Eurovision returns to Brighton Dome!
Over 40 years after playing host to Abba’s famous Eurovision victory, our historic concert hall is to stage BBC2’s Eurovision: You Decide 2018, co-hosted by Måns Zelmerlöw and Mel Giedroyc
Eurovision: You Decide, the national song selection show for the UK entry, will take place on Wed 7 Feb 2018, live from Brighton Dome, the site of ABBA’s 1974 Eurovision Song Contest win with Waterloo
Joining the BBC Eurovision family, 2015 Eurovision Song Contest winner Måns Zelmerlöw will co-host the fantastic night of television and song alongside self-confessed Eurovision superfan, Mel Giedroyc, who returns to host the proceedings.
Eurovision: You Decide will broadcast live on BBC Two and tickets are on sale from Brighton Dome.
Måns Zelmerlöw says: “I’m really, really looking forward to hosting Eurovision: You Decide together with Mel this year. I’m sure we’ll have a great show and I would love to see the UK achieve a great result in Eurovision 2018. I can’t wait to be part of the You Decide journey and make both You Decide as well as the Eurovision Finals, a part of every UK home.”
Mel Giedroyc says: “My favourite time of year has come round again! I can't wait to hear the songs and meet the artists. And what a thrill to host proceedings with THE hero of my time - the Måns Zelmerlöw all live from the Brighton Dome. It will be a night to remember!”
The Grade I listed Brighton Dome, which was originally designed as the Prince Regent's riding stables, was converted into a concert and assembly hall in 1867 – 150 years ago this year - soon becoming one of the most fashionable and culturally significant venues in the south.
Since then an array of artists have graced the stages including early jazz pioneers, the Southern Syncopated Orchestra, world famous singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson, David Bowie and the Rolling Stones. Pink Floyd, whose first appearance was supporting the late great Jimi Hendrix, famously debuted their classic Dark Side of the Moon album live at Brighton Dome in January 1972. In 1974 the venue hosted ABBA’s victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo.
Brighton Dome’s various guises over the past 150 years have also included a cavalry barracks, a WW1 military hospital for Indian soldiers and a roller skating rink.
Guy Freeman, Editor, Special Events and Formats, BBC Studios says: “We are so happy to be able to bring the show to such an iconic Eurovision venue. It will be the perfect home for what is shaping up to be a very exciting contest.”
The 90-minute show will feature performances of six brand new songs. The artists will compete for the honour of representing the United Kingdom at the Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.
The performers will take to the stage in a bid to impress both the viewers at home and a professional jury at Brighton Dome.
After each performance, a panel of experts will be on hand to provide their critique about the songs and the artists, and give their view on how the songs could translate to the Eurovision stage in Lisbon for the Grand Final next May.
The winner will be revealed on the night after the results from the live public vote have been combined with the results from the professional jury.
The six competing songs and artists will be revealed to the public in January 2018.