WHEN?: Saturday 13 February 2021
WHERE?: Annexet, Stockholm
The biggest story of Melodifestivalen 2021 is the return of 2020’s top 2, The Mamas and Dotter, who were separated by only 1 point back in March 2020.
WHEN?: Saturday 6 February 2021
WHERE?: Annexet, Stockholm
It’s business as usual for Melodifestivalen in 2021 as Heat 1 opens with the pre-contest favourite, this year Danny Saucedo (pictured above), as it did last year when Felix Sandman could only make Andra Chansen.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
OUT: now
Postponing the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest means the 2021 edition is already unlike any other with returning acts like Iceland’s Daði Freyr having far longer to build their profile than usual.
Years and Years‘ lead singer Olly Alexander stars in T.Davies’ latest 5-parter looking at gay life in London in the 80s. We loved co-star Omari Douglas in Wise Children at the Old Vic in 2018. T. Davies is of course the author behind the generation-defining Queer As Folk. A Channel 4 air date has now been confirmed for 22/1/21.
SINGLE OUT: 26/10/20
‘I think everyone is really keen to get back out there to entertain people and to be entertained,’ says monstagigz favourite Nicki French as she launches new single Haunted Heart.
Alan Bennett’s original series of monologues aired on BBC1 in 1988 to much acclaim with a second season debuting on the same channel a decade later. Two new scripts were written for a third BBC1 series in 2020 during which 10 of the originals were remade. To celebrate, the Bridge Theatre stages eight of the latest 12 in four pairs beginning 7/9 and running to 31/10 starring two winners of our Best Theatre Actress monsta Monica Dolan and Imelda Staunton. Tickets
WHEN?: Eurovision Again: 1999 took place on 18/7/20 and Eurovision Again is at 8pm every 3rd Sunday
2020 is the first year without a Eurovision Song Contest since 1955 and lockdowns caused by Covid-19 have seen the rise in popularity of synchronised watching of past competitions on social media on the third Saturday of every month.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2
OUT now on Netflix
This film is well-timed because in the 65-year history of the Eurovision Song Contest it has been held annually apart from 2020 when Covid-19 caused its cancellation.
WORTH A LISTEN?: ****
OUT: now
Former Alcazar frontman Carlsson references two of his biggest Melodifestivalen hits in this positive, high-energy tale of coming out and finding happiness which is, appropriately, this year’s Stockholm Pride anthem.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
OUT: now
TRACKLIST: Take Me Home; Black Leather; Would I Lie To You?; Spirit In The Sky; Dancing In The Smoke; Roar Like A Lion; Praying; Colours; Louder; Bed With The Wolf
A year ago in Tel Aviv Norwegian trio KEiiNO won the Eurovision Song Contest televote eventually finishing sixth overall with our favourite song of that year’s competition, the soaraway pop smash Spirit In The Sky.
