Eurovision Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Sam Quek may only be 34 but she’s packed a lot into her life. Hot on the heels of winning a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of England’s hockey team, she quickly signed up to I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, where she finished in a very respectable fourth place.

Eurovision Song Contest has concluded, with 10 countries currently proceeding to the Grand Finals this Saturday (May 13).A grand total of 26 countries will participate in the finals, consisting of 10 finalists from semi-finals round 1, 10 finalists from semi-finals round 2, the “big 5” and Ukraine.The first 10 finalists from semi-finals round 1 has finally been revealed after a slew of performances and voting, with the following countries coming out on top: Norway, Serbia, Portugal, Croatia, Switzerland, Israel, Moldova, Sweden, Czechia and Finland.Watch Norway’s Alessandra perform ‘Queen of Kings’ below.This means that the countries eliminated from the contest following the first rounds of semi-finals are the Netherlands, Malta, Latvia, Ireland and Azerbaijan.Countries set to take part in the second round of semi-finals on Thursday (May 11) are: Denmark, Armenia, Romania, Estonia, Belgium, Cyprus, Iceland, Greece, Poland, Slovenia, Georgia, San Marino, Austria, Albania, Lithuania and Australia.Watch Sweden representative Loreen‘s performance of ‘Tattoo’ below.The “Big 5” countries guaranteed a spot in the finals without having to participate in semi-finals are France, Germany, Spain, the UK and Italy, as they contribute the most financially to the Eurovision Song Contest. Last year’s winners Ukraine also automatically qualify for the finals this year.Ireland’s elimination from this year’s contest marks the latest in a string of failed attempts to qualify, with the country not making eight of its 10 most recent attempts.

pre-recorded video aired at the 67th Eurovision song contest semi-finals on Tuesday evening. In the clip, where they both appear for just a few seconds, Queen Camilla, dressed in a royal blue coat dress, is first seen peering over someone with a clipboard completing a checklist before Eurovision 2023 kicks off.The camera then pans to King Charles, who is standing next to her, wearing a navy blue suit jacket and royal blue patterned tie.

Eurovision Song Contest fans were given a royal surprise as they settled in for the first semi-final of the song contest on Tuesday night. Fans filled the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool as the international competition got under way in Merseyside, with King Charles and Queen Camilla making a cameo during the opening film titled Welcome to Liverpool.

Alesha Dixon sent fans into a frenzy on Tuesday night, 9 May, as the former Miss-Teeq star showcased her rapping skills to Eurovision viewers.The first of two semi-finals took place in Liverpool tonight, with Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha being one of the many famous faces to host the highly-anticipated affair. Celebrating Eurovision’s return to the UK, Alesha, 44, broke into a rap – which viewers have since hailed as an “unforgettable” performance.

As Eurovision kicked off in spectacular style with the first Semi-finals on Tuesday night, fans across the UK were left feeling more than a little emotional when the late Paul O’Grady appeared in the show’s opening video. Starring in the Welcome to Liverpool video, the Birkenhead-born star, famous for his drag persona Lily Savage appeared on screen to flash his trademark smile alongside a clear twinkle in his eye.

Eurovision 2023 — check out a full list of the latest odds below.This year’s instalment of the concert will take place in Liverpool, following the ongoing political conflict taking place in Ukraine — who won the competition last year. The semi-finals take place today (May 9) and Thursday (11 May), ahead of the grand finale on Saturday (13 May).Currently, Sweden is taking the lead with Loreen’s ‘Tattoo’, which has odds listed as 8/13 on bet365. The singer, who returned to the stage after winning the 2012 contest, is set to face tight competition from Finland this year.Represented by Käärijä with the song ‘Cha Cha Cha’, Finland is in second place with 9/4 according to bet365.

Eurovision 2023 entry Alessandra has opened up to NME about the meaning behind her song ‘Queen Of Kings’, and how her entire life has been leading up to this moment.At just 20-years-old, Alessandra has already undergone years of preparation. Set to take to the Eurovision stage in Liverpool this week, the half-Italian, half-Norwegian singer will be representing the latter with her song ‘Queen Of Kings’ – starting with the semi-finals tonight (Tuesday May 9).Explaining the meaning behind the track, she told NME that the inspiration came from those moments of difficulty and self-doubt which, tackling them head-on, and becoming empowered.

Australian DJ Ian Bell has sadly passed away in Paris while en route to the Eurovision Song Concert in the UK with his family. Ian, 60, suffered a heart attack on 2 May in the French capital, which was the first stop on his trip with his family that was said to also include a stop off in Liverpool to attend Eurovision 2023, according to the Advertiser. The DJ, who was also a music writer, photographer and record store owner, is survived by his wife Jordan, the couple's daughter Ruby and his sisters Susan and Janet, as reported by Daily Mail Australia.

Eurovision is so Graham Norton – and he can’t wait to host the first UK final in 25 years.The chat show host, 60, has been the Eurovision Song Contest’s commentator for Britain since 2009, but usually has to travel to a continental city to do it – and admits that being in the UK has left him slightly discombobulated. “I am so looking forward to it,” grins Graham. “I don’t know what it’s going to be like – I still can’t quite get my head around that it’s going to be in the UK, and it’s going to be in Liverpool.

Weeks after his unexpected death Paul O’Grady has appeared on screen once more, in a special short film to mark the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest and welcome the world to Liverpool.The late comedian and TV stalwart, originally from Birkenhead, Merseyside, was one of a host of celebs to take part in the film to show his pride in his home region – which is taking on competition hosting duties in 2023 on behalf of Ukraine.The project was one of the last things Paul filmed before his death, and his posthumous appearance has been approved by his family and friends. He died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on March 28 at the age of 67.

RAVE UKraine.Rave UKraine took place at Liverpool’s Hangar 34 and at Kyiv’s HVLV. Each rave was live-streamed to one another making it possible for attendees in both cities to party alongside each other in a night of unity and solidarity with Ukraine.

She found fame on Pop Idol 22 years ago. But more than two decades on and you might do a double take to see Jessica Garlick - that's if you still remember her.The former talent show contestant made it through to the final ten - if that jogs your memory - and if recent pics are to be believed, looks as though she hasn't aged at all in the years since.The now 42-year-old is still rocking her iconic brunette hair with her signature side parting. It was way back in 2001 when Jessica made it into the final 10 contestants of the ITV show.

Former Eurovision champions Loreen and Kalush Orchestra have voiced their excitement ahead of the contest taking place in Liverpool this week.The city has been transformed for the international music competition, which the UK is hosting on behalf of Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. Outside the series of arena live shows, two weeks of mostly free events are taking place featuring concerts, art exhibitions, flash mobs and more. Swedish singer Loreen told the PA news agency she “loved” the UK and hailed it as a “creative hub”.

Eurovision mania is in full swing as the official start of Eurovision week kicks off. Last year's winner, Ukraine, unfortunately couldn't handle the hosting duties due to the ongoing war. However, the United Kingdom stepped up to the plate and will host the contest in Liverpool Arena this week, which can hold up to 11,000 Eurovision-crazy fans.The home of The Beatles is pulling out all the stops to give the event a Ukrainian flair in their honour.

Natasha Hamilton reunited with her Atomic Kitten bandmate Liz McClarnon on Sunday, as the duo headed to Liverpool for the beginning of this year's Eurovision celebrations. Natasha, 40, who is pregnant with her fifth child, and Liz, 42, were among the famous guests at the National Lottery's Big Eurovision Welcome Party, which took place at St George's Hall in the city on 7 May.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood‘s classic line-up reunited for its first show in 36 years to open the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.The synth-pop legends’ classic line-up – Holly Johnson, Brian Nash, Paul Rutherford, Mark O’Toole and Peter Gill – played a small set in their hometown of Liverpool on Sunday as part of the Eurovision opening ceremony.Taking to the stage at  St George’s Plateau, the band played ‘Welcome To The Pleasuredome’.Check out footage of the performance below.Frankie Goes To Hollywood❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ce3rSJyDbL— Hapertje (@Hapertje) May 7, 2023Best known for their ’80s hit single ‘Relax’, a falling out between band members lead to the band’s dissolution in 1987. In 2003, the band members appeared on VH1’s Bands Reunited but did not perform.

Eurovision Song Contest in 2024, sharing a new comedy single – watch below.The bid comes courtesy of Kiwi brewery Yeastie Boys, who have started a petition to urge organisers to let the country join neighbours Australia in the contest.Founder Stu McKinlay said: “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.“I was the youngest of five kids and whenever my older siblings went to gigs, I was too young to join them. Australia being in Eurovision, when New Zealand hasn’t been invited, gives me the same vibes and I don’t like it.”He added: “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!“Everyone loves New Zealand and finds us cute and non-threatening and that makes us a sure thing for doing well in the public vote.

Rylan Clark has shared a shock X-rated confession, revealing that he was accidentally spotted naked in his hotel room by three men.Taking to Twitter on Friday, the former X Factor star, 34, who is currently staying in Liverpool ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest, told his followers of the awkward encounter. "Three men on a crane have just seen me naked in my hotel room…. Morning boys," Rylan wrote, followed by a woozy face emoji.

Eurovision stars Subwoolfer have spoken to NME about unveiling their true identity and what the future might hold.The Norwegian entrants for Eurovision 2022 finished seventh, but amassed a cult following and millions of streams for their song ‘Give That Wolf A Banana’ – mainly for their viral choreography and the enigma surrounding their characters wearing yellow alien wolf costumes with black suits.Then, back in February, the characters of Jim and Keith were revealed to be Ben Adams from ’90s boyband A1 and Norwegian musician and Idol runner up, Gaute Ormåsen.Ahead of this year’s competition and the duo performing in the host city of Liverpool, Adams told NME how he came to be involved in the project. Having moved to Norway years ago to pursue a life as a successful producer and songwriter, he was invited to take part in a writing camp to pen what would become Norway’s 2022 Eurovision track.“I’ve been writing for various different artists in that for several years, but this particular time they gave me a particular brief that was to write the craziest thing that you could think of,” said Adams. “We weren’t planning on being artists in Eurovision, so we were a bit bummed out as it makes it even harder to pitch the song afterwards.”Eventually, they came up with ‘Give That Wolf A Banana’ – a dance track that reimagines a world a Red Hiding Hood befriended her nemesis and convinced the animal to eat fruit instead of her grandmother.“We just laughed the whole day because we just thought it was too funny,” Adams continued.

Music Venue Trust and The National Lottery have joined forces to host a one-off free gig at the Eurovision Village in Liverpool, which is set to take place later this month.Scheduled for next Wednesday (May 10), the show is the latest instalment to the ongoing ‘United By Music Tour’ which features over 20 gigs at 20 music venues across the city.This marks the third time that the two organisations have joined forces, and follows a previously-announced series of shows taking place in Liverpool between May 8 and May 12, which all sold out within four minutes.Designed to both celebrate the city’s iconic music scene and support grassroots venues throughout the UK, the acts performing at Wednesday’s show include The Lightning Seeds, Girls Don’t Sync, Michael Aldag, and Miles Kane.The event will be hosted at the Eurovision Village at Liverpool’s Pier Head. However, the tickets will not be sold in advance, so those wanting to attend are advised to head down quickly on the day, as all 15,000 spaces will be given out for free on a first-come-first-served basis.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Charlotte Church are among the names who have been lined up to perform at the official Eurovision 2023 village in Liverpool.According to the official website, the Eurovision Village, located in Pier Head, “is the first port of call for anyone touching down in the city and hoping to soak up as much Eurovision atmosphere as possible”. A nine day programme of events will be taking place, kicking off on May 5 and running until the day of the final on May 13.

EastEnders has released a fun first look at Cheryl Baker in a Eurovision special episode. In the spoiler photos, it sees the residents of Walford get into Eurovision spirit at The Prince Albert as they celebrate Kathy Beale's birthday.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood will reunite to open the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, performing with its classic line-up for the first time since 1987 in the band’s hometown of Liverpool in England.BBC News reported yesterday (April 25) that the synth-pop band – specifically its classic line-up of Holly Johnson, Brian Nash, Paul Rutherford, Mark O’Toole and Peter Gill – will play a small set at the Eurovision opening ceremony on Sunday May 7.Sharing the news on his Instagram page, frontman Johnson noted he was “happy to announce” the group’s reunion and that the Eurovision festivities would be a “very special event”.The band are best known for the 80s hit single ‘Relax’, which was released in 1983 as their debut single and topped the charts in nine countries – including their native UK. The song was controversial for its time, receiving bans from both BBC Radio 1 and Top of the Pops due to the song’s suggestive and homoerotic nature.

Eurovision Song Contest – have announced that they have parted ways with their creative director, Ian Banham, following alleged transphobic and anti-vax statements.Formed of Conor O’Donohue, David Whelan, Ed Porter and Callum McAdam, the band made the announcement on Twitter earlier today (April 25), explaining that they aim to represent their beliefs in their music, and will no longer have Banham with them for their “Eurovision journey”.“Wild Youth is a band that stands for unity and kindness,” they wrote. “Our song represents our beliefs as a band.

BBC has confirmed plans for the final Eurovision 2023 ticket sale.The broadcaster confirmed on its social media that the last remaining Eurovision tickets, for both semi-finals and the final, will go on sale on Monday (April 24) at midday GMT.

On Saturday, 6 May 2023, King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, will be finally crowned at Westminster Abbey. "The ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Consort.The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.The ceremony will be followed by a glitzy Coronation concert on Sunday 7 May at Windsor Castle.

Bucks Fizz star Cheryl Baker is set to appear in EastEnders as the residents of Albert Square celebrate Eurovision.The 69-year-old star, whose group won the 1981 contest with their track Making Your Mind Up, will have a cameo role as herself in the BBC soap.The broadcaster has not given any details about when Cheryl will make her appearance or what takes her to the fictional London Borough of Walford.The singer, who was born in Bethnal Green in the East End of London, revealed in an interview in 2021 that she had previously unsuccessfully auditioned for the series. She said of her forthcoming cameo appearance: “I was so thrilled to be asked to take part in an episode of EastEnders.

Sam Ryder, Kalush Orchestra and Netta are among the artists set to perform at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest grand final.The 2023 competition is due to take place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool next month, with Mae Muller representing the United Kingdom with the single ‘I Wrote A Song’.Today (April 17), it’s been confirmed that Ryder will make a return to the Eurovision stage on May 13. He’ll provide the first interval performance of the night, during which voting takes place.The singer came in second place at last year’s contest, scoring an impressive 466 points with his track ‘Space Man’.In a statement, Ryder said: “What an honour to be invited back to the Eurovision stage for a second time!“I can’t wait to be back amongst the beautiful chaos of it all and to watch the incredible artists perform this time around, while bringing you a special performance of our own.

Eurovision 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra have shared a new song – ‘Ushme Uturbe’.The track sees the Ukrainian band team up with with Canadian rapper bbno$, who they met in Austin, Texas, where they made a music video for the song. They also performed at the South By Southwest (SXSW) music festival.“In Austin, we met Alex (bbno$) for the first time in real life, but it was so easy and fun to work together on the set that it seemed like we were old friends.

The filmed “postcards” used to introduce each act to the Eurovision stage will this year feature locations from across Ukraine.The short clips, which give the commentators the chance to highlight the competing country and its entrant, have been captured using drone technology and 360-degree cameras. Even though Ukraine wore the competition last year, they were unable to accept the hosting duties due to the ongoing war.The UK, who came runner up, then took on the hosting duties which is why the postcards will each feature a Ukrainian location alongside an equivalent in the UK and the participating country.

S Club 7 star Paul Cattermole’s final post on social media prior to his death showcased the star at his smiling and cheeky best, as he starred alongside his bandmates in a Eurovision themed skit for Comic Relief. The 46 year old singer was sadly found dead at his home on Thursday (6 April) and his death was announced on Friday.

Nora Forster, the wife of singer John Lydon, has died aged 80 after living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years.The 67-year-old former Sex Pistols frontman, also known by his stage name Johnny Rotten, was his wife’s full-time carer following the diagnosis and raised awareness of the condition through his recent attempt to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2023 with a song he dedicated to Nora. A statement posted on John's Twitter on Thursday 6 April 2023, said: "It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Nora Forster – John Lydon’s wife of nearly five decades – has passed away. "Nora had been living with Alzheimer’s for several years.

Mae Muller has spoken to NME about her hopes for the competition, and how her song aims to “make people feel empowered”.Last month it was announced that Muller will be representing the United Kingdom at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, heading to Liverpool in May with her track ‘I Wrote A Song’.Co-written with Karen Poole (Kylie Minogue, David Guetta, Galantis) and Lewis Thompson (Anne-Marie, Little Mix, Steve Aoki), the song seeks to pull victory from the jaws of defeat following a breakup, as Muller explained.“A lot of my music can come from a place of pain, even though the outcome is quite sassy and liberating,” she told NME. “This was one of those moments where I wanted to write something that made people feel empowered.

BBC has announced details of official Eurovision events in the UK that are set to coincide with this year’s contest.The 2023 competition is due to take place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool from May 9-13. Mae Muller is representing the United Kingdom with ‘I Wrote A Song’, which the singer recently performed live for the first time.Today (April 4), it’s been confirmed that various cities across the UK will host “large-scale official screenings” of the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final to “ensure as many people can join in the fun as possible”.The locations announced so far are as follows: Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Darlington, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Saturday Night Takeaway fans were left “crying” with laugher on the latest instalment of the ITV show, as hosts Ant and Dec amped up the mischief to prank their showbiz pal Rylan. Ahead of this year’s Eurovision song contest, which Rylan has been confirmed to be presenting, the Geordie duo set up a fake video shoot ahead of the ceremony, where they asked Rylan to pronounce phrases in foreign languages and pose for what he thought was a legitimate video with a green screen.