For the last few years, I’ve tuned in to the Eurovision Song Contest with some trepidation… thinking I’ll watch just a bit and then it will probably be boring and I’ll end up going to bed early with a good book instead. That hasn’t happened, each year is entertaining in its own right, and 2025 was no different. I did think the show was lacking something, that unique camp-ness that makes Eurovision the juggernaut that it is seemed missing. Most of the entries were credible and well performed and pretty sensible, with just a couple showing that quirkiness that we know and love.

I wasn’t a fan of the winning song, the opera vibe didn’t do it for me, but of course by the end I was cheering for them to win. Another political embarrassment avoided, as Eurovision skirts ever closer to the edge! The UK song got good jury votes because it was a complex and well produced song, but the audience weren’t interested - nil points - and I can see why. It was like four different songs bolted together and there was no time to actually sit and enjoy it before it was whipping off to another time signature. I do hope it’s made Olly Alexander feel a little bit better though.

The presentation was good, the three women hosting the show did a very good job, there were no real cringey moments and it all flowed very well. It was very disappointing that Martin Österdahl didn’t get to speak, he’s become a Eurovision institution at this point. And people seemed very perturbed that Celine Dion didn’t show up - I hadn’t been expecting her but it did seem like an opportunity missed if she was in the area.

The real question I’m left asking after this year’s contest is whether I should be investing time in the qualification rounds. I haven’t wanted to in the past, preferring to keep it fresh for the final. But it seems like there’s a lot going on in the earlier rounds that adds to the story, some extra songs and acts to judge and enjoy, and honestly, the clips I’ve seen, people just look like they’re having a lot of fun. I think watching those earlier rounds would detract from the final a little, but would it make up for it in kind? Maybe next year I’ll give it a go and let you know.