Spanish broadcaster RTVE have revealed the jury for Benidorm Fest. With the show taking place next week, Spain have now revealed that Nina will preside over the jury. Both international and Spanish members are on the jury.
Benidorm Fest picks a Eurovision winner for the jury
In total, RTVE have chosen eight jury members for their national final. Three of them are from Spain. Presiding over the jury will be singer Nina. She represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1989 with “Nacida Para Amar”, finishing sixth in Lausanne. The other Spanish members are Juan José Santana and Irene Valiente. Santa is the president of OGAE Spain, with Valiente being the director of music show El último lugar.
Among the international names, we see many names that are recognisable to the fans. First of all, Eurovision winner Katrina Leskanich is part of the group of eight. Leskanich won the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1997 as leading lady of Katrina & the Waves – the latest UK winner to date. Joining her is Eurovision mogul Christer Björkman. Björkman was in charge of Melodifestivalen from 2002 onwards before handing over his duties. He also represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992 with “Imorgon är en annan dag”.
The final three members are all members of the Eurovision community in their own right. Israeli Head of Delegation Tali Eshkoli, journalist William Lee Adams and Italy’s Head of Delegation Nicola Caligiore have been chosen to take a jury seat. The professional jury will have a 50% share of the vote in the Benidorm Fest final.
Benidorm Fest 2023
Next week, Spain will be choosing the much anticipated successor to Chanel. “SloMo” came in third place in Turin, making it Spain’s best result since 1995. RTVE have therefore opted to stick with Benidorm Fest. Eighteen acts will be taking the stage next week.
Nine of them will perform on Tuesday, 31st January. The same goes for the other nine on Thursday, 2nd February. Mónica Naranjo, Rodrigo Vázquez and Inés Hernand will be hosting the show.
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