VIENNA — Vienna’s famed coffeehouses have embraced the Eurovision Song Contest. They have also been touched by tensions over Israel’s inclusion in the sequin-drenched pop music competition.
When officials announced a list of “Eurofan Cafes” — Vienna coffee shops offering food and music from competing countries — Israel was initially left out.
MQ Kantine, a modern café in the city’s arty museums quarter, offered to step in. Now it has falafel, bagels with lox and kosher wine on the menu, a string of small Israeli flags hanging from the ceiling — and a police officer outside the door.
Security is tight across Vienna during the international music contest, whose “United by Music” slogan rings sightly hollow this year. Five countries are boycotting because Israel is taking part. Pro-Palestinian activists are planning a protest concert — one of several Eurovision alternatives across Europe — and an anti-Israel march before Saturday’s grand final.
At MQ Kantine, volunteers take turns to monitor for potential trouble. But so far the mood has been supportive, said Daniel Kapp, a PR consultant and pro-Israel campaigner.
“It’s beautiful,” he said, as people drank coffee and beer on the café terrace in the spring sunshine, though he noted that the police officer on duty showed that all is “not entirely normal.”
“My feeling is that Austria to a certain degree has learned from its history,” Kapp said, referring to the deadly antisemitism under the Nazis before and during World War II. “Which is why the support for Israel is a lot more normal than it is in other countries.”
Israel has competed in Eurovision for more than 50 years, and won four times. But its participation has been contested since it launched a war in Gaza after 1,200 people were killed in a Hamas-led cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023. More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government and whose detailed records are viewed as generally reliable by the international community.
Israel’s government has repeatedly defended its campaign as a response to the Oct. 7 attack. But a number of experts, including those commissioned by a United Nations body, have said that Israel’s offensive in Gaza amounts to genocide. Israel, home to many Holocaust survivors and their relatives, has vigorously denied the claim.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon and the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran have driven tensions still higher.
The 2024 Eurovision contest in Malmo, Sweden, and last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland, saw pro-Palestinian protests that called for Israel to be expelled. Five countries — Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain — pulled out of the 2026 contest after organizers allowed Israel to compete.
Partying amid tight security
The tensions have produced a Eurovision of two halves. An upbeat party atmosphere prevails inside the Wiener Stadthalle arena and in the separate Eurovision Village fan zone. But getting in means passing through a ring of steel, with searches, scanners and a ban on all bags inside the arena. Armed police are a very visible presence on the streets.
Awareness of risk from terror plots is high in the city after a 21-year-old Austrian man accused of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group pleaded guilty to plotting to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024.
Israeli singer Noam Bettan told Israeli media that, like last year’s Israeli competitor Yuval Raphael, he practiced performing while being booed. There were scattered shouts amid the cheers when he performed in the first Eurovision semifinal on Tuesday. He secured a spot in Saturday’s final by being one of the top 10 finishers in voting by viewers and national juries.
Organizers said four people were removed from the 10,000-strong audience for disruptive behavior.
Austrian Eurovision fan Ivo Herzl, who attended the semifinal, said “the vibe was incredibly positive.” He is showing support for Israel by making and selling Mazel Lov T-shirts — a play on “mazel tov,” a Hebrew and Yiddish phrase of congratulations.
“Vienna has always been a city of tolerance,” Herzl said. “It’s the city of music and we’ll always do everything possible for everyone to enjoy a musical event.”
Some Israeli fans said they were reassured by the tight security. Oz Yona, attending his first Eurovision, said he had experienced “no hate” and felt Austria took antisemitism seriously.
He came with friends to cheer for Israel, though he was not optimistic about Bettan’s chances — for musical rather than political reasons.
“I don’t think he will win,” Yona said. “Finland is better this year. Greece is better this year. We have a good song, but not a winning song.”
Birgitta Peterson and Kristina Nilsson, who wear matching pink bomber jackets and call themselves the Swedish Ladies, love to explore new cities and meet up each year with their “Eurovision family” of fellow fans. They plan to wave Israeli flags at Saturday’s final, after Swedish contestant Felicia said earlier this year that she didn’t think Israel should be in the contest.
They say tensions over Israel have divided a fan community long known for its friendliness and embrace of diversity.
“The wounds are very deep at the moment,” Nilsson said.
“This event should really be about ‘united by music’ and happiness,” she added. “That’s what Eurovision is all about.”
The singer, whose real name is Darina Yotova, said at a press conference after her win: “I want to thank my husband, because he was the one to push me to come to Eurovision.
Because in the beginning I was not sure if I want to come or not, because I had anxiety and doubt with myself, and he was the one that he just pushed me, and he was like, ‘you need to go right now to Eurovision, right now, pick up your phone tell them you’re going’.”
The UK has received no points from the public vote for the fourth year in a row with the song Eins, Zwei, Drei.
23:58, 16 May 2026Updated 01:05, 17 May 2026
Bulgaria topped the Eurovision leaderboard but the UK was last
The UK was humiliated at the Eurovision Song Contest coming dead last with just one point. The UK has received no points from the public vote for the fourth year in a row at the 2026 final of the Eurovision Song Contest, leaving it in last place.
Look Mum No Computer, whose real name Sam Battle, picked up one point from the jury votes and zero from the public tonight with the song Eins, Zwei, Drei. Three previous UK acts – Remember Monday, Olly Alexander and Mae Muller – also received zero points from the public vote.
Some viewers were fuming with one saying: “SURELY it’s time for the BBC Eurovision team to be overhauled. Enough is enough. Why do we partake just to get 0 televotes every year. Viewers expect UK to be last or thereabouts every time because of the poor reputation the BBC has built up over the years.”
Another wrote: “The UK is home to some of history’s greatest songwriters… Queen, The Beatles, Adele, David Bowie, Elton John, Amy Winehouse, Phil Collins, George Michael, countless others. So why can we never do that heritage proud at Eurovision?”
The UK gave its 12 points to France in the jury vote of the Eurovision 2026 grand final. The result, presented by Strictly Come Dancing star La Voix, also saw Bulgaria awarded 10 points, Czechia awarded eight and Ukraine given seven.
Bulgaria’s Dara won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Bangaranga, finishing with 516 points, ahead of Israel’s Noam Bettan, with the song Michelle, on 343 points. Romania’s Alexandra Capitanescu, with the song Choke Me, finished third.
Dara said after winning: “I still don’t know what is going on, I want to thank all of the juries who gave us those points, we tried to give our best and I know every artist in this room is special and I got inspired by everybody… y’all amazing.”
UK act Look Mum No Computer appeared to have been ready for a low score, insisting before the competition that he was not worried. The YouTuber, 37, whose real name is Sam Battle, performed the song Eins, Zwei, Drei.
Asked if he has a fear of scoring nothing, he said: “No, in fact, there’s a T-shirt that I’m dreaming of saying, ‘Look Mum, No Points’ There’s an outcome where there’s still fun to be had, even if there is nul points.”
THE UK suffered yet another crushing Eurovision Song Contest defeat in tonight’s grand final.
Look Mum No Computer’s Sam Battle took to the stage to perform his bonkers entry titled Eins, Zwei, Drei.
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Look Mum No Computer’s Sam Battle finished at the bottom of the leaderboardCredit: AFPBulgaria secured the big win with pop singer’s Dara landing in top spotCredit: Getty
But it sadly wasn’t enough to win over the voters – landing just one point from the jury and zero points from the public, placing him in bottom spot.
The competition was won by Bulgaria after 25 acts battled it out on stage in Vienna, Austria at the Wiener Stadthalle.
Sam performed his upbeat hit, which was one of our most unconventional songs ever.
Last year’s UK entry – Remember Monday – finished in 19th place after performing What The Hell Just Happened? – landing zero points from the public.
Dara pipped Israel to take home the trophy for the 70th EurovisionCredit: ReutersSam divided fans with his performance tonightCredit: AFPDelta Goodrem blew fans away with her performance of EclipseCredit: ReutersIsrael’s Noam Bettan finished in second spotCredit: Getty
Pop star Dara’s high-energy song Bangaranga secured her the win.
Singer Dara came just ahead of Israel in the world’s biggest music competition, with an estimated audience of 160million.
Bulgaria’s best result is a second-place finish with Beautiful Mess performed by Kristian Kostov at the 2017 contest in Kyiv.
Dara performed a high pace dance routine while belting out her catchy tune in sync with her back-up dancers.
Strictly star La Voix was the United Kingdom’s very first Eurovision ‘spokesqueen’, and delivered the results of the UK’s National Jury live from Salford.
In an exclusive interview before tonight’s final, Sam said: “There are gonna be people that don’t like the UK for the sake of it being the UK, but that’s the way it is. We can’t change that.
“So we’ve just got to crack on. Keep calm and carry on.”
Due to its German title and lyrics about being “sick of munching roly-poly with custard” — and about how pounds “feel counterfeit” and needing “some euros to counter it” — some have interpreted it as an apology for Brexit.
He is also known for his madcap inventions — such as an organ made from Furbies and a synthesiser-equipped bike — which he shares with 721,000 YouTube subscribers.
Sam, 37, was picked for Eurovision by the BBC at the start of the year having made a name for himself by touring across Europe.
Sam recently admitted to The Sun that his song is like “marmite” and Eurovision fans couldn’t have agreed more.
One viewer wrote: “I can confidently say that the UK won’t be winning this year.”
A second posted: “What the hell was that UK Eurovision entry, looked like they picked the act out a pub raffle.”
A third echoed: “UK every year I think you can get any lower but this time I think you managed to do it.”
During tonight’s competition Israeli singer Noam Bettan performed their song Michelle.
At the start of tonight’s show, Graham Norton mentioned the five countries that had withdrawn from the competition.
He also noted that there was a “mixed response” in the hall, adding: “I’m not quite sure what we’re hearing”.
The crowd then booed when Israel’s entry was awarded a huge public vote – landing then in second spot.
Israel’s participation in the singing competition had sparked controversy.
The Eurovision walkouts followed the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) general assembly in Geneva on December 4, 2025.
EBU members voted on new rules to tighten voting and promotion guidelines, but did not put Israel’s participation itself to a separate vote – meaning Israeli broadcaster KAN was cleared to compete.
The boycotters have cited the war in Gaza and concerns over the integrity of recent contests.
Spain was the first of the contest’s Big Five broadcasters – the five biggest financial contributors – to officially confirm it was boycotting Eurovision.
THE glitter has settled, the nerve-shredding votes are in, and Europe has crowned its brand-new pop royalty for 2026.
In a night packed with spectacular high notes, outrageous outfits, and the usual dose of nail-biting voting drama, one country managed to come out on top.
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The Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest has come to an endCredit: AP
Whether your favourite act walked away with the grand prize or suffered the absolute dread of the infamous ‘nul points’ the night has not been short of entertainment.
Here is everything you need to know about who won Eurovision, how they managed to pull off the ultimate musical heist, and where the world’s biggest party is heading next year!
Who won Eurovision 2026?
Lifting the iconic glass microphone trophy for 2026 was Bulgaria.
The country came through at the last moment to smash its competitors out of the water on 516 points.
After hearing the result, Dara performed her song Bangaranga for a second time before lifting the iconic glass trophy.
It’s also the first time Bulgaria has ever won the contest.
DARA representing Bulgaria with the song Bangaranga was the winner of the 2026 Eurovision Song ContestCredit: Getty
The UK suffered yet another crushing defeat in tonight’s grand final as Look Mum No Computer’s Sam Battle sadly didn’t do enough to win over the voters.
He ended up with just one point from the jury and zero points from the public, placing him in the bottom spot.
Here is the breakdown of tonight’s votes in full:
JURY VOTES
Bulgaria: 204
Australia: 165
Denmark: 165
France: 144
Finland: 141
Italy: 134
Poland: 133
Israel: 123
Norway: 115
Czechia: 104
Malta: 81
Greece: 73
Romania: 64
Albania: 60
Ukraine: 54
Croatia: 53
Moldova: 43
Cyprus: 41
Serbia: 38
Belgium: 36
Sweden: 35
Germany: 12
Lithuania: 10
United Kingdom: 1
Austria: 1
AUDIENCE VOTES
Bulgaria: 312
Romania: 232
Israel: 220
Moldova: 183
Ukraine: 167
Greece: 147
Italy: 147
Finland: 138
Australia: 122
Albania: 85
Denmark: 78
Croatia: 71
Serbia: 52
Cyprus: 34
Norway: 19
Poland: 17
Sweden: 16
France: 14
Lithuania: 12
Czechia: 9
Malta: 8
Austria: 5
United Kingdom: 0
Germany: 0
Belgium: 0
FINAL RESULTS IN FULL
Bulgaria: 516
Israel: 343
Romania: 296
Australia: 287
Italy: 281
Finland: 279
Denmark: 243
Moldova: 226
Ukraine: 221
Greece: 220
France: 158
Poland: 150
Albania: 145
Norway: 134
Croatia: 124
Czechia: 113
Serbia: 90
Malta: 89
Cyprus: 75
Sweden: 51
Belgium: 36
Lithuania: 22
Germany: 12
Austria: 6
United Kingdom: 1
How was the winner decided?
Countries are unable to vote for themselves, but may vote for countries they consider friends.
This may be because the countries are close geographically, or if the nations have historical links, which could be culturally or in political terms.
The contest has been eager to avoid links to politics, with a view to avoiding bias.
The votes are split between public votes and national juries, often with celebrities from the various countries appearing to confirm where the juries have given their points.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and Strictly star, La Voix, announced the UK’s results.
Who will host Eurovision in 2027?
The victorious nation is handed the honour of hosting the following year’s competition.
That means, thanks to Dara’s success this year, Bulgaria will have the chance to welcome all the other competing countries in 2027.
The Eurovision Song Consest has closed out its milestone seventieth year as another winner of the international competition has been confirmed after a close call
00:04, 17 May 2026Updated 00:17, 17 May 2026
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest(Image: Jessica Gow/TT/Shutterstock)
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest. Singer DARA, 27, had been representing the country with Bangaranga and managed to reign supreme in the international competition by accumulating 516 points in total.
To cheers from around the stadium in Vienna, she then performed the track once again to close out the contest, and, in the process, confirming that it will all take place in Bulgaria next year. Just moments before her big win, DARA admitted: “Honey, I still do not know what’s going on.
“I want to thank everyone who gave us those points, we really tried to give our best. Thank you so much for the whole show.”
Last year’s winner, JJ, then presented the trophy as he screamed: “Oh my god, I love you, congratulations girl!” It all got tense in the last few moments as it was either going to be Israel or Bulgaria but, in the end, Bulgaria stormed ahead with having been awarded an incredible amount of points.
Things didn’t end so well for the United Kingdom as Look Mum No Computer crashed out of the competition with just one point.
The YouTuber, whose real name Sam Battle, picked up one point from the jury votes and zero from the public tonight. Three previous acts – Remember Monday, Olly Alexander and Mae Muller – also received zero points from the public vote.
The UK gave its 12 points to France in the jury vote of the Eurovision 2026 grand final. The result, presented by Strictly Come Dancing star La Voix, also saw Bulgaria awarded 10 points, Czechia awarded eight and Ukraine given seven.
The social media star was fairly optimistic just hours beforehand, but it just wasn’t to be. Asked if he has a fear of scoring nothing, he said: “No, in fact, there’s a T-shirt that I’m dreaming of saying, ‘Look Mum, No Points’ There’s an outcome where there’s still fun to be had, even if there is nul points.”
Sam admitted that while it was a “very risky” track to put forward to represent the nation, he is confident that he has put a lot of effort into making it right for the big night.
Speaking to The Sun, he added: “It’s got a good ring to it, even though I have a feeling in my crystal ball, I might be wrong — and don’t hold me to this — I do think we’re gonna get points.
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Sam Battle married his wife Melanie in 2012Credit: Instagram
But the competition gets real this evening for Sam Battle, who is representing the UK with his single Eins, Zwei, Drei, because there can only be one winner.
Speaking about Eurovision in a press conference ahead of the final, the artist said: “It has been a lot of work, especially as I have just become a new dad at the same time as prepping for Eurovision.”
On his YouTube channel with more than 700k subscribers, he posts videos about making pro audio gear and synthesizers, as well as original music tracks.
The YouTuber also runs This Museum Is Not Obsolete, a museum in Ramsgate, Kent, showcasing vintage devices repurposed for comic uses.
Sam has been curious about mechanics since early childhood, when he spent much of his time building rockets and robots.
After starting a university course in chemistry, he realised that he “was really not cut out for that” and switched to a music tech course instead.
However, he still quit his studies halfway through to join a music band in London for three years.
Stuck with an album that wasn’t being released and no gigs, Sam used this time to learn electronics.
He worked in numerous jobs, from fixing bicycles at Halfords to cooking in a restaurant, before before setting up indie-rock group ZIBRA with his three friends.
They performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 2015 as the final act on the BBC Introducing stage.
The musician launched his YouTube channel in 2013, primarily posting content for the the band — until its end in 2016 when he switched to his solo music project.
His younger sister Jodie Bartle, who appears in the music clip for Eins, Zwei, Drei by Look Mum No Computer, plays football for Wrexham.
In 2025, Sam developed a video game in collaboration with German indie studio The Bitfather and publisher Headup Games.
The game, called Look Mum No Computer, was nominated for the German Developer Award for Best Audio Design.
Who is Look Mum No Computer’s wife Melanie?
Sam Battle has been married to his wife Melanie for more than a decade.
On her Instagram, Melanie shared that she met Sam after “nicking a piece of plastic from outside of [his] house”.
The couple tied the knot in 2012 and have three children together.
Originally from Manchester, Melania King now lives in Ramsgate, KentCredit: Facebook
Dr Melanie King is an awarded artist and curator based in Ramsgate who specialises in astronomy, alternative and analogue photography.
She works as a co-director of Lumen Studios, an art collective exploring the themes of astronomy and light, and super/collider, an independent agency that “celebrates and champions the connections between science, creativity and culture”.
In 2013, Melanie founded the London Alternative Photography Collective, which has grown from a small group of analogue and alternative photography practitioners to a collective producing large-scale symposiums, exhibitions and workshops.
Recently completing her PhD in Fine Art at the Royal College of Art, the mum-of-three also teaches Photography at Canterbury Christ Church University.
The couple welcomed their baby boy Max in April 2026, as Sam had been working hard on his performance in the iconic song contest.
On his Instagram page, the musician has recently posted more photos of the baby, adding: “Not long till he (Max) will be holding a soldering iron and helping!”
Sarah Engels is representing Germany at Eurovision 2026Credit: AFPShe performed during the first semi-final on May 12, but Germany had already qualified as part of this year’s Big Four nationsCredit: EPA
Who is Germany’s Eurovision entrant Sarah Engels?
Sarah Engels, 33, is a German singer and TV personality of Italian descent who has been a household name in her homeland for more than a decade.
She first burst onto the scene in 2011 when she finished as runner-up on the eighth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS) – Germany’s equivalent of The X Factor.
Her debut single Call My Name reached number two in the German charts and earned her an Echo Award nomination.
Engels, who was previously known by her married name Sarah Lombardi, has carved out an incredibly successful career on German reality TV.
She also works as a presenter, actress and voice artist.
Since November 2025, Sarah has been playing the lead role of Satine in the Cologne production of hit musical Moulin Rouge!
In her personal life, Sarah married fellow DSDS star Pietro Lombardi – who won the show the same year she came second – in March 2013.
The couple welcomed son Alessio in 2015, but split a year later.
She later tied the knot with former footballer Julian Büscher in May 2021, with the groom taking her surname.
Their daughter Solea was born later that year.
What is her Eurovision song ‘Fire’ about?
On February 28, Sarah was crowned Germany’s Eurovision pick after winning the national final Berlin.
She pipped wavvyboi’s Black Glitter and Molly Sue’s Optimist (Ha Ha Ha), with 38.3% of the public vote.
Fire was written by Sarah alongside Dario Schürmann, Luisa Heinemann, Raphael Lott and Valentin Boes.
On the surface, it is a punchy synth-pop banger about a lying, two-faced ex.
In the lyrics, Sarah brands a former flame a “vampire” who only comes out at night, telling him to stop denying his deceit and saying: “Boy, I’m out of your league”.
But the song’s deeper message is one of empowerment, solidarity and self-determination.
These themes are close to Sarah’s heart thanks to her foundation Stiftung Starke Mädchen, or Strong Girls, which she set up to inspire young women.
Sarah said taking part in Eurovision was a chance to share her message, “which comes deep from my heart”.
She added: “My motto for Vienna is: I’m on fire. I truly have no fear at all – I’m just incredibly excited.”
As one of Eurovision’s Big Four, Germany has automatic qualification to Saturday’s Grand Final at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle.
The country has won the contest twice – in 1982 with Nicole’s Ein bißchen Frieden, and also in 2010 with Lena’s Satellite.
Look Mum No Computer is representing the UKCredit: AP
What is the Eurovision 2026 running order?
The running order for tonight’s Eurovision 2026 Grand Final was confirmed after the conclusion of the second semi-final on Thursday.
The running order for tonight is as follows:
Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – Før Vi Går Hjem
Germany: Sarah Engels – Fire
Israel: Noam Bettan – Michelle
Belgium: ESSYLA – Dancing on the Ice
Albania: Alis – Nân
Greece: Akylas – Ferto
Ukraine: LELÉKA – Ridnym
Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse
Serbia: LAVINA – Kraj Mene
Malta: AIDAN – Bella
Czechia: Daniel Zizka – CROSSROADS
Bulgaria: DARA – Bangaranga
Croatia: LELEK – Andromeda
United Kingdom: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER – Eins, Zwei, Drei
France: Monroe – Regarde !
Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova!
Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin
Poland: ALICJA – Pray
Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – Sólo Quiero Más
Sweden: FELICIA – My System
Cyprus: Antigoni – JALLA
Italy: Sal Da Vinci – Per Sempre Sì
Norway: JONAS LOVV – YA YA YA
Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – Choke Me
Austria: COSMÓ – Tanzschein
How can I watch Eurovision 2026?
Coverage will start in the UK on the BBC and BBC iPlayer at 8pm, with Graham Norton returning to his regular commentary role.
The show will last for almost three hours, coverage ending at 11.50pm, when the BBC will switch to the news.
Who is UK entrant Look Mum No Computer?
Look Mum No Computer is the alias of Sam Battle, originating from the name of his YouTube channel dedicated to creative audio electronics projects.
The artist also uses it as his stage name when performing as a musician.
The name is inspired by the phrase “look mum, no hands”, used by kids when they are learning to cycle.
It highlights the artist’s bold, anti-digital approach to making music where he builds his own synthesizers and hardware, such as his famous Furby organ.
Favourites Finland winning a place in the finalCredit: APThe UK is represented by Look Mum No Computer, who will perform his song Eins, Zwei, Drei with a guaranteed Grand Final slotCredit: PA
What happened in the first Eurovision semi-final?
A total of 15 countries competed for 10 Grand Final spots on Tuesday night.
Pre-qualified Italy and Germany were slotted in after the sixth and 10th songs respectively.
Both nations were performing and voting, but not competing for a place in the final.
After all acts had performed, it was down to Eurovision fans to vote for who they want to see in Saturday’s final.
Just ten countries were picked and they were:
Moldova – Satoshi, Viva, Moldova!
Sweden – Felicia, My System
Croatia – Lelek, Andromeda
Greece – Akylas, Ferto
Finland – Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, Liekinheitin
Israel – Noam Bettan, Michelle
Belgium – Essyla, Dancing on the Ice
Lithuania – Lion Ceccah, Sólo quiero más
Poland – Alicja, Pray
Serbia – Lavina, Kraj mene
Viewers in the UK were not able to vote during the first semi-final, but things are going to change tonight.
Greece also made it through to Saturday night’s finalCredit: AFPBoy George performed with San Marino’s Senhit, but sadly they didn’t make it thoughCredit: AFP
What is the Eurovision semi-final 2 running order?
The second Eurovision semi-final follows at 8pm on Thursday, May 14, live on BBC One and iPlayer.
Another 15 countries will battle it out for the remaining 10 places.
Pre-qualified France, Austria and the UK will slot in after the fifth, eighth and 12th songs respectively.
These countries are performing and voting, but not competing for a place in the final.
The order for the second semi is as follows:
Bulgaria – Dara, Bangaranga
Azerbaijan – JIVA, Just Go
Romania – Alexandra Căpitănescu, Choke Me
Luxembourg – Eva Marija, Mother Nature
Czechia – Daniel Žižka, Crossroads
France (non-competing) – Monroe, Regarde !
Armenia – Simón, Paloma Rumba
Switzerland – Veronica Fusaro, Alice
Cyprus – Antigoni, Jalla
Austria (non-competing) – Cosmó, Tanzschein
Latvia – Atvara, Ēnā
Denmark – Søren Torpegaard Lund, Før vi går hjem
Australia – Delta Goodrem, Eclipse
Ukraine – Leléka, Ridnym
United Kingdom (non-competing) – Look Mum No Computer, Eins, Zwei, Drei
Albania – Alis, Nân
Malta – Aidan, Bella
Norway – Jonas Lovv, Ya Ya Ya
This is the show where UK fans can pick up the phone and vote.
When is the Eurovision Grand Final?
The Eurovision 2026 Grand Final takes place on Saturday, May 16, with the show getting underway at 8pm on BBC One, iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
A whopping 25 acts will perform – the top 10 countries from each semi-final, alongside hosts Austria and the Big Four of Germany, France, Italy and the UK.
The full Grand Final running order won’t be locked in until after the second semi-final.
A draw will decide if each of the qualifying nations is slotted into the first or second half of the show.
Another draw has already determined that Austria are the closing act, meaning the host country is set to be the 25th and final performance of the night.
Graham Norton is back behind the mic for the BBC’s live coverage, with former Drag Race winner Tia Kofi heading up the broadcaster’s backstage and digital coverage.
Look Mum No Computer will perform in the semi-final on Thursday night, but has already got a place in Saturday’s live grand final
(Image: Jessica Gow/TT/Shutterstock)
She was parachuted in to take on the role vacated by Scott Mills – now new Eurovision Song Contest presenter Angela Scanlon is backing the UK to do well on Saturday.
The bookies have so far placed our act Look Mum No Computer way down in 18th place, with odds of 250-1 to triumph.
But everything could change after viewers get to see the full staging in Thursday’s semi-final, including some “risky moves” by performer Sam Battle, whose song is a fusion of synths and electronic-bass.
At one point he is rumoured to be standing on a table being carried by a team of four dancers. “There’s something really exciting about an act that feels completely original – and that’s what he brings in spades,” Angela told the Mirror. “Eins, Zwei, Drei has personality, energy, and that slightly unpredictable edge that Eurovision audiences love. If the performance lands the way it promises to, I think it could really connect. And ultimately, that’s what it’s all about – creating a moment people remember.”
The Your Home Made Perfect presenter, 42, is thrilled to be hosting the two semi-finals on BBC1 alongside Rylan Clark this year, describing the event as “the world’s biggest music festival, talent show, and theatrical spectacular all rolled into one.” But she admitted that the complicated voting system, which incorporates votes from national juries as well as viewers at home all over the world, would again “test your emotional resilience”.
One source who has seen the UK’s rehearsal said: “Sam could surprise everyone with his staging. He’s very cool and there are some risky elements with him dancing on top of things. It’s precarious and a bit dangerous.”
On Thursday Look Mum No Computer will take part in the second semi – even though the UK’s place in Saturday’s final is guaranteed. Others performing on the night include former Neighbours star and judge of The Voice Delta Goodrem, for Australia, and ex-Love Islander Antigoni Buxton, who is singing for Cyprus.
Other countries vying to get through the second semi-final include Ukraine, Bulgaria and Denmark.
Rylan, who has been part of the BBC’s Eurovision coverage since 2018, when he took over from Mel Giedroyc, said he loved getting into the commentary box and meeting up with international friends old and new. “There are commentary teams from all over Europe and in that week, you all get to know each other pretty well,” he explained. “After doing it for so long, the commentary box level is one big party, and I love seeing my fellow commentators from other countries.”
Rylan was said to have been “devastated” when Mills lost his job at the BBC in March, because they had become close friends outside of work. Mills was sacked from the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show over personal misconduct relating to “serious sexual offences against a teenage boy”. A police probe which ended in 2019 found insufficient evidence to bring charges.
But he was also informed that he will not work for the BBC again.
Despite this Rylan, 37, has vowed to enjoy himself while in Austria for the ESC. “This year we’re heading to Vienna to have some fun.,” he insisted. “Is there anything that’s not been done? We’ve had butter churning, singing in the rain, and even Bonnie Tyler singing on a mechanical lift. It’s unique. And that’s what Eurovision is all about – the unexpected.”
The current favourite to triumph on Saturday is Finland, with Greece, Denmark, France and Australia also looking strong.
The UK has not won for 29 years, but came close in 2022 when Sam Ryder finished in second place with Space Man, drawing 466 points. Last year’s UK entry Remember Monday came 19 th with 88 points and the previous year Olly Alexander finished 18th with 46 points.
– Eurovision Song Contest, BBC1, Thursday 8pm and Saturday 8pm
Singer Delta Goodrem is hoping to turn Australia’s Eurovision fortunes aroundCredit: GettyDelta will compete in the second Eurovision Semi-Final live in ViennaCredit: EPA
The reality star is representing Cyprus with her song Jalla.
Australia, who have competed in the contest since 2015, has failed to make it past the semi-finals since 2023, when Voyager’s track Promise saw them finish in ninth place in Liverpool.
Speaking to Bizarre, Delta revealed she has put just as much effort into the production of her performance as she has the song itself.
Delta said: “I have definitely been learning on the job.
“This is my first ever Eurovision. The staging is just as important as the song.
“When I was working on the track, I wanted to make sure there was a lyric that lends itself to a journey in the production.
“I wrote it thinking about what the staging looks like and what exactly we are saying in the song.”
Delta revealed she has put just as much effort into the production of her performance as she has the song itselfCredit: EPAThe Sun’s Jack pictured alongside Delta
Admitting she was like a kid in a candy store when choosing her stage effects, Delta added: “You can do all sorts of things.
“They give you a long list.. honestly, what an amazing opportunity.
“You can have fire, wind, you name it. I felt like I was going shopping.”
Last year’s 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland, was watched by a staggering 166 million people.
However, Delta insists she isn’t fazed by the massive global audience set to watch her tonight.
She said: “It doesn’t matter if it’s Hackney, the Commonwealth Games, Eurovision, or my outdoor pop-up in Camden earlier this year, I care just as much about every single performance.
“My game plan is simple, stay true to myself and bring it.”
While Delta is determined to make her country proud, she isn’t taking things too seriously.
In fact, she says bonding with fellow contestants has been a highlight.
Delta said: “Eurovision is completely its own world. I met a lot of artists in Oslo earlier this year and you naturally find your friends. Denmark’s Soren Torpegaar came up to me and told me how he went to one of my shows the last time I was in Denmark. It was really sweet.
Five nations get to avoid competing in the Eurovision semi-finals this yearCredit: ReutersThe UK is represented by Look Mum No Computer, who is guaranteed a slot in the Grand Final
Can I vote in the Eurovision semi-final tonight?
In short – no.
Aside from enjoying the show, UK viewers are unable to take part in tonight’s Eurovision semi-final.
This is because we have been drawn into the second semi-final on Thursday May 14, 2026.
Eurovision rules state that you can only vote in the semi-final in which your country is performing.
That means Brits will have to wait until Thursday to vote, when viewers can have their say alongside France and host nation Austria, as well as the 15 competing nations.
How do you vote in the Eurovision semi-final?
UK viewers will be able to vote on Thursday.
Don’t worry, as full instructions will flash up on screen during the BBC broadcast.
The official website explains: “If you’re in a participating country, you can vote by phone or SMS.
“The instructions you will need will be on the screen during the broadcast, and you can also find them atesc.vote.
“Voting opens after the last song has been performed. You can vote up to 10 times, and you’ll have around 18 minutes to do so. Use your power wisely.”
You cannot vote for the UK’s own entry, in line with long-standing Eurovision rules designed to prevent home-nation advantage.
Why does the UK only take part in one semi-final?
The UK is a member of the Eurovision Big Five alongside France, Germany, Italy and Spain, all of whom automatically qualify for the Grand Final.
These nations are are the biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – the organisation that runsEurovision.
That pre-qualified status means the UK does not have to fight its way through the semi-finals, but is instead allocated to broadcast and vote in one of the two semis.
For 2026, Germany and Italy were drawn into the first semi-final, while the UK and France will join Austria in the second.
Spain has, however, pulled out of the contest entirely in protest of Israel’s participation amid the Gaza war, alongside Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia.
When are the two Eurovision 2026 semi-finals?
The Eurovision 2026 semi-finals will take place ahead of Saturday’s showpiece, with 30 of the 35 nations battling it out for 20 Grand Final spots.
Both start at 8pm and are live onBBC One and iPlayer, with the first on tonight – Tuesday, May 12 – and the second following on Thursday, May 14.
Rylan and Angela Scanlon will be providing commentary from the Wiener Stadthalle during both semis.
The order for the first semi-final is as follows:
Moldova – Satoshi, Viva, Moldova!
Sweden – Felicia, My System
Croatia – Lelek, Andromeda
Greece – Akylas, Ferto
Portugal – Bandidos do Cante, Rosa
Georgia – Bzikebi, On Replay
Italy (non-competing) – Sal Da Vinci, Per sempre sì
Finland – Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, Liekinheitin
Montenegro – Tamara Živković, Nova zora
Estonia – Vanilla Ninja, Too Epic to Be True
Israel – Noam Bettan, Michelle
Germany (non-competing) – Sarah Engels, Fire
Belgium – Essyla, Dancing on the Ice
Lithuania – Lion Ceccah, Sólo quiero más
San Marino – Senhit, Superstar (featuring Boy George)
Poland – Alicja, Pray
Serbia – Lavina, Kraj mene
While the schedule for the second semi-final is:
Bulgaria – Dara, Bangaranga
Azerbaijan – JIVA, Just Go
Romania – Alexandra Căpitănescu, Choke Me
Luxembourg – Eva Marija, Mother Nature
Czechia – Daniel Žižka, Crossroads
France (non-competing) – Monroe, Regarde !
Armenia – Simón, Paloma Rumba
Switzerland – Veronica Fusaro, Alice
Cyprus – Antigoni, Jalla
Austria (non-competing) – Cosmó, Tanzschein
Latvia – Atvara, Ēnā
Denmark – Søren Torpegaard Lund, Før vi går hjem
Australia – Delta Goodrem, Eclipse
Ukraine – Leléka, Ridnym
United Kingdom (non-competing) – Look Mum No Computer, Eins, Zwei, Drei
EUROVISION 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most controversial editions of the contest in its 70-year history.
Five countries have confirmed they are not sending entries to Vienna, and some won’t even be airing the show on national TV.
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A number of nations are boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest 2026Credit: ReutersNoam Bettan is representing Israel with his song MichelleCredit: @EurovisionSongContest / Youtube
Why is the Eurovision 2026 boycott happening?
The Eurovision walkouts followed the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) general assembly in Geneva on December 4, 2025.
EBU members voted on new rules to tighten voting and promotion guidelines, but did not put Israel’s participation itself to a separate vote – meaning Israeli broadcaster KAN was cleared to compete.
The boycotters have cited the war in Gaza and concerns over the integrity of recent contests.
Which countries are boycotting Eurovision 2026?
Spain was the first of the contest’s Big Five broadcasters – the five biggest financial contributors – to officially confirm it was boycotting Eurovision.
Secretary general of Spanish national broadcaster RTVE, Alfonso Morales, said: “We would like to express our serious doubts about the participation of Israeli broadcaster KAN in Eurovision 2026.
“The situation in Gaza, despite the ceasefire and the approval of the peace process, and Israel’s use of the contest for political purposes, make it increasingly difficult to maintain Eurovision as a neutral cultural event.”
A statement from Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ added: “RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”
Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, in a statement from director general Taco Zimmerman, said: “Culture connects, but not at any cost. What has happened over the past year touches on our boundaries.
“Universal values such as humanity and freedom of the press have been seriously violated and are non-negotiable for us.”
Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO’s chair Natalija Gorščak said: “For the third year in a row, the public has demanded that we say no to the participation of any country that attacks another country.
“We must follow European standards for peace and understanding.”
Iceland’s RÚV became the fifth country to confirm a boycott, with the broadcaster saying in a press release: “Given the public debate in this country and the reactions to the decision of the EBU that was taken last week, it is clear that neither joy nor peace will prevail regarding the participation of RÚV in Eurovision.”
What has Israel said about the boycott?
Israeli broadcaster KAN has defended its right to participate.
Addressing EBU members during the general assembly in Geneva, KAN CEO Golan Yochpaz said: “The attempt to remove KAN from the contest can only be understood as a cultural boycott.
“A boycott may begin today with Israel, but no one knows where it will end or who else it may harm.
“Are EBU members willing to be part of a step that harms freedom of creation and freedom of expression?”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed the EBU’s decision in a post on X, writing: “Israel deserves to be represented on every stage around the world, a cause to which I am fully and actively committed.
“I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding.
“Thank you to all our friends who stood up for Israel’s right to continue to contribute and compete at Eurovision.
“This decision demonstrates solidarity, fellowship, and cooperation, and reinforces the spirit of affinity between nations through culture and music.”
Israel is being represented at Eurovision 2026 by Noam Bettan with the song Michelle.
The Eurovision 2026 semi-finals are scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 14, while the Grand Final is set to take place on Saturday, May 16.
The Eurovision Song Contest is back once again and viewers around the world will be looking forward to their annual fix of the international music competition when it all kicks off this week
15:11, 11 May 2026Updated 15:11, 11 May 2026
Graham Norton will be front and centre for the grand final of Eurovision, with Angela Scanlon and Rylan Clark providing coverage throughout the week(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/BBC Studios)
The Eurovision Song Contest is back once again – with several acts from around the world ready to wow viewers in the hopes of winning the international competition.
In total, 35 countries will take part in the semi-finals whilst 25 will make it to the grand final of the whole thing, which will take place on Saturday 16 May. For the United Kingdom, YouTube star LookMumNoComputer will be on hand with Eins, Zwei, Drei, following on from entrants of recent years like Sam Ryder, Mae Muller, Olly Alexander and Remember Monday.
With current bookies’ odds of 5/4, Finland look set to become victorious this time round. The song is titled Liekinheitin, and it will be performed by violinist Linda Lampenius and singer-songwriter Pete Parkkonen.
Speaking about the track, the pair told The Independent: “The story behind this song is actually quite deep and sad. It’s about when you get involved with someone and let them fall in love with you, but when they get too close, you turn ice cold.
“The protagonist in Liekinheitin can either be seen as the victim of someone’s behaviour, or as a person who becomes addicted to other people, even when they know that the relationship will never evolve. It symbolises the passion these two people are experiencing, but it’s also the desperation that could kill you.”
Hot on their heels is Greece, with bookies giving the country odds of 6/1 after it was announced that Akylas will be representing them with the track Ferto. Over the years, Finland, who have competed a total of 58 times since debuting in 1961, have finished in last place on 11 occasions and won in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah, which was performed by Lordi.
Just one year before their victory, Greece won with Helena Paparizou, who performed the track My Number One four years after she initially finished in third place with Die For You when she was part of the Eurodance duo Antique alongside Nikos Panagiotidis.
The semi-finals will kick off on Tuesday 12 May at 9pm on BBC One and will be hosted by Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon, who will return to front the second heat at the same time on Thursday evening. Over on the radio, Sara Cox will be on hand with her commentary at the same time, and will also occupy a Wednesday slot from 4pm to 7pm.
Friday will see Murder on the Dancefloor singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor head up Eurovision Kitchen Disco for BBC Radio 2 from 9pm to 11pm, and will be back at 1pm on Saturday afternoon for Your Ultimate Eurovision Superstar! She will follow on from Dermot O’Leary, who will take to the airwaves from 8am until 10am and celebrate the song contest with his Radio 2 show.
Everything will come to a head at 8pm on Saturday 16 May when Graham Norton will be back to provide coverage as one country will be crowned the latest champion of the contest. International viewers may be able to stream the contest on its official YouTube channel but, in the UK, it remains exclusive to BBC One.
THE hot contender to win Eurovision has a steamy past, having posed topless for Playboy and appeared on Baywatch.
Glamorous violinist Linda Lampenius is the bookies’ favourite to win next week’s contest with singer Peter Parkkonen, representing Finland with their song Liekinheitin.
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Linda Lampenius, Finland’s Eurovision hopeful, once posed topless for Playboy and appeared on Baywatch before becoming the bookies’ favourite to win this year’s contestCredit: Rex FeaturesLinda poses in front of her Playboy cover at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills in March 1998Credit: Getty
But she is no stranger to fame, as she has an illustrious career as one of the nation’s sexiest musicians.
Linda, now 56, posed on the cover of US magazine Playboy in 1998 and appeared topless while holding her instrument in photos inside the mag.
She was compared to Pamela Anderson because of her stunning figure and blonde hair, which led to an appearance on Baywatch.
Linda, who has also used the name Linda Brava, appeared in an episode playing a violinist named Ariana, but she later claimed to have refused to shoot certain scenes with David Hasselhoff, who played lifeguard Mitch Buchannon.
She said the script included the pair giving each other massages before they “find themselves in a steam room sharing a hot kiss.”
But Linda recalled: “I said that I refused to do the scene and that Hasselhoff was also ‘too old’ for me.”
She also appeared on an episode of the British late-night show Eurotrash in the Nineties, where she was referred to as a “supermodel” and “the hottest thing to come out of Finland since the sauna.”
Reflecting on the TV show appearance and her previous work in 2018, Linda said it was a small part of her life which she still laughs about.
Linda also appeared on Nineties late-night show Eurotrash, where she was dubbed a ‘supermodel’ and ‘the hottest thing to come out of Finland since the sauna’Credit: GettyLinda Lampenius and singer Pete ParkkonenCredit: AFP
She wrote on Instagram: “These fashion shows and photo shoots were something I did for less than 20 days of my life!! (I’m just laughing about the fact that they called me ‘supermodel’).
“If you get stuck in a box and never dare to do anything funny and different, life will become boring. Eurotrash was a humorous TV show, like a comedy show.
“I come from a theatre family and all quirky stuff is normal. It doesn’t make me less of a classical violinist/artist.”
Linda and Pete will compete in the first Eurovision semi-final at 8pm on Tuesday on BBC One, with hopes of progressing to the 70th annual grand final on Saturday May 16.
The latest odds from William Hill give Finland odds of 5/4 to win the entire contest, just in front of Denmark and Greece which are both at 11/2.
If Linda does win, she will be the oldest person to ever do so.
Estonia’s Dave Benton currently holds the record after winning aged 50 for Estonia in 2001.
Meanwhile, the UK act Look Mum No Computer is 17th in the betting with odds of 80/1 to win with his song Eins, Zwei, Drei.
“A challenge like this is definitely not in Ella’s comfort zone but she wanted to experience something new and push herself. Both Sam and Ella are competitive and they’re in it to win it.
“They filmed the show earlier this year but their fans will have to wait until it airs before they can see who did the best.”
Earlier this month, I revealed that Sky Sports legend Jeff Stelling had signed up to take part with his son Matt.
They’re also competing against Junior and Princess Andre — who are making their reality TV contest debut together.
On Friday, Sam was one of Chris Evans’ first guests on his new run of TFI Unplugged on Channel 4, to promote his telly series Your Song with Paloma Faith and Alison Hammond.
Sam’s show invites amateur singers to take to the stage in a live roadshow across the UK.
Sam explained: “It’s berserk. We go up and down the country, we bring a stage with us for people who have probably never sung in public before with a live band. They come, share a story and sing a song that’s attributed to that. The connection you see being made is beautiful.”
On working with Paloma and Alison, Sam joked: “They’re mad as a box of frogs but great to be around. All of our laughs are so cackly, it’s unreal.
“The three of us laughing together is like the Witches Of Eastwick.”
Sam added: “There is no winning a record deal. There is an event at the end of it and every singer is invited — they rinse the free bar, and a couple of people from each round perform on the night. That is the prize.
“It’s a show that’s got heart.”
LOOK MUM, I’M ALL SET
THERE is less than a month to go until Eurovision and the UK act is now out of the gates, with Look Mum No Computer giving his first live performance of zany track Eins, Zwei, Drei.
The singer– whose real name is Sam Battle – performed at the London Eurovision Party on Sunday night, but admitted it was a struggle to get there after becoming a dad less than a fortnight ago.
Look Mum No Computer is giving his first live performance of zany track Eins, Zwei, DreiCredit: GettyThe singer– whose real name is Sam Battle – performed at the London Eurovision Party on Sunday nightCredit: GettyBoy George and Italian Senhit are representing San MarinoCredit: Getty
In an exclusive chat with Bizarre’s Howell, he confessed: “The concept of sleep is something I fondly miss.”
But it isn’t just his newborn Max who has taken up his time, as he has also built his set for the contest in Vienna.
The YouTuber and inventor said: “Just before we went to the hospital for the baby, I was finishing the props – making and soldering all the bits for Eurovision.
“I didn’t build all of the props – the BBC didn’t trust my welding! – but I’ve built the synthesiser bits for it, and it’s already on a lorry on the way to Vienna.”
Sam has also been working on his voice and dance moves as he prepares for the contest, which starts on May 12.
He added: “I’ve been singing, and I’ve also been working out. I just need to get my stamina up.”
On his staging, he said: “It’s quite complicated. There are some things that require coordination, which is not my forte. I’ve got two left feet.
But (choreographer) Benke Rydman, who I’m working with on the stage setup – he’s very much pushing my boundaries.”
Also at the event in London on Sunday was Boy George, who features on the San Marino act Senhit’s song Superstar.
He was in chipper spirits before the show and spent over an hour talking to journalists, so I’m sure he’ll be hoping to one-up our British act at the final on May 16.
ARNIE TO BACK AUSTRIA
HE is the most famous living Austrian and despite it being rather at odds with his macho persona, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been invited back to his home nation to attend the Eurovision final.
I’m told that organisers are preparing for the Terminator star to be in the audience at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, with the hope that his presence will help celebrate Austrian culture and draw in viewers.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been invited back to his home nation to attend the Eurovision finalCredit: Getty
Arnie already has a surprising soft spot for the contest after meeting with 2022’s Ukrainian winners KALUSH ORCHESTRA and then starring in the music video to their song Shchedryi Vechir in 2023.
Reflecting on the response after they won, frontman Oleh Psiuk previously said: “In Los Angeles, we met Arnold, who has been actively supporting Ukrainians since the early days of the war.
“He invited us over to his house and came out to greet us with a pet donkey.
“We talked about the situation in Ukraine and thanked him for his support and shared how important it was to us.”
Unfortunately though, I don’t think the movie hero’s donkey will be coming with him to the final.
APPLE Music is getting behind Eurovision in a big way, with the streaming service conducting interviews with all the key stars which will air in the run-up to the event.
And you can get to the heart of this year’s songs on Apple Music’s Eurovision 2026 official playlist, which has translated and phonetic lyrics for each of the tracks.
NOW WOODY TELLS HIS OWN TOY STORY
WITH Toy Story 5 hitting cinemas on June 19, the bigwigs over at Mattel invited Bizarre to visit their top-secret studios in LA – where characters Woody and Buzz were once again working their magic before our eyes.
Nick Karamanos at Mattel revealed: “We are bringing to life what happened in Andy’s room for the first time.” (Andy is the central child character in the original film.)
And that means fans of the films won’t just hear Tom Hanks and Tim Allen voicing the characters on screen – they’ll be able to hear them having full-blown conversations in their own homes.
The new Toy Story 5 toy range lets Buzz and Woody actually talk to each other, with no imagination required.
And Hollywood star Tom’s brother Jim Hanks was brought into the studio to bring the speaking toy version of Woody to life.
Mattel designer Baxter Crane explained: “He sounds just like him (Tom), and he knows how to sound like him. He said, ‘To be Tom you’ve just got to yell more, like whatever you wanna say you’ve just got to yell it instead.’
“And it really worked – he sounds just like his brother.”
The craftsmanship behind it all is next level, with Nick revealing that Mattel still uses manual sewing machines to make the characters’ clothes.
Nick explained: “When we think about Toy Story and taking inspiration, a lot of it is just being true to what the characters are and what is the best way to bring them to life.”
It’s not just Toy Story characters being reimagined either, with Camila Mendes, Idris Elba and Nicholas Galitzine all working with Mattel to create figures for Masters Of The Universe.
Andy and his pals will go on sale this Sunday, just in time to get us all excited about the film’s release.
Despite this, I hear fans of the Stones will be able to see Ronnie in action at a top-secret gig later this year.
Fans of the Stones will be able to see Ronnie Wood in action at a top-secret gig later this yearCredit: Getty
My music moles say he is putting on a special, intimate show at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, on August 31.
They revealed: “Ronnie is doing a show and some big rock names will join him. This isn’t a Stones gig, so it’s not with Mick and Keith, it’s other well-known industry names.
“So far, he’s got Imelda May on board to sing and Ronnie is currently talking to other artists about getting involved.
“He absolutely loves to play live. The show should be announced next week, with tickets on sale soon after.”
Confirming the gig, Ronnie told me: “I’m looking forward to kickin’ ass with my back catalogue and some new songs – look out London!”
I revealed last month that the band was back with a brand new record, and that the legends had signed up actress Odessa A’Zion to star in their comeback video.
Last week, they proved their fan base is still crazy for their music. The Stones released an ultra-limited white label vinyl single, Rough And Twisted, under the alias The Cockroaches – with all copies snapped up within seconds.
They are now being flogged online for more than a grand.
HUGH’S PREMIERE LEAGUE
HUGH JACKMAN and his actress girlfriend Sutton Foster couldn’t have looked happier as they attended his latest movie premiere – three years after he split from his wife.
The Greatest Showman actor stepped out in a blue suit to the launch of The Sheep Detectives in New York City on Sunday evening, alongside Sutton in a sequin gown.
Hugh Jackman stepped out in a blue suit to the launch of The Sheep Detectives in New York CityCredit: Getty
He moved on after his 27-year marriage to Deborra-Lee Furness came to an end, with their divorce finalised last summer.
