Are you ready to be heartbroken?
It’s that nerve-shredding time of year once again. But Eurovision has changed a great deal since Ireland’s streak of victories through the 1980s and 1990s. With 40 competing countries and a global audience close to 200 million, the contest is once again a star-making factory, with 2021 champs Måneskin notching up more than a billion streams on the back of their winning song, Zitti E Buoni.
This year Irish hopes are pinned on Voice UK finalist and former Game of Thrones actor Brooke Scullion. Can she vanquish her musical foes? Or will her song, That’s Rich, bring further semi-final impoverishment for Ireland? Here is everything you need to know.
When and where does it take place?
The contest began on Tuesday at 8pm with the first semi-final, featuring 17 countries. The second semi-final is on Thursday at 8pm, with 18 countries – including Ireland’s Brooke Scullion, who is 10th in the running order, between Cyprus and North Macedonia.
That’s all by way of counting down to the grand final, on Saturday, May 14th, where the 20 successful semi-finalists are joined by the automatically qualifying “big five” of Germany, Spain, Italy, France and the UK (who together foot the bill for the competition).
It all takes place at Turin’s 12,300-capacity Pala Olimpico, the largest indoor venue in Italy. Turin becomes the third Italian city to host Eurovision, after Naples in 1965 and Rome in 1991. All three broadcasts are on RTÉ2, with Marty Whelan providing voiceover.
Who’s representing Ireland?
Brooke Scullion, a singer and actor (and former estate agent) from Derry, flies the flag with That’s Rich. Scullion was selected during a Late Late Show Eurosong special in February. There was some controversy because, while the 23-year-old finished top in the public vote, the in-studio judges awarded her a mere four points out of a possible 12. With viewers and a panel of Eurovision experts behind her, she nonetheless placed first.
Who is Brooke Scullion?
Scullion is no stranger to the spotlight. She has appeared as an extra in Derry Girls and Game of Thrones. And in 2020 she finished third in BBC reality contest, The Voice, where she was mentored by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. At rehearsals in Turin this week, the official Eurovision website praised her “strong vocal performance” which “sounded great in the big arena”.
How will the finalists be chosen?
The days when “douze” points counted for everything are long gone. Since 2016, votes in semi-finals and finals are awarded by separate panels of expert juries and voters at home (who pick their favourite songs by telephone, SMS or via the Eurovision app). Votes are weighed 50/50 between “professional” juries and the public. The 10 highest ranking songs from each semi-final will go forward to Saturday’s grand decider, at which the winner will again be determined by a 50/50 split of judging panel and public vote (and no, you can’t vote for your own country).
Who are the favourites?
Eurovision is never simply about music and for obvious reasons it is expected Ukraine’s entry, by rap group Kalush Orchestra, will pick up a lot of votes. Other front-runners include last year’s winning nation, Italy (represented by Mahmood & Blanco), Sweden (Cornelia Jakobs) and the UK (TikTok star Sam Ryder.
Anything else to watch for?
With emotions understandably running high over the war in Ukraine, expect Russia’s invasion to be condemned (Russia has already been ejected from the contest).
Will Ireland qualify?
Eurovision heartache has been our daily bread across the past decade. In 2021, Lesley Roy crashed out at the semi-finals. Alas, this was not a shock. Since the introduction of the semis in 2004 Ireland has failed to reach the final on nine occasions. The last time we finished in the top 10 was 2011, when Jedward came eighth.
The bookies are not confident that we will reverse that decline. That’s Rich is ranked 32 out of 40 entries in terms of odds. “I know Ireland has a massive history with the Eurovision,” Scullion said this week. “My main goal at this rate is qualifying.” We can only hope she succeeds.
