Germany: Ben Dolic will not retrurn to Eurovision 2021

Monday, 16 November 2020

• Ben Dolic, Germany's Eurovision 2020 hopeful, confirmed that he will not be coming back to Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam to represent Germany. 

  The German Eurovision 2020 act confirmed today via his instagram account that he will not represent the country in the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in The Netherlands next May.

  Ben Dolic posted on his Instagram earlier today, Monday 16th the following statement regarding his Eurovision 2021 participation:

   

   

  Hey everyone!
  
  I enjoyed every moment of the Eurovision journey and appreciate everyone who believed in me and has been there every step of the way!
  This will truly be a chapter in my life that I will always cherish and look back at!
  My career has taken a different direction!
  I’ve grown so much as an artist and there is still so much more that I want to achieve.
  I have decided not to participate at the Eurovision next year! It has been a hard and a difficult decision to make, but the right one at this moment in time.
  Thank you all for being with me on this beautiful ride and giving me your love and support!
  And to the one who will be chosen to represent Germany in Rotterdam 2021!
  I wish you all well from the bottom of my heart! Enjoy the journey!

   

  Back in July, Alexandra Wolfslast , Head Of Delegation Germany, ARD-ESC boss Christian Blenker and NDR entertainment chief Thomas Schreiber in a joint exclusive interview with ESC Compakt revealed that the German Eurovision 2021 entry will be selected choosing the same format as in 2020. 

  Therefore, the 2021 German Eurovision entry and act via will be selected via 2 special juries:

  • 100 member juries consisting of Eurovision fans
  • 20 member jury consisting of international music experts

   

  Therefore Germany is joining the list of countries that will not call back their Eurovision 2020 but go on seeking for a new representative at Eurovision 2021. This is the second Big-5 country that will be selecting a new representative after France and Tom Leeb's no returning. On the other had Spanish will be sticking with their Eurovision 2020 hopeful, Blas Canto, while Italy will seek its next ESC act through the iconic Sanremo Festival. UK remains the country to clear out its plans for next year's contest. 

  Ben Dolic was internally selected to represent Germany at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam with his entry Violent Thing. Unfortunately young act never had the chance to complete his Eurovision journey as the contest was cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic.

   

  Germany in Eurovision

  Germany is one of the  Big-5 countries and qualifies directly to the Eurovision Grand final. The country has participated in every edition of the Eurovision Song Contest since 1956, with one year’s exception back in 1996.  The country has won the competition twice, namely in 1982 and 2010.

  In 2018 Germany placed 4th in the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon with Michael Schulte‘s  You let me walk alone , while in 2019 the duo Sisters represented the country and finished second last in the 25th place of the grand final.