The Eurovision Song Contest never ceases to amaze the masses with its daring and sometimes ludicrous acts, and it’s expected to be one of the most watched television events of the year. In 2018 it’s reported that 186 million people tuned in worldwide, with just over 8 million viewers from the United Kingdom.
The bookies don’t expect the British to do well this year, but you can check out all the Eurovision betting odds ahead of the 2019 final. As ever, Eurovision promises to be as exciting and glamorous as ever, so check out our lowdown on everything you need to know.
When does it all start?
The first semi-final will be held on Tuesday 14th May with the second semi-final coming on Thursday 16th May. The final itself will be held on Saturday 18th May with over 25 nations set to compete.
Where can I watch it?
You can watch all of the action from the Eurovision via BBC One and the BBC iPlayer. The times haven’t been confirmed so keep your eyes peeled for the official confirmation.
Where will Eurovision be held this year?
After their victory in Lisbon during the 2018 competition, Israel will be the host nation for the 2019 edition and the Expo Tel Aviv is the venue in question. The Expo is located in northern Tel Aviv and can host between 45 and 60 major events each year, attracting around 2.5 million visitors.
The leading contenders for Eurovision 2019
The Netherlands are the current favourites and you can back them at 3/1 to claim their fifth win. The Dutch will be represented by Duncan Laurence, who found fame on The Voice of Holland. Just a little way back are Russia, who can be backed at a tempting 5/1 with many neutrals expecting big things from Sergey Lazarev. The Smash!! singer has performed before, coming third in 2016.
Switzerland are third favourites currently and they can be backed at 11/2. Their last win came back in 1988 when Celine Dion represented the Swiss and her career really took off after her success. Luca Hanni has been tasked with leading the line this year and will be singing She Got Me. Sweden are fourth favourites and you can get them at 9/1 currently, which provides strong value for a nation highly fancied.
The United Kingdom’s entry
This year, Michael Rice will be representing the UK with the song Bigger Than Us. The 21-year-old is still a relative newbie on the music scene and fans will recall him from the 2014 version of X Factor and the singing competition All Together Now which he won in 2018.
Unsurprisingly, the United Kingdom aren’t amongst the front-runners and bookies are predicting a fairly tough night in Tel Aviv. If you fancy the UK to pull off one of the competition’s biggest surprises, the 100/1 price will certainly provide great value for money. But your money might be better off punted elsewhere.