By Aline Mahrud
WHEN/WHERE?: 5 March 2022, Paris
HOW DO I WATCH?: France Télévisions
France’s Barbara Pravi was runner-up at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest with Voila and it’s fair to say that the French Eurovision selection procedure in recent years has really upped its game.
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
The 2 big hitters in this final heat appear to be serving up songs slightly different to those they are best known for from the clips and so this might be a result that surprises.
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 19 February 2022
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
Last week’s direct finalists were both previous Melodifestivalen competitors but this week we predict 2 new artists will go direkt till finalen.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN/WHERE?: Saturday 19 February 2022, H3 Arena, Fornebu
HOW DO I WATCH?: NRK
Last year’s Melodi Grand Prix was very much a 2-horse race between TIX and KEIINO but 2022’s line-up is much more open with any number of possible winners.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
The most memorable time the Game Of Thrones star performed in the West End was at the Duke Of York’s in 2016 for Jamie Lloyd’s Doctor Faustus. It was our 2nd best read piece that year which may have had something to do with Harington flashing his bum during the performance. Hard to know what to expect from his Henry V (Harington pictured) at the Donmar which is in previews from 12 February and is booking until 9 April. Directed by Max Webster (Cover My Tracks, The Lorax, Old Vic). Tickets Update: due to Covid-19-related absences in the company the 1st 4 previews have been cancelled
