By Aline Mahrud
WHERE? Scandinavium, Gothenburg WHEN? Saturday 7 February 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
There are 2 returning winners to the 66th Melodifestivalen this year and the 1st is Robin Bengtsson who won MF in 2017 finishing 5th in Kyiv, Ukraine with I Can’t Go On.
By Aline Mahrud
WHERE? Saab Arena, Linköping WHEN? Saturday 31 January 2026 WHERE TO WATCH? SVT
A-Teens had UK hits with Upside Down and Halfway Around The World as well as 2 ABBA covers a quarter of a century ago and mark their reformation in Melodifestivalen’s 66th year.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN? Sunday 14 December 2025, to air at 10pm on BBC2 on Christmas Eve RUNTIME: 30 minutes
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the now annual Mark Gatiss ghost story airing late on Christmas Eve on BBC2.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN? Monday 14 July, series drops from 16 July 2025 RUNTIME: Each of 6 episodes is 60 minutes
Gabriel Book is the name of the new detective creation by Mark Gatiss (The Motive And The Cue, National Theatre) who runs a London book shop in 1946 while not solving crime.
2 years ago we recommended Netflix’s Heartstopper and in many ways Daf James’ BBC iPlayer 3-parter is its older, more flawed yet completely relatable grown up older brother.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 7pm UK time 2 March 2024
WHERE?: Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play
Norwegian twins Marcus & Martinus return to Melodifestivalen at the 1st time of asking after finishing as runners up in 2023.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 7pm UK time 24 February 2024
WHERE?: Stiga Sports Arena, Eskilstuna WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play
Both this week’s returning acts – Dotter and Danny Saucedo – have come agonisingly close to winning Melodifestivalen and would be expected to advance straight to the finalen from this heat.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 7pm UK time 17 February 2024
WHERE?: Vida Arena, Växjö WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play
This heat boasts 4 MF debutants alongside the much-anticipated returns of 2 familiar names including Opeia who won 2023’s Eurovision as a co-writer of Loreen’s Tattoo.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 1st heat Tuesday 30 January; 2nd Thursday 1 February & final Saturday 3 February 2024
WHERE?: Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm Watch on TVE
Spain missed a trick at its otherwise fantastic Eurovision selection process in 2023 by not choosing runner up Quiero Arder by Agoney which won our Best Song monsta.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
Author Alice Oseman’s web comic Heartstopper may have seemed unlikely source material for 2022’s best show of the year so far but below are 6 reasons with clips about why you should catch it on Netflix now.
