Eurovision 2019

With savings needing to be made at Auntie, although not a significant amount do a film crew and three commentators need to be flown out?

I would like long term to see Rylan take on all three shows on his own, with the full world feed taken. The semis filler wasn't that bad this year, it's the grand final that was atrocious. And as I keep arguing, the hardcore fans don't want the opts, and that's who the semis are for.

It's also possible BBC Four may be cut in the next round of savings which may mean finally the semis can go on their deserved home of BBC Two.

Ironically, I'd rather have opt outs on BBC Two (where granted you'll have less hardcore fans) over a naked feed on BBC Four.

In terms of who would front a BBC production, I don't think they want a UK win any time soon looking at the scale of savings to be made.

Incidentally, SVT always have Edward Af Silen paired up some someone else except during SVT hosted contests, where a solo commentator has taken on the role with Edward writing the script. Unsure if he commentated for Sweden in 2010 as he wrote the script for NRK's show that year.

Apart from Bake Off though everything Mel and Sue have done together in recent years seems to have flopped. They're certainly no Ant and Dec.

As for Radio Two breakfast the BBC have made the best possible choice in the prevailing circumstances. There's absolutely no way that anyone without significant radio experience would have been offered the slot.

Eurovision are clearly in 2019 mode now, social media has ramped up and are running at full speed, they'll need it with the delays already inherent in the preparations. SVT also are about to start announcements for Melfest, there's already considerable artist speculation in the Swedish Press. The Pres announcement can't be that far off too.

Between Light Lunch and Bake Off they never really had another successful show.

Agree on giving the R2 Breakfast slot to someone with broadcasting experience - violently disagree that Zoe Ball was the best possible choice.

Best possible choice is still at Radio 1, and should have been gently moved across to Radio 2 over the past couple of years (i.e regular stand in for Lord Ken and Wrighty), and that person is - and just to prove I've not knocked this thread sideways - Scott Mills.

But he isn't a woman.


Was a two horse race between Sara Cox and Zoe Ball for the Radio 2 job - wonder what odds you could have got on them being future Radio 2 Breakfast hosts back in 1998. Do agree with your sentiments on Scott Mills though, although Chris Stark was clearly bought in to tick the younger demographic box.

I don't think we need to consider too seriously who would host for the UK at the moment but I do think the commentary and the hosting should be kept separate and I wouldn't put Graham Norton in the hosting role. More likely to be Tess and Claudia than Mel and Sue - narrow pick of talent really at the BBC nowadays, but at least they don't particularly need to tick the bilingual box anymore. Really though if they want a host that gives the contest the reverence it deserves there is only one person for the job - Simon McCoy!

I don't buy the idea Zoe Ball has been given the job because she's a woman. People who listened to Radio 1 in 1998 are now coming to the age when they're moving into the Radio 2 audience, and you had a prolonged period where the breakfast show then was presented by Zoe Ball and then Sara Cox.

Scott Mills will no doubt fit into Radio 2 very well in the future, but he hasn't really been properly introduced to the Radio 2 audience yet. Going straight from Radio 1 to Radio 2 breakfast would be a bit too much of a shake-up for that audience.

Back on topic, I know it was suggested in jest, but the BBC needs someone who would laugh with the programme rather than at it. Otherwise, the viewers would be justified in asking themselves "the commentator isn't enjoying it, why would I watch it?" Graham Norton balances that well.

Have you seen the latest BBC TV trail for Radio 2? They're obviously targeting a much younger audience than they have done.

Greg James is a more suitable candidate for Radio 2 than Scott Mills, I feel.

And the suggestion made previously of Mel & Sue for the Radio 2 Breakfast slot? Nuts - at least Scott Mills is a veteran who'd do a professional job.

The Lisbon stage was pretty amazing, I believe it was the first time you had a golden circle of the audience within the stage build itself? I'm biased though, I was lucky enough to be in that golden circle: only thing is, I'm sure they mentioned at one point during the build that the fins at the back would move, and they didn't (I might have imagined that though). Israel will be interesting as the venue is small before they load everything in so they'll have to be pretty creative with the layout. From an audience perspective, they do need to sort the sound out, having been in the arena at Stockholm16 and Lisbon18, the music mix was fine however when the hosts were speaking, even during the voting, you couldn't hear anything (turned down really low to stop feedback?)

I attended the Altice arena every night. The sound mix in the arena, especially for the hosts, was diabolical. The problem is, talking to a crewmember in my hotel bar (I unwittingly booked myself into a crew hotel, next to the one DR's team stayed in!) they can't have it as loud as you'd have it for a concert. But it was quiet enough that you could have a conversation with the person next to you.

I'm not sure whether they're targeting an younger audience, or whether we're all getting older and they're targeting the next generation moving into their demographic.