{"id":50954,"date":"2024-05-08T11:20:34","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T09:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2036931"},"modified":"2024-05-08T12:26:53","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T10:26:53","slug":"eurovision-song-contest-2024-features-on-this-weeks-radio-times-cover","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eurovision-song-contest-2024-features-on-this-weeks-radio-times-cover\/","title":{"rendered":"Eurovision Song Contest 2024 features on this week\u2019s Radio Times cover"},"content":{"rendered":"

Olly Alexander is flying the flag for the UK this year. <\/p>

By Shem Law\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 08 May 2024 at 09:20 AM<\/p>

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This week we celebrate two of the big events in the TV calendar. On Saturday night it\u2019s the final of the Eurovision Song Contest<\/a>, the campest, most over-the-top music contest ever conceived. Fifty years on from Abba\u2019s win in the Brighton Dome in 1974, the grand final is fittingly live from Malmo in Sweden. Graham Norton will be providing his usual tongue-in-cheek commentary on BBC One, and Olly Alexander will be representing the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

In the latest issue of Radio Times magazine<\/strong>, read veteran music journalist Pete Paphides\u2019s take on this year\u2019s contest. And if you want to see how the competition has evolved, you can watch the 1974 contest in its entirety on BBC iPlayer, if only to marvel at what a brilliant broadcaster the late, great Katie Boyle was.<\/p>\n

The other big moment in the world of television is the BAFTAs<\/a>, which are on BBC One on Sunday night. We caught up with some of the stars of the small screen who have had a particularly good year, as well as celebrating Strictly Come Dancing<\/a>, which began 20 years ago this month and is nominated in the Best Entertainment Programme category.<\/p>\n

But Strictly is far from being cosy Saturday-night TV. Craig Revel Horwood, the man who has been on the judging panel from day one, proudly explains that Strictly has always taken risks and pushed the boundaries for two decades.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, we have an exclusive episode guide to Doctor Who<\/a> by the showrunner himself, Russell T Davies. His enthusiasm is infectious and he\u2019s clear what he wants from the new series of the sci-fi classic: \u201cI hope it has a new energy. I want it to feel younger, wilder, more lively, a bit more bonkers, more capable of going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t think of a better programme to precede Eurovision this Saturday night.<\/p>\n

The new issue of Radio Times magazine is out now \u2013 subscribe to\u00a0Radio Times\u00a0<\/strong>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Eurovision\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div><\/a><\/p>\n

Also in this week\u2019s Radio Times:<\/strong><\/h2>\n