Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light as it happened – Graham Norton narrates emotional evening with live performances

The BBC organised a special weekend of programmes on what would have been the 2020 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision: Conchita Wurst performs 'Rise Like A Phoenix'

While the Eurovision Song Contest is sadly unable to take place this year, that doesn’t mean fans weren’t able to celebrate their favourite annual event.

The BBC hosted a TV special on the night of the would-be grand final on 16 May titled Eurovision: Come Together, as part of a wider celebration taking place all this week.

The Come Together show was hosted by Graham Norton; it reflected on the UK’s best Eurovision moments, past and present, and was ultimately won by Eurovision stars ABBA and their performance of “Waterloo”.

The BBC organised a number of shows to lift the spirits of Eurovision fans everywhere, starting with...

Eurovision 2020: The Cancelled Coronavirus Year

In February, BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat began filming a documentary that follows the UK’s Eurovision entrant, James Newman, through rehearsals, as well as backstage during the live debut of his Eurovision song, “My Last Breath”.

The documentary jumps to when the contest was cancelled, and interviews Newman as he reveals what the cancellation means for him. Other contestants speak about how their experiences of Eurovision differ, and what their future plans are.

Eurovision 2020: The Cancelled Coronavirus Year is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer, and on the BBC Newsbeat YouTube channel.

Eurovision at 60

In 2015, Eurovision at 60 aired on BBC to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the song contest. It includes interviews with Graham Norton, Eurovision champion Conchita Wurst, and the late Sir Terry Wogan.

Dana: The Original Derry Girl

Fifty years ago, an 18-year-old schoolgirl left the Bogside in Ireland and journeyed to Amsterdam to represent her country in the 15th Eurovision Song Contest. Against the odds, she won! Dana: The Original Derry Girl looks back at the life of Dana, and how she became Ireland’s first-ever Eurovision winner

Eurovision: Come Together

Graham Norton hosted Eurovision: Come Together, a one-off TV special that gave the UK a chance to vote for their favourite Eurovision performances.

The event was ultimately won by ABBA performing “Waterloo”.

Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light

Right after the Come Together show you’ll get to watch Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, which will honour all of the 41 songs that would have competed in the 2020 contest in Rotterdam.

This non-competitive show was broadcast across Europe, just like the usual contest, with a special hosted by the original Dutch presenters who were supposed to present the live event this year: Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley, and Jan Smit from the Netherlands. Graham Norton provided additional commentary.

A virtual singalong also took place, with fans dressing up in costume and forming a huge Eurovision choir, which will perform “What’s Another Year”, Ireland’s winning song originally performed by Johnny Logan.

The liveblog is now closed

The A-Z of Eurovision

Yes, there’s more! Rylan Clark-Neal narrated The A-Z of Eurovision at 10pm on Saturday 16 May, this time on BBC2.

The special took us through all of the disasters, outlandish costumes and other memorable moments that have taken place over 65 years of Eurovision.

TOTP2 Does Eurovision

Hosted by Steve Wright, this Eurovision-themed special was originally shown at the beginning of the 2007 edition of the competition.

Catchup with all of the 2020 Eurovision broadcasts on YouTube and BBC iPlayer.

Key Points

• BBC show Come Together includes performances by Mahmood and Bucks Fizz
• See a ranking of every Eurovision winner ever!
• Vote for your favourite performance
• Read about the Russell Crowe-approved Iceland representatives

[16 May 2020 18:27 · roisin.oconnor]

Here we go!

[16 May 2020 18:28 · roisin.oconnor]

OK so the show is clearly determined to make me cry from the offset by showing clips from what happened last year.

[16 May 2020 18:29 · roisin.oconnor]

This year we were supposed to be in Rotterdam but, obviously, that's not happening. Thankfully, the spectacular people at the BBC have organised a bunch of shows that includes a public vote! We love a good vote, don't we, democracy in action bla bla. Anyway, let's crack on.

[16 May 2020 18:30 · roisin.oconnor]

Up first, it's Sweden's contestant Mans Zelmerlow. These guys are big on staging, as you'll be able to see with their performance of "Heroes".

[16 May 2020 18:31 · roisin.oconnor]

This one was great, a really simple but wonderful piece of choreography. The song is catchy in a brooding kind of way, and it had the crowd engaged from the offset.

[16 May 2020 18:33 · roisin.oconnor]

It's almost unfair how good Sweden are, but not surprising when you consider they've produced pop maestros like Max Martin.

[16 May 2020 18:34 · roisin.oconnor]

Now we have Israel and Dana International! The winner from 1998, the last time the concert was hosted in the UK (in Birmingham).

[16 May 2020 18:35 · roisin.oconnor]

Dana International really slayed this performance with her catchy Eurobop "Diva".

[16 May 2020 18:37 · roisin.oconnor]

I can't believe that was 22 years ago.

[16 May 2020 18:38 · roisin.oconnor]

Now we're seeing Dami Im and her performance of ‘Sound of Silence’, which won the jury vote for Australia in 2016... but then came fourth in the public vote and ended up second overall... Dami ultimately lost to Ukraine, who didn’t win either vote. Yes, the voting system is mad and it was a weird year.

Feel free to compensate by voting for her (and that incredible dress) this year instead.