A new producer, a new stage designer and a new producer especially responsible for the interval acts are just some of the big news for Swedish Melodifestivalen 2006. Swedish Television (SVT) has revealed 'top' of the team that will be in charge of the work with the forthcoming production of the most popular national selection in Europe.

The new producer of Melodifestivalen is the 33-year old, quite unknown, Per Blomquist. But he can show an impressive CV as a producer of some major stage shows as well as many tv-productions during the last couple of years in Sweden. With this opportunity to work with Melodifestivalen, a life-long dream is now fulfilled, Per says. “This is the funniest job in Sweden and I already have thousands of ideas for the show “. Per also promises that “Melodifestivalen will hit all the previous records and there will also be a lot of exciting changes”.

Sven Stojanovic has been involved with major events and show productions for television. He is definitely not a newbee when it comes to the production of neither Melodifestivalen nor the Eurovision Song Contest. Sven Stojanovic was the man behind the direction of the three previous finals from Riga (2003), Istanbul (2004) and in Kyiv (2005). The three last years he has also been the director of Melodifestivalen. Sven comments his new job like this: It will be a great honour to direct one of the greatest events that takes place in Sweden.

Hans Marklund is a very well known name in Swedish showbiz. Originally a choreographer he later moved on to become a producer of many major productions in Sweden. As an artistic co-ordinator and choreographer he has amongst other things helped stage Melodifestivalenback in 1996, 1999 and in 2000. He was also the man responsible for staging the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 from Stockholm and was also hired for the same job for the final from Riga 2003. Hans Marklund now returns to Melodifestivalen in order to take charge of the production of the interval acts in the show. As Hans says I like to work with Melodifestivalen because I�m given the opportunity to produce a great show.

Mikael Varhelyi is the new stagedesigner and has earlier worked with for example Eurovision Song Contest 2000. C.T. Willers earlier started her work as the new projectleader of Melodifestivalen. Christer Björkman remains the artist responsible.