcast from Salford, Manchester. This marks a departure from Brighton last year, and London in previous years. Geographically, it also denotes the first time the contest has been hosted in the North West of England!
Most importantly, the format has radically changed. While there still will be 6 acts attempting to represent the UK, there will only be three – yes three – songs will be competing to go to Tel Aviv.
Each song will be performed by two acts in two distinct musical styles. There will be three rounds of ‘song-offs’. Mel Balac, Creative Director of Entertainment BBC and Executive Producer at Eurovision, gives more details:
This year the three songs presented to the United Kingdom have been selected with the help of an international jury. Our exciting “euro-version” format will give fans the chance to compare and contrast these fantastic songs in a fresh, new way and deliver the United Kingdom the artist it deserves to fly the flag out in Tel Aviv in May.
– Mel Balac, BBC Creative Director of Entertainment
It seems the BBC is playing off popular singing contests with a play on words with the phrase ‘sing-off’. Kate Phillips Controller of Entertainment Commissioning at the BBC explains the thinking behind this process:
Forget about a sing-off, next year it’s all about the song-off as we once again try to marry a great singer with a great song, one which could finally get us on the left hand side of the leader board. We may be leaving the EU but we are still determined to win Eurovision again one day!
– Kate Phillips, BBC Controller of Entertainment Commissioning
United Kingdom in Eurovision 2018
Last year, SuRie represented the UK with the song “Storm”. During her performance, she unfortunately had a stage invasion, disrupting her performance. Nevertheless, much like her lyrical message of her song, she powered through – with Europe’s solidarity. She came 24th with 48 points.
What do you think of the new format change? Will this work in the UK’s favour? Let us know in the comments or on social media @ESCXTRA!
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