Will the UK stay in the Eurovision Song Contest?
Conchita Wurst, who won Eurovision for Austria in 2014 (Getty)
The UK voting to leave the European Union is one of the most significant decisions in a generation – but we’ve been besieged with one frequently-asked reader question.
“What does this mean for the UK’s entry in the Eurovision Contest?”
It will hopefully come as some relief to readers that it’s highly unlikely the Brexit vote will have an impact on the camp pan-European music contest.
Entry to the contest is not limited by political or geographic boundaries – but rather an individual broadcaster’s membership of the European Broadcasting Union.
In the case of the UK, the BBC is a member of the EBU and thus enters Eurovision. As this is unconnected to the EU, no changes in the contest are expected.
A spokesperson for the EBU assured PinkNews: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political event and participation in the show is dependent upon the national broadcasters being members of the European Broadcasting Union and not related to EU membership.
“[The UK] will still be eligible to enter the Eurovision Song Contest.”
David Cameron had previously insisted: “Given that Israel and Azerbaijan and anyone anywhere near Europe seems to be able to enter, and Australia, I think we’re pretty safe from that one.”
However, we can’t speak for the UK’s popularity within the contest.
As it stands, no UK entry breaking the top 10 at Eurovision since 2009 – and the years of upcoming potentially-bitter negotiations are unlikely to lead to a warm reception to British singers.
The next Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place in May 2017.
