PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 1 starring Loulou LaMotte

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 4 February 2023

WHERE? Scandinavium, Gothenburg

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play 

We suspect that the winner of this year’s Melodifestivalen isn’t within the 7 acts featured here not least because there are so many familiar faces here it feels more of a warm hug of a return than anything especially challenging – but there’s 3 more weeks to come for that.

  • Read on for reasons including our finalen and Andra Chansen predictions
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THEATRE REVIEW: Sylvia starring Beverley Knight and Sharon Rose at the Old Vic

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

WHEN?: 30 January, opens 2 February and runs through 1 April 2023 RUNTIME: 160 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)

‘The Old Vic’s Artistic Director Matthew Warchus said to me in 2018: ‘Musicals aren’t written, they’re re-written’, says Sylvia director Kate Prince in the programme.

  • Read on for reasons including Beverley Knight and Sharon Rose giving it their all as a mother and daughter who don’t see eye to eye
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PREVIEW: Norway’s Eurovision selection show Melodi Grand Prix 2023 starring Skrellex, Ulrikke, Jone & Elsie Bay

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: 7pm UK time Saturday 4 February 2023

WHERE?: Trondheim Spektrum, Trondheim HOW DO I WATCH?: NRK

Drag in Eurovision rarely pops in the way it does on RuPaul’s Drag Race but that’s all changed thanks to this performance by Skrellex.

  • Read on for reasons including Skrellex, former winner Ulrikke, Jone and Elsie Bay
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Q&A/PREVIEW: Nolly at the BFI with Russell T Davies, Helena Bonham Carter & Mark Gatiss

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Thursday 26 January 2023, Nolly drops 2 February 2023 on ITVX

We’ve just seen the 1st 2 of 3 episodes of new Russell T Davies (It’s A Sin, Channel 4) show Nolly and he tells us in the Q&A afterwards: ‘When we 1st met ITV and said we wanted to make a drama about Noele Gordon, they said: ‘Who’s he?’

  • Read on for reasons including Helena Bonham Carter’s thoughts on the show and Gatiss on Larry Grayson
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 4 starring Loreen, Mariette and Axel Schylström

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: 7pm UK time Saturday 25 February 2023

WHERE?: Malmö Arena, Malmö WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

Last year Loreen’s 2012 Eurovision winner Euphoria lost its crown as the Contest’s best-loved song in the ESC250 and perhaps it’s fitting then that the queen returns to Melodifestivalen in 2023 with a new song.

  • Read on for reasons including Loreen, Mariette and Axel Schylström
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2023 starring Sheridan Smith as Shirley Valentine

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

  1. Sheridan Smith is Shirley Valentine

Smith (Funny Girl, Savoy) returns to the stage for the 1st time since Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Palladium and this beloved Willy Russell one-woman comedy about a woman who finds love on holiday abroad is the perfect choice. Runs 17 February through 3 June at the Duke Of York’s. Tickets

  • Read on for reasons including Callum Scott Howells at the National, Standing At The Sky’s Edge and Benidorm Fest
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Cabaret starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley (January 2023)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

Our sister sees a lot of West End musicals and so we take her to see this production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and she later writes on Facebook: ‘I think it was possibly the best show I have ever seen.’

  • Read on for reasons including how this production is ripe for a successful Broadway transfer
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PREVIEW: Denmark’s Eurovision selection show Dansk Melodi Grand Prix starring EYJAA & Maia Maia

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 7pm UK time 11 February 2023

WHERE?: Næstved Arena in Næstved HOW DO I WATCH?: DR

Denmark hasn’t made a Eurovision final since 2019 and recent Dansk Melodi Grand Prixs have been slated for their blandness although this is a criticism that would be difficult to justify in 2023 given these fine and varied 8 songs.

  • Read on for reasons including EYJAA, Maia Maia, Mariyah LeBerg and Frederik Leopold
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 3 starring Laurell, Melanie Wehbe & Paul Rey

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: 7pm UK time Saturday 18 February 2023

WHERE?: Sparbanken Lidköping Arena, Lidköping WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

Last year our favourite MF entry was a songwriter performing her own tune (Cazzi Opeia’s I Can’t Get Enough) and this heat sees 2 women renowned for their work for others step up to the mike to perform their own work.

  • Read on for reasons including Laurell, Melanie Wehbe and Marcus and Martinus
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