Sweden: SVT unveils the Melodifestivalen 2021 hosts

Sweden: SVT unveils the Melodifestivalen 2021 hosts
Tuesday, 05 January 2021

  • The Swedish national broadcaster, SVT, has unveiled the hosts that will present us the next edition of Melodifestivalen, the show that will determine the Swedish ESC 2021 representative. 

     

    Not one not two but nine hosts will be responsible to present Melodifestivalen 2021. Christer Björkan will be hosting all six shows alongside with a different co-host in each show.  This year's hosts include former Melodifestivalen participants, actors and singers. 

     

     

     All six shows will be hosted by the following presenters: 

    • 1st semi final: Lena Philipsson (Swedish Eurovision 2004 act witht the song “It Hurts”)
    • 2nd semi final: Oscar Zia & Anis Don Demina (both former Melfest participants)
    • 3rd semi final: Jason Diakité (rapper)
    • 4th semi final: Per Andersson (actress and comedian)
    • Second Chance: Shirley Clamp (Melodifestivalen contestant in past editions)
    • Grand Final: Måns Zelmerlöw (Eurovision 2015 winner with the song “Heroes”) & Shima Niavarani (singer and actress).

    The six shows will run from March 6 to March 13, 2021. All show will take place at  Annexet Arena, where the ESC 2016 press center was hosted. Specifically the Mello schedule will unfollowing in the following dates: 

    • 06/02/2021- Semifinal 1
    • 13/02/2021- Semifinal 2
    • 20/02/2021- Semifinal 3
    • 27/02/2021- Semifinal 4
    • 06/03/2021-  Second Chance  (Andra Chansen)
    • 13/03/2021-  Grand Final

     

    Sweden in Eurovision 

    Sweden has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 58 times since making its debut in 1958, missing only three contests (1964, 1970 and 1976). Since 1959, the Swedish entry has been chosen through the annual televised competition, named since 1967 as Melodifestivalen. At the 1997 contest, Sweden was one of the first five countries to adopt televoting. Sweden is the only country to have hosted the event in five different decades, three times in Stockholm (1975, 2000, 2016), twice in Malmö (1992, 2013) and once in Gothenburg (1985).

    Sweden is one of the most successful competing nations at the Eurovision Song Contest, with a total of six victories, just one win behind Ireland. The country has the most top five results of the 21st century, with thirteen. In total, Sweden has achieved 24 top five results in the contest. After finishing second with Lill Lindfors and Svante Thuresson in 1966, Sweden went on to achieve its six victories with ABBA (1974), Herreys (1984), Carola (1991), Charlotte Nilsson(1999), Loreen (2012) and Måns Zelmerlöw (2015).

    In 2019 John Lundvik represented the country with his song “Too Late For Love”,achieving another top 5 placing for Sweden as he  finished 5th overall with 334 points.

    Last year The Mamas won the Melodifestivalen 2020 and earned the right to represent Sweden in Rotterdam with their entry "Move" . Unfortunately for them, the contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak and The Mamas never had the chance to perform in Rotterdam Ahoy. 

     News Source: SVT