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  • June 8, 2025

Richard West-Soley

Richard’s ESC history began way back in 1992, when he discovered the contest could fuel his passion for music and languages. Since then, it’s been there at every corner for him in some way or another. He joined the esctoday.com team back in 2006, and quickly developed a love for writing about the contest. In his other life, he heads the development team at the learning resources company Linguascope, and writes about all aspects of language learning on the site Polyglossic.com.

Articles By This Author

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UPD – 2 15. Marija the mentor: Serbian takes control

There was already a long queue of international journalists lining up at Hartwall before the arena opened for the first

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Semifinalist rehearsals wrap up today

The last day of individual semifinal rehearsals takes place today, giving the remaining fourteen countries from Thursday's broadcast the chance

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UPD 14. Painting the stage red: Poland's Moulin Rouge

Poland have concluded the third day of rehearsals at Hartwall, and appeared on stage in full costume for Time to

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UPD 13. Moody blues: Croatia rehearses

Drangonfly and Dado Topic enjoyed their last thirty minutes of individual rehearsal on stage this evening, continuing the subdued, moody

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UPD 12. Pretty in pink: Denmark goes all out

A much more technically successful rehearsal was marked by several performance changes for Denmark, including even more pink on stage,

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Exclusive: Jean Paul Gaultier for France

This year's French representatives may very well be the best-dressed males in the contest next week, as it was revealed

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UPD 11. River of tears: Albania rehearses

Frederik Ndoci has completed his second rehearsal in Hartwall, although to a largely empty arena; nonetheless, the performance continues to

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UPD – 2 10. Energy transfer: Dutch rehearsal

Dutch hopes to repeat their semifinal success of 2004 were honed on stage this afternoon, with Edsilia Rombley's second rehearsal

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UPD 09. Burning down the house: Moldova's fighting chance

Natalia Barbu proved that she will make the semi or at least go down fighting next Thursday, with an excellent

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UPD 07. Classic rock performance: Montenegro rehearses

Montenegro's debut independent entry saw its final individual rehearsal slot today, and despite a lukewarm response from the audience, singer

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UPD 06. Telling her story: Georgia's second outing

Georgia presented their final performances before the semifinal rehearsals today, earning enthusiastic applause from the crowd after a swashbuckling presentation

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UPD – 3 05. Pure professionalism: Eirikur's first rehearsal

The fifth rehearsal slot today was longer than the rest by ten minutes; it was in fact Iceland's first outing

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04. The magic grows: Belarus rehearses UPD

Koldun and the Belarus team continue to build on their dramatic show elements in a strong second rehearsal at the

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03. Robotica electronica: Cyprus' second rehearsal

Cyprus' Evridiki completed her second rehearsal in Hartwall this morning, in front of a gradually growing crowd of press and