We are approaching the end of our throwback series! In this episode, we tak you back to Junior Eurovision 2015. The contest was hosted in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. What do you remember from this edition? Quick things to know Date: 21 NovemberVenue: Arena ArmeecHost broadcaster: BNTPresenter: Poli GenovaNumber of entries: 17 Poli Genova After the Italian victory in 2014, the EBU offered the organization for Junior Eurovision 2015 to main broadcaster RAI. Soon the Italians announced that they had no interest. At the same time, two countries were interested. After Malta organized the Junior Eurovision of 2014, they apparently had a good taste. They submitted another bid. The other candidate was 2014 runner-up Bulgaria. The latter eventually won the bid and could start the organization. Arena Armeec Participating countries Two debutants, two returnees and three withdrawals. A total of 17 countries were present in Sofia. Among them, returnees Albania and North Macedonia. Bulgaria also welcomed two new countries, they were Ireland and Australia. On the other hand, we said goodbye to Croatia, Cyprus and Sweden. Full list of participating countries: Serbia: Lena Stamenkovic – Lenina PesmaGeorgia: The Virus – GabedeSlovenia: Lina Kuduzovic – Prva LjubezenItaly: Chiara & Martina …

Destiny was given a hero's welcome after winning the Junior Eurovision for Malta again. EscXtra was there to capture every festive moment.

Malta has managed to secure their second Junior Eurovision victory in three years time. Destiny Chukunyere scored 185 points with her Not My Soul, beating Armenia into second and Slovenia in third. The voting was close until the end, with Armenia falling just nine points behind Destiny. The final vote in Montenegro had to bring the decider and saw Malta keeping their lead. The full result: Malta: Destiny Chukunyere – Not My Soul: 185 points Armenia: MIKA – Love: 176 points Slovenia: Lina Kuduzović – Prva Ljubezen: 112 points Belarus: Ruslan Aslanov – Volshebvto: 105 points Albania: Mishela Rapo – Dambaje: 93 points Russia: Michail Smirnov – Mechta (Dream): 80 points Serbia: Lena Stamenković – Lenina Pesma: 79 points Australia: Bella Paige – My Girls: 64 points Bulgaria: Gabriela Yordanova & Ivan Stoyanov – Colour of Hope: 62 points Georgia: The Virus – Gabede: 51 points Ukraine: Anna Trincher – Pochny Z Sebe: 38 points Ireland: Aimee Banks – Réalta na Mara: 36 points Montenegro: Jana Mirković – Oluja: 36 points San Marino: Kamila Ismailova – Mirror: 36 points The Netherlands: Shalisa – Million Lights: 35 points Italy: Chiara & Martina – Viva: 34 points FYR Macedonia: Ivana & Magdalena – Pletenka: …

In a less than an hour, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 is going to take place. That means it’s time for our team to take a look at who we think is going to win. In our reviews, Slovenia was the winner, followed by Australia. But do we think our taste is similar to Europe’s…? Liam Clark: 1. Belarus 2. Australia 3. Slovenia 4. Malta 5. Armenia Last: Bulgaria Brent Davidson: 1. Australia 2. Slovenia 3. Malta 4. Georgia 5. Serbia Last: Montenegro Peter Dunwoody: 1. Belarus 2. Malta 3. Ukraine 4. Australia 5. Armenia Last: FYR Macedonia Nick van Lith: 1. Slovenia 2. Australia 3. Russia 4. Belarus 5. Armenia Last: FYR Macedonia Matteo Manta: 1. Russia 2. Malta 3. Australia 4. Ukraine 5. Bulgaria Last: The Netherlands Yassia Naumenko: 1. Belarus 2. Slovenia 3. Australia 4. Ukraine 5. Malta Last: Montenegro Danny Ni: 1. Slovenia 2. Malta 3. Australia 4. Russia 5. Ireland Last: FYR Macedonia Rinor Nuhiu: 1. Australia 2. Armenia 3. Serbia 4. Russia 5. Malta Last: Montenegro That means we get a total prediction which looks like this: 1. Australia 2. Slovenia 3. Malta 4. Belarus 5. Russia Last: Montenegro or FYR Macedonia So can Australia indeed …

Tonight marks the 13th Junior Eurovision Song Contest and will be taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria.   This year the event is being organised by BNT and on-par with the 2007 contest, 17 countries will compete. Which countries will take to the stage? Following on from their guest appearance at this year’s 60th Eurovision Song Contest and gearing up for their return next year, Australia will make their debut on the Junior stage this evening. Also taking part for the very first time is Ireland. After a three year hiatus, Albania have returned alongside FYR Macedonia who did not take part last year. The full running order for tonight’s performances as well as links to each entry are below: [table id=3 /] As with the main contest, tonight’s winner will be decided by a 50/50 split amongst televoters and national juries who scored the performances based on last night’s dress rehearsal.  You can read a live report of that rehearsal written by our on-location team here. How to watch it? Unfortunately, the show is not to be broadcast in as many countries as the main contest – with only broadcasters from the 17 participating nations taking the broadcast for TV.  However, …

We are live from Sofia to comment on the Jury Rehearsal of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The kids are ready and Matteo will take you through the night. This is the running order: 01. Serbia – Lena Stamenković – Lenina pesma 02. Georgia – The Virus – Gabede 03. Slovenia – Lina Kuduzović – Prva ljubezen 04. Italy – Chiara & Martina – Viva 05. Netherlands – Shalisa – Million Lights 06. Australia – Bella Paige – My Girls 07. Ireland – Aimee Banks – Réalta na Mara 08. Russia – Mikhail Smirnov – Mechta (Dream) 09. FYR Macedonia – Ivana Petkovska & Magdalena Aleksovska – Pletenka – Braid of Love 10. Belarus – Ruslan Aslanov – Volshebstvo (Magic) 11. Armenia – Mika – Love 12. Ukraine – Anna Trincher – Pochny z sebe 13. Bulgaria – Gabriela Yordanova & Ivan Stoyanov – Colour of Hope 14. San Marino – Kamilla Ismailova – Mirror 15. Malta – Destiny Chukunyere – Not My Soul 16. Albania – Mishela Rapo – Dambaje 17. Montenegro – Jana Mirković – Oluja

Here is some behind the scenes footage from the girls representing Macedonia! Watch as Ivana and Magdalena negotiate the fun and hard work that is Junior Eurovision! They will be performing tomorrow night (21st of November) at the Junior Eurovision Song contest in Sofia Bulagaria!   Also see our interview with the two very talented girls from Macedonia!    

Happy Junior Eurovision Eve everyone. It’s almost time for the 13th Junior Eurovision Song Contest, coming live from Sofia tomorrow night at 19:30 CET. We’ve got 3 more songs to listen to here at escXtra, before we tot up the scores and see if any of them have managed to shift Slovenia from the top of the leader board. The final three songs are from twice hosts The Netherlands, twice winners Belarus, and the host country for this year’s contest, Bulgaria. BULGARIA: Gabriela Yordanova & Ivan Stoyanov – Colour of Hope Liam: I never thought I would see a duet more awkward than that of Anita Simoncini and Michele Perniola, but I suppose this is why you never say never. I’m currently listening to this song and I’ve already forgotten how it goes. 1/10. Yassia: The host country will be represented by Gabriela Yordanova supported on stage by Ivan Stoyanov. Both Gabriela and Ivan are 12 years old. The name of the song we all are going to hear on 21 November is Colour of Hope. It’s a ballad. Children from Bulgaria are dreaming “to give the world back its smile”. They want “to cover with a rainbow each tired street, each house …

Day 5 (3 for someone and 2 for me) has just started and we were supposed to do a wrap up yesterday evening, but the long day has killed off both of your lovely reporters. That said, Thursday’s rehearsals were fun and we had the possibility to chat (very briefly) with some of the contestants. Brent has been overcome with feelings when Australia performed, but also when Georgia came to speak to us! After the interview the Georgian group hugged Brent and he hasn’t recovered since for the overload of cuteness. We had also the possibility to chat to the girls from FYR Macedonia: And we were surprised by how good this kids are at answering questions in English in front of a camera. Like Anna Trincher from Ukraine: We then moved across theb To slighter south with Serbia: Last but not least, we found out how fancy some hotels in Sofia are and we had a quick chat with the Italian twins, Chiara and Martina Scarpari! This afternoon we will take a look from the arena to the first dress rehearsal (we will provide pictures, don’t worry) and tonight we will be commenting the jury final. Stay with us, we will provide you with a lot more interviews …

While all the action is taking place out in Sofia, back home we’re still deciding on who we’re backing in this year’s Junior Eurovision. With just 2 days to go until the big final, the escXtra firm favourite is still Australia. Will any of today’s lot manage to overtake them? Under scrutiny today we have Russian-born Kamilla for San Marino, Europop from Montenegro courtesy of Jana Mirković, yet another Maraaya composition for Slovenia, and twins Chiara and Martina attempting to defend the title for Italy. SAN MARINO: Kamilla Ismailova – Mirror Peter: After I remember that Kamilla is singing in Italian and not Russian (it’s not totally clear in the opening lines), I really quite enjoy this midtempo that is the most Eurovision-by-numbers of the lot this year, right down to the predictable key-change and its accessible English hookline. The production could do with a bit of beefing up, but no complaints other than that. I really wouldn’t mind if San Marino bought in a Swedish song and a Russian singer in the main contest you know – I think it’s a fairly solid plan of action! 8/10. Liam: Despite having one of the most forced key changes I have ever heard, …