Eurovision Song Contest 2024 | Preview (BBC One)

The world’s biggest music competition returns this May as the Eurovision Song Contest, one of the longest-running and most-watched non-sporting events in the world, is broadcast live from Malmö across the BBC.

Sweden will play host to the 2024 contest following the country's victory in 2023 in Liverpool with ‘Tattoo’ performed by Loreen. This makes it a particularly special year as it’s the 50th anniversary of ABBA winning for Sweden in Brighton in 1974.

This year marks the 68th edition of the competition, where 37 countries will compete, starting with two Semi-Finals that will be broadcast live on Tuesday 7th and Thursday 9th May on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, hosted by commentators Scott Mills and Rylan. Over on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, Richie Anderson will be taking the reins for the first time, and will be leading the commentary on the airwaves.

The Grand Final will be broadcast live on Saturday 11 May, where Graham Norton will be commentating over on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, Scott Mills and Rylan will be overseeing proceedings.

Multi-award winning music superstar Olly Alexander will be representing the UK with his single ‘Dizzy’, released by Polydor (part of Universal Music Group).

As one of the ‘Big Five’ countries (United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Italy), the United Kingdom does not have to qualify from the semi-final stage of the competition and will gain automatic access to the Saturday Grand Final.

Sweden are also guaranteed a place in the final due to their victory at last year’s contest.

For the first time the ‘Big Five’ countries and this year’s hosts Sweden, will perform their songs in full during the semi-finals. Olly Alexander will perform his song ‘Dizzy’ in full for the first time on the Eurovision stage during the first Semi-Final on Tuesday 7 May.

These additional performances in each Semi-Final will be slotted in between the competing countries’ acts. The Big Five plus Sweden automatically qualify for the Grand Final, so whilst they will perform their song in full live, these countries will not compete for votes in the Semi-Finals and will not be part of the Semi-Final voting sequences.

Both viewers across Europe and professional juries in each country will vote in the Grand Final, and their combined scores will decide the winner of Eurovision 2024. For the 2nd year running there will be a ‘Rest of the World’ viewer vote too which will be incorporated into the total points of the viewer vote.

Director of Entertainment, Kate Phillips says: ‘‘Following a thrilling contest in Liverpool last year after hosting on behalf for Ukraine, the BBC proudly continues to be the home of Eurovision in the UK. We’re delighted to broadcast both the Semi-Finals and the Grand Final on BBC One and iPlayer, plus BBC Radio 2 continues to be the home of Eurovision on the airwaves and will broadcast all three live shows, as well as wall to wall Eurovision content on the day of the Grand Final...

"For all ABBA lovers, the BBC is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Waterloo with special content across BBC Four, BBC Two, Sounds and iPlayer. EastEnders are also getting into the Eurovision spirit as this year’s UK entrant, Olly Alexander pays a visit to Albert Square in a very special episode...

"We’ll also be going behind the scenes in an exclusive documentary for BBC One and iPlayer, Olly Alexander’s Road to Eurovision ’24. Plus there will be lots more brilliant content not to be missed this May on the BBC!"

The Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Finals and Grand Final continue to be amongst the most popular Entertainment programmes on the BBC, with the Grand Final in 2023 reaching an average audience of 10.7 million (BBC 30 Day All Screens) in the UK.

Eurovision is also one of the most popular Entertainment programmes for younger audiences on the BBC, with 2 million 16-34 year olds tuning in for the Grand Final last year, making it the highest young audience we’ve seen for Eurovision since 2011.