We’ve described Alcazar as ‘the greatest act never to represent Sweden in Eurovision’ and 1 of its current members, Lina Hedlund (pictured far left above), competes in Heat 3 in Leksand on 16 February.
The song we wanted to win the Melodifestivalen final last year was the old-school Rihanna bop My Cabana sung by Margaret (pictured) who appears again in this 2nd heat from Malmö on 9 February where she closes the show.
The greatest show on earth returns on 2 February 2019 in Gothenburg with 1 of its least successful acts closing the show (pictured above and immediately below) hoping to make up for her 2010 failure to reach the Eurovision Song Contest final in neighbouring Oslo. Read our Heat 1 predictions here.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHERE?: BAFTA, London
WHEN?: 10/9, 1st episode airs 13/9/18
‘He’s either a spook, from Special Branch or the work experience,’ observes Joanna Scanlan’s Detective Inspector Viv Deering of the young man in a suit impeding her progress in the investigation which dominates the 1st episode in this 3rd series of No Offence. ‘I’ve got more 5 O’Clock shadow than he has.’
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHERE?: BAFTA, London
WHEN?: 5/9, airs BBC1 9.15pm from 15/9/18
In less than a fortnight we will know whether this show has won the 2 Emmys it is shortlisted for: Outstanding Actress (Sandra Oh, who you may recognise from Grey’s Anatomy) and Outstanding Writing for the UK’s own Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
WHERE?: BFI
WHEN?: 6/8/18
Bodyguard star Richard Madden is on a train to London Euston with his two children when he notices something suspicious as a passenger conceals themselves in an onboard toilet.
WHEN: 12/5/18
WHERE: Altice Arena, Lisbon, Portugal
The 63rd Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Portugal for the 1st time ever and we’re predicting the tightest voting for many years with at least half a dozen songs in contention.
WHEN?: 10/5/18
WHERE?: Altice Arena, Lisbon, Portugal
Semi 1 is the appetiser for a much stronger semi 2 where we find the first three of four potential winners.
WHEN?: 8/5/18
WHERE?: Altice Arena, Lisbon, Portugal
Fan theories would have it that this is the more difficult of the two semis but we’re not so sure. This is where our favourite sings (Finland’s Saara Aalto pictured above) and the UK votes.
WHEN?: Saturday 10 March (7pm UK time) on SVT (link to watch below)
The quality of the songs in this year’s Melodifestivalen has attracted criticism but for us 2018 has been all about the Swedish public’s love of the novelty entry ahead of possible Eurovision winner Cry by Dotter.
