The BBC has announced the launch of a pop-up radio station ‘Radio 2 Eurovision’, which will broadcast on the week of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014.
Radio 2 Eurovision will be airing online from 12:00 GMT to 24:00 from Thursday 8 May, the date of the second semi-final, until 11 May, and on the day of the final the station will be simulcast with Radio 2 from 10:00 until 13:00 with commentator and radio DJ Graham Norton hosting his regular show live from Copenhagen.
The network will feature shows presented by former BBC commentators Terry Wogan and Paddy O’Connell, current semi-final commentator Scott Mills and the UK’s representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, Michael Ball.
The station will bring the latest Eurovision Song Contest news as well as a look behind the scenes. They will also be broadcasting a number of features and radio programming looking at the history of the competition.
The Controller of Radio 2 and Director of Music, Bob Shennan, says the corporation is proud to be offering such extensive coverage of the contest,
Every year, Eurovision is a moment that unites many people around the UK, as well as Europe. I’m proud to be offering a truly digital experience in 2014 with coverage across Radio 2 and Radio 2 Eurovision on digital radio.
And we have an incredible line-up of presenting talent, bringing all the excitement, sartorial disasters and musical catastrophes to our listeners.
This year, Molly Smitten-Downes will represent the United Kingdom with the song Children of the universe. As a member of the big five, the country gains automatic qualification to the final on 10 May.
The United Kingdom is the joint second most successful country in the contest, having won it on five occasions. The most recent of which was Katrina & The Waves win at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998.
Stay tuned to ESCToday.com for all the latest news from the Eurovision Song Contest and the United Kingdom.
