Graham Norton confirms Eurovision will return in 2021 as he says the show is ready for ‘any event’ amid coronavirus pandemic
Graham Norton has confirmed that Eurovision will go ahead in 2021 after it was canceled last year due to coronavirus infection.
The guest, 57, explained how the show is ‘ready for any event’ even though that means some countries have to appear on video due to travel restrictions.
Organizers of the international celebrations are also optimistic about the future and are thought to be preparing four options for how the competition will go.
Prepare! Graham Norton has confirmed that Eurovision will go ahead in 2021 after being canceled last year due to coronavirus pandemic (pictured ahead of 2020 special program)
According to The Mirror, the host told Sirius XM radio: ‘Eurovision is definitely going to happen this year, the element of the competition is going to happen.
‘I think they’re ready for any event. If some countries cannot travel, they can move in. I doubt we will be in a stadium full of 20,000 people. ‘
He said: ‘I feel like the moment we can [get back to normal], people leave their homes in droves. And Eurovision, it’s a joyous thing to do. ‘
It has already been announced that this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Rotterdam. The Dutch city was scheduled to hold the event in 2020 but had to cancel it due to the pandemic.
Bring it forward! Organizers are thought to be preparing four options for how the competition will be set up, with the ability to hold some elements of a video call (pictured is 2018 winner, Israel Netta Barzilai during her performance in 2019)
In the coming months organizers are going to decide how the 2021 show will look and what pieces of last year’s extravaganza will be held.
Sietse Bakker, executive producer of the show, said: ‘The stage will be carried over to next year [2021], because that had already been prepared.
‘Furthermore, much depends on what is possible at that time, on how everyone involved has access and on what fits the spirit of 2021.’
The last date for the grand finale is 22 May 2021 and will be held at Ahoy.
Graham has provided his humorous commentary for the tournament since 2009 when he took over from Terry Wogan.
It will be back: Graham has provided his humorous commentary for the tournament since 2009 when he took over from Terry Wogan (pictured at the 2018 tournament)
Eurovision had to be postponed in 2020 amid a coronavirus outbreak but fans were able to celebrate as the BBC filled the night’s schedule with a series of special items in honor of the acts and iconic songs from years gone by.
The UK vote for the country’s favorite song from its 64-year history was to kick off the themed shows.
Hosted by Graham, fans saw a series of different acts from all over Eurovision history, before getting a chance to vote for their favorite.
This was followed by a Europe-wide Eurovision special: Shine A Light broadcast live from Rotterdam, featuring the 41 acts that would have taken part in this year’s final, with Graham once again offering the his usual statement.
Above on BBC Two, Rylan Clark-Neal took the AZ of Eurovision to watch some of the best and most unusual moments.
Axed: Eurovision 2020 was postponed in March amid a pandemic of coronavirus, but organizers take a special place (pictured last year in Tel Aviv)