With the construction of the Eurovision 2021 stage underway, more and more details of what to expect next month are being revealed. This week, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 Sieste Bakker has eluded to the Grand Final potentially clocking in at around 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Speaking to Aran Bade, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 Sieste Bakker stated his intentions for a shorter run-time for the Grand Final than the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv.
We did say: let’s try to finish the final well before 1 am.
Sieste Bakker, Executive Producer of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest
Due to a bumper length interval line-up, the 2019 contest clocked in at 4 hours and 11 minutes. Bakker expressed that this will not be the case this year:
The one with Madonna may have felt like ten years, but that’s another story. We said we’re not going to do that. We’re not going to fly in a Madonna-like artist.
Sieste Bakker, Executive Producer of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest
Rather, the team is looking to finish at 0.45 AM CET, which would mean the contest itself has a run time of 3 hours and 45 minutes.
I think we can go to bed at 00.45. And then we have a winner.
Sieste Bakker, Executive Producer of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest
As helpfully compiled by Eurovoix, the run times of recent contests has been as follows:
- 2019 – Grand Final – 4 hours 11 minutes
- 2018 – Grand Final – 3 hours 50 minutes
- 2017 – Grand Final – 3 hours 44 minutes
- 2016 – Grand Final – 3 hours 48 minutes
- 2015 – Grand Final – 3 hours 59 minutes
Heading for Scenario B?
The staging is set to be complete on 28 April. After that, technical and stand-in rehearsals will start. The first delegations are expected to arrive on 8 May. Even under a Scenario B situation, delegations will be spending most of their time in hotel quarantine outside of rehearsals in order to minimise transmission risks.
We have asked them to stay in the hotel and only use our official transport. In this way we hope to keep the virus out as much as possible.
Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
Bakker also confirmed that the current plan is for 3,500 spectators to be in the audience, with 4,500 seats remaining empty. However, in practice this means that the second tier of seating will not be visible on the broadcast.
We think that those 3,500 people can also create a fantastic atmosphere.
Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
However, with the news of Montaigne and the Australian delegation opting not to travel to Rotterdam, we may end up with something closer to a Scenario C. Under this model, some live-on-tapes will be used whilst other acts perform live on the AHOY Stage.
Do you agree with the decision to have a shorter Grand Final? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify and YouTube to see our reactions to the news in the run up to Rotterdam!
