Further to the BBC’s earlier announcement about changing their selection process for the United Kingdom’s participant at Eurovision, today it has been revealed that there will be a live final featuring six participants on BBC Four in a show called Eurovision: You Decide, hosted by Mel Giedroyc of The Great British Bake Off, in which the British public will choose their song for Stockholm.
In the aftermath of the first announcement, Rodrigo asked whether the public can be trusted to choose the UK entry. As it now transpires, on 26 February, six shortlisted acts will take to the stage in a bid to impress the viewers at home and a professional panel in the venue in a show that will be broadcast on BBC Four.
Due to the upcoming removal of BBC Three as a broadcasting outlet, it was also announced today that BBC Four will also air both the semifinals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.
Cassian Harrison, the Editor of BBC Four, said in the press release:
“I’m delighted that Eurovision: You Decide and both of the Semi Finals are coming to the channel this year. BBC Four is the home of music on TV in the UK, and as any fan will tell you, Eurovision is one of the biggest music events on the planet and is much more than just one night of TV, therefore it is only right that BBC Four is able to showcase Europe’s favourite music TV event right here in the UK.”
Both the UK branch of OGAE and the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) have been involved in the shortlisting process alongside Hugh Goldsmith as a Music Consultant for the BBC. The six shortlisted acts, which are yet to be announced, that will perform on the night have been chosen from each of these different entry routes.
This leaves us wondering what the BBC has in store, given the audience on BBC Four is a very different one to both BBC One and BBC Three. With Mel Giedroyc in charge, we can expect some innuendo fuelled hosting and the promise of a professional panel should aid weeding out the rubbish on the night.
Let us know what you think below in the comments section and on Twitter, have these radical changes given the United Kingdom a chance to return to the top of the scoreboard? Will the first national final in six years really give the British public a selection to be proud of? We shall wait and see the shortlist in the coming weeks.
