This year’s Eurovision song contest was the most watched in the history of the competition, according to the BBC.
It had emerged that this year’s Grand Final which was held at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, had 9.9 million viewers, peaking at 11 million.
This represented 63% of the overall audience. Last year’s final attracted 8.9 million viewers.
Up until now, 2011’s Grand final was the most watched in the show’s history, with 9.5 million viewers.
✨ The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final scores douze points for the BBC as it becomes the most watched Grand Final ever!
The final saw a 5 minute peak of 11 million, average of 9.9 million and share of 63%. pic.twitter.com/Zcbk8MfOB3
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) May 14, 2023
Sweden Come Out On Top Of Eurovision Again
Speaking of records, Sweden’s 2023 Eurovision winning singer Loreen has become the first female act to win the Eurovision twice, and the second act to achieve this feat overall.
The other act who had won this competition twice was Irish singer Johnny Logan, who won it for Ireland in 1987 and 1990.
Having won the contest for Sweden in 2012 with her track, ‘Euphoria’, Loreen repeated the trick to win for Sweden, with her entry ‘Tattoo’.
Sweden were crowned Eurovision winners, as host Graham Norton had revealed that they had bagged 243 points from the public vote, to reach a winning total of 583 points, finishing ahead of Finland (526 points), and third place Israel (362 points).
“This is overwhelming. I’m so happy, and I’m so thankful”, Loreen said, reacting to her triumph. “Thank you for this. This is for you”.
More on this from Nova here.
Loreen becomes only the second artist to win the #Eurovision Song Contest TWICE 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/DxKXqB0t2G
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) May 13, 2023
Ahead of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, New Zealand also released their comedy track ‘Eurovision (Open Up)’, performed by satirical pair Two Hearts, a bid to return to the contest in 2024, with the release of
“We’ve become big Eurovision fans since arriving here in the UK but we really miss having our own country to cringe at while simultaneously supporting unwaveringly”, Stu Findley who founded the Kiwi brewery company Yeastie Boys who are behind this bid said.
“New Zealanders grow up with a sense of social justice being very important and Australia being invited to Eurovision without New Zealand is like inviting someone to your wedding but not giving them a plus one!”.
More on this from Nova here.
