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A Doctor Who Eurovision tie-in episode is airing before the finale
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Doctor Who star Nguti Gatwa has pulled out as the UK spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest due to “unforeseen circumstances” with Sophie Ellis-Bextor replacing him in the role.
A BBC statement about Gatwa’s departure from the coverage said: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately, Ncuti Gatwa is no longer able to participate as Spokesperson during the Grand Final this weekend. 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.”
Ellis-Bextor added as part of the statement: “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!”
No further reason has been given for the last-minute alteration.
Gatwa, 32, was announced as the UK’s official Eurovision spokesperson in May. He was due to reveal the points awarded by the UK national jury to the Song Contest’s contestants during the competition’s grand finale in Basel, Switzerland.
The Scottish actor’s involvement was part of a Doctor Who crossover, with an episode titled “The Interstellar Song Contest” airing before Saturday’s Eurovision final (17 May).
The sixth episode in the current season of the sci-fi hit will see The Doctor (Gatwa) and companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) travelling to the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest.
In the episode, the Interstellar Song Contest features planets from across the universe competing for the top prize and is co-hosted by TV and radio presenter Rylan Clark, while Irish TV host and “King of Eurovision” Graham Norton also appears.
Clark presented live commentary on BBC One for the Eurovision semi-finals on 13 May and 15 May, and will commentate the final for BBC Radio 2 alongside presenter Scott Mills. Norton will commentate on the final for BBC One viewers.
Representing the UK this year is girl group Remember Monday with their track “What The Hell Just Happened?”, a celebration of the close-knit friendship they developed at Farnborough Sixth Form in Hampshire.
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Other nations that have qualified include Israel’s contestant Yuval Raphael, Austria’s JJ and Malta’s Miriana Conte.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Ireland’s entry Emmy, who failed to qualify for the final.
The Eurovision 2025 grand final will see 26 contestants go head to head on Saturday.
Here are the finalists, including the “big five” of the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, who all provide extra financial support to Eurovision and gain automatic entry to the final as a result:
The Eurovision 2025 grand final takes place on Saturday 17 May and will be broadcast on BBC One from 8pm.
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