Ncuti Gatwa withdraws as UK's Eurovision jury announcer

[Benjamin]

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has been replaced as the Eurovision 2025 spokesperson due to "unforeseen circumstances".

The 32-year-old actor was due to read out the UK jury votes at the grand final on Saturday but has now been replaced by singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

A BBC statement from Thursday evening said: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately Ncuti Gatwa is no longer able to participate as Spokesperson during the Grand Final this weekend."

It continued: "However, we are delighted to confirm that BBC Radio 2's very own Friday night Kitchen Disco Diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be presenting the jury result live from the UK."

The BBC has not given any more information on the reason for Gatwa's withdrawal.

In previous years the UK spokesperson role has been taken on by Catherine Tate, Amanda Holden and AJ Odudu.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor said: "I love Eurovision and it's a privilege to be part of 2025's grand final.

"What an honour it is to announce the UK's jury score on such a special show which always puts music front and centre. I am very much looking forward to delivering the iconic douze points from the United Kingdom!"

The announcement from the BBC about Gatwa came during the second Eurovision semi-final, in which UK entry Remember Monday performed.

Lauren Byrne, Charlotte Steele and Holly-Anne Hull performed What The Hell Just Happened, but were safe from elimination due to the UK's automatic qualification in the competition.

They join the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland alongside the countries that qualified at Tuesday's semi final - Spain, Italy, Norway, Albania, Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal, and Ukraine.

Ireland, which is currrently the joint-record holder with Sweden for the most Eurovision wins, after taking the tropy seven times, failed to qualify on Thursday evening.

Norwegian singer Emmy, who represented the country, did not get enough votes with Laika Party, about a Russian space dog.

She hoped to replicate the success of last year's entrant, Bambie Thug, who became the first Irish competitor to reach the grand final since Ryan O'Shaughnessy in 2018.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj428knppygo.amp

[Benjamin]

Good. Not a fan of him. Sophie is a better choice. :clap1:

[arista]

"unforeseen circumstances".


What the hell is this doing on Serious Debates

[arista]

Ben
Not everyone on TIBB
cares about Eurovision

[arista]

Can a Nice Mod or Great Admin
Please move this thread

[arista]

https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/79/590x/secondary/ncuti-gatwa-red-carpet-5125353.avif?r=1703260810780

[Kate!]

Arista it's news. It's fine in thus section.

[arista]

Arista it's news. It's fine in thus section.


It is not News


It is about a Presenter of Eurovision

[user104658]

Complete speculation but ... ... ... I'd bet he doesn't want to be attached to all of the Israel-related-drama. There are various bits of boycotting going on.

[arista]

Complete speculation but ... ... ... I'd bet he doesn't want to be attached to all of the Israel-related-drama. There are various bits of boycotting going on.


Good


Freedom Of Choice

[arista]

Israel is Not in Europe


Kick them out

[Nicky91]

Israel is Not in Europe


Kick them out

they are more towards Europe nowadays, they are a official EBU member AND an official UEFA member as well, that's two big european memberships for them

[Livia]

The less I see of Ncuti, the better I'll like it.

[Oliver_W]

Complete speculation but ... ... ... I'd bet he doesn't want to be attached to all of the Israel-related-drama. There are various bits of boycotting going on.

I thought the same, there was a bit of a torch-and-pitchfork mob building due his literal endorsement of genocide, etc.

[Livia]

The Israeli singer is a survivor of 7th October attacks. It's only right that a young girl should be bayed at and hounded for singing a song, I guess....

[Kate!]

It is not News


It is about a Presenter of Eurovision

Yes. It's news about him

[arista]

Yes. It's news about him


Post it on TV Chat, then.

[bots]

Post it on TV Chat, then.

you don't get to decide what news is Arista :laugh:

[Benjamin]

"unforeseen circumstances".


What the hell is this doing on Serious Debates

The forum is serious debates and news :idc:

[Ammi]

…I think that Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be amazing and I imagine she’s so excited…:lovedup:…she’s a lovely choice…

[Strictly Jake]

Was quite looking forward to him doing it, as it follows the idea of doctor who and it's eurovision theme before the eurovision final. Would be a nice link up. Oh well i do like Sophie too

Noone would be as good as our ammi was over on the strictly game though!

[Oliver_W]

Wasn't the Celeb Gossip section merged with "Serious" "Debates" and News a while back?

So there, arista :hmph:

[Benjamin]

The Israeli singer is a survivor of 7th October attacks. It's only right that a young girl should be bayed at and hounded for singing a song, I guess....

Not sure if you watched last night? I was expecting and waiting for boos at the semi final when she was on but she didn’t get any. She got plenty of cheers.

[bots]

people can argue the toss all year about the rights and wrongs, but when the country becomes a participant, they should be shown the same respect as everyone else involved

[Barry.]

Not sure if you watched last night? I was expecting and waiting for boos at the semi final when she was on but she didn’t get any. She got plenty of cheers.

Think that was added in, someone said she got heckled

[Benjamin]

Think that was added in, someone said she got heckled

Oh, I take back my statement then.

[Mystic Mock]

people can argue the toss all year about the rights and wrongs, but when the country becomes a participant, they should be shown the same respect as everyone else involved

Especially when the singer in question was a victim of a massacre.

[Mystic Mock]

Think that was added in, someone said she got heckled

That person should be deeply ashamed of themselves.

[Barry.]

That person should be deeply ashamed of themselves.

Think they got escorted off the premises

[Liam-]

Not sure if you watched last night? I was expecting and waiting for boos at the semi final when she was on but she didn’t get any. She got plenty of cheers.

Videos from the audience show otherwise fortunately

[arista]

The forum is serious debates and news :idc:


OK
why is this Fella
A Serious Debate



He is a Presenter/Actor


Not a MP

[arista]

you don't get to decide what news is Arista :laugh:


Of Course,
I do not.


But why is a presenter
on Serious Debates


This in News only
for fans of that show

[bots]

Of Course,
I do not.


But why is a presenter
on Serious Debates


This in News only
for fans of that show

it was front page news on the bbc news site

[Benjamin]

OK
why is this Fella
A Serious Debate



He is a Presenter/Actor


Not a MP

Because this sub forum is for serious debates AND for news. It’s not just serious debates.

Although now it could be argued we’re having a debate about it. :laugh:

[arista]

it was front page news on the bbc news site


Not for Long


He works for the BBC
thats no good

[arista]

https://news.sky.com/entertainment


If this were a Legit Good Story
it would be on other sites.


Ben please chuck this onto TV section.

[Benjamin]

https://news.sky.com/entertainment


If this were a Legit Good Story
it would be on other sites.


Ben please chuck this onto TV section.

No. :nono:

[joeysteele]

Israel is Not in Europe


Kick them out

No

They've been in for DECADES.
There's no way they should not be in the Contest.

It's a good song and a really good singer too.
Plus too Israel is one of my sweepstake Countries.

[Maru]

Thank you for telling us about this stuff, Ben

[Kate!]

https://news.sky.com/entertainment


If this were a Legit Good Story
it would be on other sites.


Ben please chuck this onto TV section.

Stop it Arista please. This thread is in the correct place. It's a news story.

[Maru]

…I think that Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be amazing and I imagine she’s so excited…:lovedup:…she’s a lovely choice…

I didn't know her outright but definitely recognized her name. Checked my personal library and there she is :love:

[Barry.]

I didn't know her outright but definitely recognized her name. Checked my personal library and there she is :love:

Murder on the dance floor?

[Maru]

Murder on the dance floor?

Not that one :think: It's funny, normally the more "mainstream" sound, if that gets it across, we don't typically get from outside the US. If we get a European-only artist, sometimes it's through a niche style we hear their music for the first time, but a one off. I would've heard of her more through Dance channels/playlists in the past. Those genres tend to be more multicultural. That said...

Sophie Ellis-Bextor relishes 'extraordinary' success in the US
https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/musicnews/sophie-ellis-bextor-relishes-extraordinary-success-1392475.html

The 44-year-old singer has seen her 2001 hit single, 'Murder On The Dancefloor', climb up the charts in recent weeks, after it featured in the psychological thriller film 'Saltburn', and Sophie has been wowed by her unlikely success in the US.

She told NME: "That’s what’s been quite extraordinary. To them it’s a new song, and that’s bonkers.

"It didn’t do anything there the first time around, and I’m fine with that. If I’ve learned anything along the way it’s that you’ve got to go where the momentum is."

This is why I go more international with my tastes, I think. We live in a bubble. The Eurovision week introduced me to some new acts/styles of current music, which I appreciate.

It's strange, even regionally music can trend very differently in the US. For example, lots of Latin-style pop and more dance music in the Southern parts of the US. Oh and lots more R&B/Hip hop and generally our urban music is much more energetic. But there's also pop-ish/rock songs I'm very familiar with from my childhood that my husband has never heard about. He's from the Northeast.

[arista]

Stop it Arista please. This thread is in the correct place. It's a news story.


Bollocks


It's BBC Presenter


ON a BBC TV show
not every one is in into.........



Can not find a Legit News Story, Kate
Fill me in, please

[arista]

Headliners On hour Show on now

Live GBnewsHD will feature this BBC Presenter

[arista]

Live on GBnewsHD


That Presenter left his post
because of the Non EU nation
Israel performing.

That lady singer is not part of any war.

[Oliver_W]

Videos from the audience show otherwise fortunately

Why is it "fortunate" that a young woman who survived mass-slaughter was booed?

[Livia]

Why is it "fortunate" that a young woman who survived mass-slaughter was booed?

Because Liam is one if the "from the river to the sea" Gays for Gaza.

[Oliver_W]

Because Liam is one if the "from the river to the sea" Gays for Gaza.

The Homos for Hamas Brigade are usually naive rather than malicious tbh.

[jones89]

Well i was happy to see Sophie. She’s a huge eurovision fan so it made sense

[Cherie]

Videos from the audience show otherwise fortunately

What on earth, why would you want to boo and heckle someone who had to hide in a bunker and cover themselves in dead bodies to stay alive..... you think you have heard it all ...but no, she is not the government, she is not the army ...just a despicable point of view

[user104658]

I don't think she should have been booed and I agree with the reason - she's been used to political ends but that's not her fault - however the idea that Eurovisio isn't political has always been a lie. Everyone knows it's political. The choice of contestand was quite obviously deliberate for political reasons, and everyone involved knew what the reaction and fallout would be.