Get on your gladrags and gear up for the greatest night of musical mayhem in Europe
WELCOME TO THE CRAZIEST SHOW ON EARTH
The Story of Eurovision
TIMELINE
EUROVISION’S GREATEST ACTS • From skirt-ripping pop to headbanging trolls, meet the finest acts ever to grace the Eurovision stage
FOUNDING THE FESTIVAL • We all love the fun and drama of the show, but how and why was the Eurovision Song Contest created in the first place?
FRANCOPHONES IN THE FIFTIES • The UK joined the Eurovision party in 1957 and voting changed forever, but which nations dominated the early events?
THE SOON-TO-BE-SWINGING SIXTIES • The annual Eurovision contests between 1960 and 1966 saw the show gain ground – just in time for the big surprise of ’67…
RULE BRITANNIA! • By 1967 it was the UK’s turn to step into the limelight, but that didn’t mean it was all going to be plain sailing…
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EUROVISION • It wasn’t always sunshine in the seventies – especially when the shadow of terrorism threatened to spoil the fun…
THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL • One night in April 1974, a fateful performance of ‘Waterloo’ turned a Scandi pop curio into a global sensation. This is the story of ABBA’s lift-off…
DISCO AND DISCONTENT • It’s all europop fun until you get nil points from your European neighbours
MR EUROVISION • With three Eurovision wins to his name, Irish singer and composer Johnny Logan is without equal
BANG FOR YOUR BUCKS (FIZZ) • Let’s not skirt the issue – Eurovision 1981 was won by a stage move rather than a song, but what a stage move it was!
GOING GLOBAL • As the eighties took hold, Eurovision embraced new styles and expanded its global reach
CELINE DION… AND ON AND ON • Celine Dion beat the Brits in 1988 even though she wasn’t yet a Titanic star, and the kids weren’t all right in ’89… What the heck was going on, Eurovision?
IRISH EYES ARE SMILING • Think of Eurovision in the nineties and one particular country comes to mind – so what was Ireland’s winning secret?
PLAYING AT 11 IN ’97 • Eurovision 1997 was a turning point in many ways – and Katrina and the Waves made it an even bigger year for the UK
ISRAELI UPSET • Israel’s 1998 song signalled a new era of diversity for Eurovision and brought trans rights into the mainstream
EUROVISION’S BIGGEST HITS • Relive some of the most successful songs ever to grace the Eurovision stage
A NEW MILLENNIUM • The Y2K bug, 9/11 and the war in the Gulf all failed to stop Eurovision from boldly going into the 2000s and beyond!
OH LORDI! • Heavy metal and Eurovision used to go together like ice-cream and Marmite – until 2006, that is, when headbangers Lordi showed us the path to righteousness…
THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD • With breakthroughs, upsets and the exit of iconic hosts, 2007 to 2014 were the years that changed Eurovision forever
A BAND DOWN UNDER • To celebrate the diamond anniversary of the contest, a surprise participant said “G’day” for the first time
THE 10 WACKIEST EUROVISION PERFORMANCES • Pirates! Grannies! Gorillas! Here are the ten Eurovision entries that made us drop the remote
CONFLICTS AND CANCELLATION • From wars to a pandemic and the contest’s first cancellation, 2016–2020 was an unforgettable period in Eurovision’s history
’SKIN DEEP • As if having a Eurovision during a global pandemic wasn’t weird enough, the 2021 show was turned inside out by a band of Italian goths…
RYDER ON THE STORM • Eurovision 2022 saw the arrival of a bona fide star in Sam Ryder amid political tensions and unexpected surprises
Meme-tastic MUSIC • A popularity contest as well as a music showdown, Eurovision has certainly made its mark on...