PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen finalen 2023 starring Loreen

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 11 March 2023

WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play 

2024 will be the 50th anniversary of ABBA‘s Eurovision win and we would imagine Sweden would be quite keen to host – and therefore win in 2023.

  • Read on for reasons including how we think the finalists would fare in Eurovision in Liverpool in May
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for March 2023 starring Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

  1. Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre

This venue’s promenade performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar have been amongst some of the best theatre we’ve ever immersed ourselves in and so this similar new production of a musical which is 1 of our favourites offers a great deal to look forward to. Not least with a cast including Marisha Wallace (Oklahoma!, Young Vic) and Daniel Mays (The Caretaker, Old Vic). Runs 3 March, opens 14 March through 2 September 2023. Tickets Review

  • Read on for reasons including Self Esteem, Cian Ducrot and the return of Eugenius
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 4 starring Loreen

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 25 February 2023

WHERE? Malmö, Malmö Arena

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play 

Each act performing last in this season of Melodifestivalen has won their heat or progressed to Andra Chansen and we think 2012 Eurovision Song Contest winner Loreen is likely to be in the euphoric former camp.

  • Read on for reasons including finalen and Andra Chansen predictions
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 3 starring Melanie Wehbe, Laurell and Paul Rey

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: 7pm UK time Saturday 18 February 2023

WHERE?: Sparbanken Lidköping Arena, Lidköping

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play 

Last week’s Heat 2 saw a ratcheting up of quality, a surprise non-qualifier and a Heat 3 performer co-writing the winning song.

  • Read on for reasons including finalen and Andra Chansen predictions
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 2 starring Theoz, Wiktoria & Maria Sur

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 11 February 2023

WHERE? Saab Arena, Linköping

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play 

We were surprised by the 1st qualifier in last week’s opening heat and think the quality, and therefore the competition, is much tougher here.

  • Read on for reasons including finalen and Andra Chansen predictions
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PREDICTIONS: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 1 starring Loulou LaMotte

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 4 February 2023

WHERE? Scandinavium, Gothenburg

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play 

We suspect that the winner of this year’s Melodifestivalen isn’t within the 7 acts featured here not least because there are so many familiar faces here it feels more of a warm hug of a return than anything especially challenging – but there’s 3 more weeks to come for that.

  • Read on for reasons including our finalen and Andra Chansen predictions
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 4 starring Loreen, Mariette and Axel Schylström

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: 7pm UK time Saturday 25 February 2023

WHERE?: Malmö Arena, Malmö WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

Last year Loreen’s 2012 Eurovision winner Euphoria lost its crown as the Contest’s best-loved song in the ESC250 and perhaps it’s fitting then that the queen returns to Melodifestivalen in 2023 with a new song.

  • Read on for reasons including Loreen, Mariette and Axel Schylström
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9 reasons why we can’t wait for February 2023 starring Sheridan Smith as Shirley Valentine

  1. Sheridan Smith is Shirley Valentine

Smith (Funny Girl, Savoy) returns to the stage for the 1st time since Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Palladium and this beloved Willy Russell one-woman comedy about a woman who finds love on holiday abroad is the perfect choice. Runs 17 February through 3 June at the Duke Of York’s. Tickets 1st preview review

  • Read on for reasons including Callum Scott Howells at the National, Standing At The Sky’s Edge and Benidorm Fest
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PREVIEW: Melodifestivalen 2023 Heat 1 starring Tone Sekelius, LouLou from The Mamas & Eva and Ewa

By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: 7pm UK time Saturday 4 February 2023

WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenburg WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

Melodifestivalen returns to the venue of the 1985 Eurovision for a 1st heat in its 2023 edition which sees the swift return to the MF stage of the contest’s 1st openly transgender participant – Tone Sekelius (pictured above) – who finished 5th last year with the uptempo anthem My Way.

  • Read on for reasons including Victor Crone, Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Eva Rydberg and Ewa Roos
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