You may have noticed that the Eurovision Song Contest has landed on our nation, with thousands of fans travelling to host city Liverpool to mark the show’s 25th anniversary in the UK.
Following the 2022 victors, the United Kingdom was awarded the distinction of hosting the continent’s largest singing competition. Due to the continuing conflict with Russia, Ukraine was unable to host the tournament.
The UK was awarded the option to stage this year’s programme after finishing second with Sam Ryder last year, with fans likely to be treated to an evening that highlights the greatest of Ukrainian and local talent.
This year, our hopes are riding on singer Mae Muller’s female empowerment smash I Wrote A Song, which has already secured her berth in the grand final on May 13.
Only six nations have already qualified for the main event, with the line-up chosen by two semi-finals on May 9 and 11 – which will be broadcast on BBC One for the first time this year.
Many fans may be turning in for the first time as the semi-finals go from BBC Three to primetime BBC One. But what occurs in a semi-final and why do we have them?
Here’s what you should know….
Why do we have Eurovision semi-finals?
When this proved controversial, it was altered once again in 1997, adding to the confusion by introducing a new relegation system that took each country’s average points over the preceding four years into consideration.
This persisted until the advent of the semi-final system.
When was the first semi-final?
The first Eurovision semi-final took place at the 2004 event, and from then until 2007, just one semi-final took held.
During this time, the ten highest-scoring countries from the previous year (including the winner and host nation) automatically qualify for the final, as do the ‘Big Four’ nations – France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain – who automatically qualify as the contest’s biggest financiers.
In the semi-final, the top ten countries ranked by popular vote will compete for the final ten spots.
In 2008, the number of pre-qualified nations was limited to the ‘Big Four’ (which became the ‘Big Five’ after Italy returned the tournament in 2011 after a 14-year hiatus) and the previous year’s winner/host nation.
How do the semi-finals work?
The line-up for each semi-final is chosen by a World Cup-style allocation draw in January, with each country allotted distinct pots – which are seeded to keep nations with a’significant history’ of voting for one another away, giving everyone an equal chance of making it to the final.
In prior years, the qualifiers have been chosen by a combination of jury points and televotes, but the method has been revised this year, with the semi-finals selected solely by public vote, and the jury system used only in the final.
Since the commencement of the semi-finals, the event has seen an inflow of previously unrepresented countries.
Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Czechia, Serbia, Montenegro (who competed as one country in 2004 and 2005), Armenia, and Australia are among them.
Most countries that compete in the semi-finals have qualified for a final at some time, but some more frequently than others.
Ukraine is the only country with a 100% qualifying rate, after Australia, the only other country that has qualified every year, fell out in the 2021 semifinals.
Andorra is the only country to have competed in Eurovision but never made it to the grand final, failing to qualify from 2004 through 2009 before bowing out entirely.
Monaco did not qualify for any of the semi-finals in which they appeared between 2004 and 2006, while Slovakia did not compete from 2009 to 2012.
However, both had previously appeared in the final, having performed in Eurovision prior to the establishment of the semi-finals.
Can the UK vote in the semi-finals?
Although the UK does not have to compete in the semi-finals, each of the automatic qualifiers is given the chance to vote in one of the semis, which is once again decided during the allocation draw.
This year, the United Kingdom will vote in the second semi-final on Thursday, May 11. You’ll be able to vote via phone or text, with specifics given on the night.
You will also be able to vote via the Eurovision Song Contest app.
The Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals are on BBC One on Tuesday May 9 and Thursday May 11 at 8pm. The grand final is on BBC One on Saturday May 13 at 8pm.
Source My Celebrity Life.