PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 2 starring Erika Vikman, Go-Jo, Sissal, Laura Thorn & ADONXS

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Thursday 15 May 2025

WHERE?: St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 at 8pm in the UK or eurovision.tv or SVT

We think this is by far the tougher of the 2 semi finals and also that it will be much more difficult to lose 6 of these songs ahead of Saturday’s final rather than the 5 that will go home early in Semi 1.

  • Read on for reasons including who are the 10 acts we’re predicting will make it to Saturday’s final
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PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS: Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Semi Final 1 starring Red Sebastian, Justyna Steczkowska, Claude & KAJ

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Tuesday 13 May 2025

WHERE?: St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland

HOW DO I WATCH?: BBC1 at 8pm in the UK or eurovision.tv or SVT

Rather too many men in this easier of the 2 semi finals with the much tougher and saucier semi 2 taking place on the following Thursday.

  • Read on for reasons including who are the 10 entrants we think will make the 17 May final
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen Finalen 2025 starring Greczula, Klara Hammarström & Måns Zelmerlöw 

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: Saturday 8 March 2025 Strawberry Arena, Stockholm 7pm UK time

WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVTPlay

We predict that this year’s Melfest does contain a potential Eurovision winner in Basle in May but that it isn’t 2015 victor Måns Zelmerlöw or Spotify comedy chartoppers KAJ.

  • Read on for reasons including our predictions for how these finalists would fare in Eurovision 2025
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Polari by Olly Alexander (February 2025)

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

TRACKLIST: Polari; Cupid’s Bow; I Know; Shadow Of Love; Make Me A Man; Dizzy; Archangel; Miss You So Much; When We Kiss; Whisper In The Waves; Beautiful; Heal You; Language

Duets with Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys and Elton John mean the groundwork has been laid and that this 1st official solo album’s predominantly uptempo, 80s-influenced musical theme makes perfect sense.

  • Read on for reasons including how to see Alexander on his tour including the London Palladium this year
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2025 heat 3 starring Greczula, Malou Prytz & Annika Wickihalder

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: Saturday 15 February 2025 7pm UK time

WHERE?: ABB Arena, Västerås

Established male MF stars have won the 1st 2 Melodifestivalen heats and this week we believe it’s the turn of newcomer Greczula to shine.

  • Read on for reasons including our predictions for who will finish where on Saturday
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2025 Heat 2 starring Klara Hammarström, Kaliffa & Eric Segerstedt

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: Saturday 8 February 2025 7pm UK time

WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenburg

Melodifestivalen showed its strength in depth last week with a 1st heat strong on musical diversity and there is much that is different to again appreciate here in this 2nd outing.

  • Read on for reasons including Kaliffa, Eric Segerstedt & Schlagerz
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2025 Heat 1 starring Linnea Henriksson & John Lundvik

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: Saturday 1 February 2025 7pm UK time

WHERE?: Coop Norrbotten Arena, Luleå

There’s lots of variety in the 60-second snippets we’ve heard in this opening of 5 heats with the S Club-ish closing number by Linnea Henriksson being our pick of the bunch so far.

  • Read on for reasons including our predictions for how we think these songs will fare on Saturday
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2025 Heat 5 starring Scarlet, Victoria Silvstedt & Arvingarna

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Saturday 1 March 2025 7pm UK time

WHERE?: Husqvana Garden, Jönköping

Last year we wrote of Scarlet’s Circus X that it boasted ‘the most thrilling climax to a song we’ve heard all Eurovision season’ and its striking visuals would foreshadow the similar styling of Ireland’s Bambie Thug which romped home in 6th beating the Swedish entry, equalling the country’s best result for 24 years.

  • Read on for reasons including underwear model Victoria Silvstedt and former winners Arvingarna
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2025 Heat 4 starring Måns Zelmerlöw, Andreas Lundstedt & Tennessee Tears

By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Saturday 22 February 2025 7pm UK time

WHERE?: Malmö Arena, Malmö

Zelmerlöw is the big favourite to win MF for a 2nd time after triumphing in 2015 with Heroes which finished 3rd in the Eurovision televote behind Italy and Russia but went on to triumph.

  • Read on for reasons including Andreas Lundstedt from Alcazar & Tennessee Tears
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PREVIEW: Benidorm Fest 2025 – Eurovision selection show for Spain – starring Sonia y Selena

WHEN?: Tuesday 28 January, Thursday 30 January through Saturday 1 February 2025

WHERE?: Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm

Spain achieved its best Eurovision result for 27 years with the 1st winner of Benidorm Fest – Chanel’s SloMo was 3rd – but the last 2 years have seen finishes in 17th and 22nd.

  • Read on for reasons including Sonia y Selena, Nebulossa returns, Melody & K!ngdom
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