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The 32-year-old actor was due to read out the UK jury votes at the grand final on Saturday but has now been replaced by singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor.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

[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]

[Kate!]

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

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kate!

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]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

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]

Originally Posted by arista

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]

Originally Posted by Quantum Boy

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!]

Originally Posted by arista

It is not News


It is about a Presenter of Eurovision

Yes. It's news about him

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kate!

Yes. It's news about him

Post it on TV Chat, then.

[bots]

Originally Posted by arista

Post it on TV Chat, then.

you don't get to decide what news is Arista

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by arista

"unforeseen circumstances".


What the hell is this doing on Serious Debates

The forum is serious debates and news

[Ammi]

…I think that Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be amazing and I imagine she’s so excited……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

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by 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....

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.]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

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