United Kingdom to celebrate Eurovision 2020 in May

The British Broadcaster, BBC, has announced their intentions on which shows will air to replace the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation.

Eurovision 2020 The Cancelled Coronavirus Year

From Monday 11 May – BBC iPlayer

The special Eurovision week will open Monday 11 May on BBC iPlayer. Eurovision 2020 The Cancelled Coronavirus Year is a documentary that began filming in February 2020 that will air exclusive behind the scenes work in relation to the British entry for Rotterdam.

The documentary will follow James Newman, as he prepares to be revealed as the United Kingdom’s representative with the entry "My Last Breath" that was due for Rotterdam. Viewers will watch him in rehearsals and backstage scenes at his first public performance of his Eurovision entry, accompanied by his brother, artist John Newman.

James will share what this means for him to represent the nation and he speaks to some of this year’s other contestants in other countries about their experiences and future plans.

Dana - The Original Derry Girl

Monday 10 May, 23:45 CEST – BBC One Northern Ireland

The week will continue on Monday 10 May in the evening, with another documentary on BBC One Northern Ireland at 23:45 CEST. The documentary will take us back fifty years, where we will meet an 18-year-old schoolgirl who headed off to Amsterdam to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1970 with the song "All Kinds of Everything".

Dana - The Original Derry Girl will take a look back at that young schoolgirl’s incredible life story, retracing her steps to the stage of the RAI theatre, where against the odds she became Ireland’s first Eurovision winner.

Eurovision at 60

Friday 15 May, 22:30 CEST – BBC Four

On the eve of Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, Friday 15 May on BBC Four at 22:30 CEST, the viewers will get the chance to rewatch a special program that celebrated the Eurovision Song Contest’s 60th anniversary in 2015. Eurovision at 60 joins the celebrations with an appreciation of the joy, madness, scandal and intrigue that has defined the Eurovision Song Contest.

During the show, one will watch the story of pioneering songs, singers and programme makers; complex and extraordinary technology, laborious voting and a bit of naughtiness. The show will feature interviews with Graham Norton, the "Rise Like a Phoenix" star Conchita Wurst, Sir Terry Wogan and a whole host of Eurovision stars, songwriters and programme makers.

Eurovision: Come Together

Saturday 16 May, 19:30 CEST – BBC One

Just before the special EBU broadcast on Saturday 16 May at 19:30 CEST on BBC One, Graham Norton will open a night of Eurovision fun with a one-off show Eurovision: Come Together.

From BBC Studios, Graham will give viewers the opportunity to take part in a live vote to crown their favourite Eurovision performance from a short list compiled by experts and celebrity super fans. He will also be chatting with the Eurovision 2020 United Kingdom representative, James Newman.

Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light

Saturday 16 May, 21:00 CEST – BBC One

BBC will also air the special show Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light on BBC One, with live commentary provided by Graham Norton.

The show will honour all 41 songs that would have competed in the 2020 contest but in a non-competitive format, as well as providing plenty of surprises for fans and viewers at home. Just like the contest itself, the live show will be simultaneously broadcast across Europe and beyond and will be hosted by the original Dutch presenters for Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit from The Netherlands.

There will also be an unforgettable virtual sing-a-long where fans from across the world will dress up and form a huge Eurovision choir performing Johnny Logan's winning song for Ireland in 1980, What's Another Year.

The A-Z of Eurovision

Saturday 16 May, 23:00 CEST – BBC Two

Following Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, viewers on BBC Two at 23:00 CEST will be joined by Rylan Clark-Neal who will give a guide to all things related to Eurovision with a compilation of highlights from BBC Studios. The A-Z of Eurovision will feature all the memorable musical moments from 65 years of Eurovision.

Moving through the alphabet, Rylan will be taking us from A, which is of course for Abba and Azerbaijan but also animals - featuring the Italian gorilla man and Azerbaijan’s backing dancer wearing a horse’s head, through Z is for Zelmerlöw, Måns Zelmerlöw to be precise.

TOTP2 Goes Eurovision!

Saturday 16 May, 23:30 CEST – BBC Two

The Eurovision celebrations will come to a close 23:30 CEST on BBC Two with a show that was shown ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. Steve Wright, host of TOTP2 will introduce a special Eurovision-themed edition of the show featuring archive songs by stars including Cliff Richard, Lulu, Bucks Fizz, Sandie Shaw, Brotherhood of Man, Johnny Logan and Abba. The "Flying the Flag (For You)" representatives for 2007, Scooch will also make an appearance on the show.

United Kingdom in Eurovision Song Contest

United Kingdom has participated in Eurovision Song Contest 62 times since 1957. United Kingdom only skipped the contest two times: 1956 and 1958. They have won Eurovision five times:

• 1967: Sandie Shaw - "Puppet On A String"
• 1969: Lulu - "Boom Bang-a-bang"
• 1976: Brotherhood of Man - "Save Your Kisses For Me"
• 1981: Bucks Fizz - "Making Your Mind Up"
• 1997: Katrina and The Waves - "Love Shine A Light"

...and finished in 2nd place 15 times! They came last four times: 2003, 2008, 2010 and 2019.

United Kingdom is a member of "Big 5", so they don't have to go through the Semi-final qualifications, but are automatically qualified for the Grand Finals.