WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 12 February 2022
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
Last week Robin Bengtsson went direkt till finalen but we predicted little else right with the 3 eliminated acts all having MF history and the newcomers doing well at their expense.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
We last saw Charli XCX live at the 02 Brixton Academy when she was supported by Rina Sawayama and so this collaboration feels more organic than some duets sometimes do.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN?: 26 February 2022
HOW DO I WATCH? YLE
Finland performed far better than we expected in 2021 when rock group Blind Channel finished 6th and in 2022 they have a diverse 7-song final including The Rasmus who had a worldwide hit in 2003 with In The Shadows.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHEN?: Thursday 3 February (matinee), running to 5 March RUNTIME: 120 minutes (including 20-minute interval)
Zmitrowicz made our Best Theatre Actress shortlist in 2020 for The Welkin at the National and during her impressive body of work we have already described her as ‘captivating in a role that we felt should have been better explored’ by the author.
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 5 February 2022
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
The biggest story in this 1st heat is arguably the return of 2017 winner Robin Bengtsson who has taken part in Melodifestivalen 3 times (2016, 2017 and 2020) always going Direkt Till Finalen.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
WHEN?: Wednesday 2 February 2022, UK arena tour May 2022
SETLIST: Desire; Crave; Sooner Or Later; Shine; Muscle; If You’re Over Me; Play; Sunlight; Night Call; Starstruck; Sweet Talker; King
We’re near the front of the stage in this packed nightclub venue and when the excited audience start chanting: ‘Let go, let go, let go of everything’ during set closer and charttopper King we’re overcome with emotion and on the verge of tears.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2
WHEN?: Sunday 30 January 2022
We 1st saw this musical co-written by Boy George around 20 years ago on its arrival to London’s West End at what is now Leicester Square Theatre and was then The Venue.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN?: Semi finals Thursday and Saturday 3 and 5 February, final Saturday 12 February 2022
HOW DO I WATCH?: Eesti Laul 2022 ETV
Estonia has not 1 but 5 returning former entrants to its Eesti Laul 2022 Eurovision selection show.
By Neil Durham
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
WHEN?: Saturday 29 January (matinee), opens 4 February runs to 19 March 2022
5 scenes. 2 actors. 65 minutes. A father. 3 clones of his son.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN?: Saturday 26 February 2022 7pm UK/8pm CET Update: Covid means all shows will now be from Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
Bergendahl is Sweden’s least successful Eurovision entrant, failing to make the final in 2010, and her successful return to Melodifestivalen – finishing 10th with Ashes To Ashes in 2019 and 3rd with Kingdom Come a year later – has been a genuine thrill.
