Not many 70-year-olds spend their nights with pop singers in sparkly catsuits, or nightmarish monsters belting out heavy metal, or 160,000 excited Europeans watching them get progressively drunker. In fact, there’s only one: the Eurovision Song Contest. To celebrate its uniqueness, we’ve spoken to some of the most fascinating people ever involved with the contest to share their stories. Happy 70 years of Eurovision!
‘My performance was the worst I’ve ever given’
Mr Lordi, frontman of Finnish metal band Lordi, winners in 2006
When we were asked to enter the Finnish national contest to become the Eurovision entry, we thought we had absolutely no chance. We just wanted some free TV time for our new album. Then we won the popular vote by a huge margin.
By the time we got to Athens, the international media was already really interested in us. We’d walk into the press room in our full costumes, just minding our own business. Then the press would go, “Oh, holy crap, that’s Lordi!” and rush over to us. We thought that was normal. Turns out it wasn’t—we were stealing the spotlight from others. And some people were really angry about that. There were even official complaints.
We knew we had a good chance of winning. But on the night, that performance was one of the worst versions I’ve ever delivered of “Hard Rock Hallelujah.” I was sick with a fever. And it’s so hot in that costume—you’ve got your own mobile sauna with you. It’s all latex, which doesn’t breathe, so you’re wearing a full-body condom. I just couldn’t do my screams or hit the high notes. Even now, 20 years later, I’m really unhappy with it.
When we won, it was crazy. The Finns couldn’t believe it—they never thought their country would win Eurovision. They even named the square in my hometown after me. And then, within a year, the backlash started. A lot of metal and rock fans really resented us for winning. They thought we had sold out. But then, surprisingly quickly, regular people started joining in. Suddenly, we went from being hailed as national heroes to being the target of ridicule. For at least four or five years, we didn’t play a single show in Finland. Nobody wanted us. We were a joke.
It was really hard to deal with. The song wasn’t written for Eurovision. Everything we did came from the heart. I still carry trauma from that. For years after, our bass player would walk out of interviews if anyone asked about Eurovision. There were times we thought, “Damn, I wish we’d never gone.”
I’ve made peace with it now, though. Everywhere outside of Finland, we just kept growing. Nowadays, it’s all good. I’m really proud that we’re part of Eurovision history.
‘I became Epic Sax Guy—but I had no idea what a meme is’
Sergey Stepanov, saxophonist of Moldovan band SunStroke Project, placed 22nd in 2010 and 3rd in 2017
Going to Eurovision was always a dream for me. When I was young, I’d watch with my mother, and the artists performing seemed so different from us—they were like aliens. In Moldova, everyone watches it. Our cities go quiet while people sit at home and vote.
The first time we went was to Oslo in 2010. We didn’t have a lot of money. All we had to make people remember us was our energy, our music, and how much fun we were having. We had no idea how big Eurovision could be for us.
We were really happy to come 22nd. It was amazing to have all those eyes on us—it holds a big place in my heart. Then, after we came back, my friendHe called me and said, “You’re a meme: Epic Sax Guy. You’re famous in the United States!” Until that moment, I had no idea what a meme was. But there were so many YouTube views of me playing my saxophone. After that, we were like celebrities. Everyone knew us. One night after a performance, two big guys tried to start a fight with us. I just told them, “I’m Epic Sax Guy,” and one of them said, “Oh my God! I have the best sex of my life to your music!”
When we went back in 2017, we were about to go on stage when our producers handed me the phone. It was the president of Moldova. He said, “Guys, are you ready to do a miracle?” We went out and came in third place. After we got back, we were invited to the presidential palace and given a medal. It’s the highest honor for a musician in our country. Only five people have ever received it.
Eurovision changed our lives. The moment I started my moves in 2017, the crowd got so loud I couldn’t even hear what I was playing. At that point, I knew my life wouldn’t be the same afterward. Even now, when I think about it, I get goosebumps.
‘I jumped up on my seat and started spraying my beer’
James Newman, who represented the UK in 2021 and became the second British act to score zero points.
I was driving in my car when the radio announced that they’d canceled Eurovision. I pulled over to check my phone and realized it was true. It was pretty brutal, because we’d already premiered the song with Ken Bruce on Radio 2. We’d made a video with Wim Hof, who is like my idol, and I really loved that song. But it was Covid – what could you do?
Luckily, the next year, everyone was happy for me to be the UK entry again. Getting into the contest was really scary, though. There was this huge quarantine tent you had to go through – it felt like something out of 28 Days Later – and if anyone in your group tested positive, you all had to go home.
The day before the contest, I honestly thought I was going to win. I’d released a song in the Netherlands with the Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren, who’s really popular. So I had a bit of a following, and when they did a vote asking people for their favorite act, they voted me number one. I thought, “Oh my God – this is really promising.” You have to believe in yourself, don’t you?
On the night, the whole arena was cheering for me. I thought it went well. I don’t think we could have done better. We just wanted to end up on the left side of the scoreboard, but then it started to fall apart a bit.
When they said, “UK – zero points,” it was a really tough moment. But I’d had a few beers, so I was in good spirits, and I just thought, “It’s music – it’s fun, it’s entertainment. It’s not going to ruin my life.” So I jumped up on my seat and started spraying my beer, and then the whole room started cheering.
The next day, I was a bit hungover at the airport, wearing sunglasses and thinking, “Oh my God.” But people came up to me and were really nice. The staff on the plane gave me a glass of champagne and a card that said, “Well done.” Then when I got back to the UK, everyone was so nice to me. Radio 1 was really supportive, and that was great because it could have been pretty harsh.
On the Monday after Eurovision, I woke up to find that my manager had texted me saying, “Chris Martin wants to give you a call.” I replied, “Chris Martin from Coldplay?” We FaceTimed, and he said, “Don’t let it get you down – I know what it’s like to have those moments.” He was so supportive. I got off the phone and thought, “Oh my God – I just spoke to one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived, and he told me he enjoyed my performance.” It was absolutely incredible.Absolutely amazing.
‘Father Ted did a sketch about me’
Eddie Friel came 14th for Ireland in 1995, the third year in a row the contest was hosted in Ireland.
Friel deal … Eddie Friel at Eurovision 1995. Photograph: YouTube
Two friends of mine wrote a song and asked me to sing on a demo cassette. Without me knowing, they sent it to the Irish Song Contest, so I performed it there for them too – and it won. The Irish press came backstage and asked, “How do you feel about going to Eurovision?” And I said, “I’m not going to Eurovision.” But in the end, I just went with it.
Before the contest, people in Dublin were a bit like, “Oh no, here we go again.” Ireland had won so many times, and there were rumours that RTÉ couldn’t afford to win because they couldn’t pay to host it again. But that was ridiculous – they had the budget for it. It was all just scaremongering. People in Dublin were a bit tired of it: “Oh, here we go again with Eurovision, another disaster” – which it wasn’t.
My Lovely Horse on Father Ted. Photograph: Channel 4
The whole experience was brilliant. On the night, I was really relaxed. Even though the song didn’t come close to winning, I was still invited to places like Brussels, Antwerp, and Amsterdam to do interviews and go to parties.
After the contest, I went back to my happy life, playing piano concerts across Europe. Then, a few years later, an Australian girl said, “Oh my God, Father Ted did a sketch about your song!” I checked it out, and the My Lovely Horse episode is definitely based on me. It came out only a year or two after my performance, and they copied their song from a 70s track – there had also been a whole controversy over whether our song was copied from a 1970s song. Plus, there was a storyline about RTÉ not being able to afford to win again. I found it funny. I wasn’t offended. I don’t know how the songwriters felt about it, but I thought it was brilliant.
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‘I sit in what is really just a garden shed’
Graham Norton, official BBC Eurovision commentator since 2009
‘I was a bit rude about Italy one year. It did not go well’ … Eurovision commentator Graham Norton. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images
The first time you go to Eurovision, it’s really overwhelming. You think, “Oh, it’ll be a bit like going to a concert.” But when you get there, you realise it’s like the Olympics. It takes over a city for weeks. There’s nothing else like it.
Across Europe, I think people believe I’m making all these sarcastic comments. But that’s a leftover from Terry Wogan. I don’t make fun of everything. If something is good, I’ll say it’s good. It’s getting harder to make fun of it because there’s an annoying level of competence now. It was more fun when the hosts were worse, or when they gave the job to someone who really didn’t know how to host. Those were my favourite years.
Occasionally, I’ll say something sharp. But what annoys me is that other countries wouldn’t know unless a journalist called the Polish embassy and asked, “What did you think of Graham Norton saying this about your entry?” And then, you know, Poland gets outraged. That does happen. I was a bit rude about Italy one year, and it didn’t go well.
The best part of commentating is being there. It’s having the best seat in the house and feeling, in a small way, like you’re part of this huge circus. It’s a very happy thing to be a tiny part of. I like feeling like I’m somehow a distant relative in the Eurovision family.
Although it is strange. The contest is all glitz and glamour, and I’m sitting in what is really just a garden shed – a very small garden shed with a Perspex window. Sometimes there’s aSometimes there’s air conditioning, sometimes there isn’t. It’s never big enough. My notes are a complete mess, so I’m always scrambling to remind myself who sang for Greece this year. It’s the biggest TV show in the world, and yet we’re broadcasting from under the stairs. So it’s a very strange feeling, but I do love it.
The main thing I’ve learned is to find out which plane the UK act is taking home — and then book a different one. It’s a long time to spend with someone who’s probably not very happy. There are only so many positive things you can come up with to say, and you’ve probably said them all before you’ve even checked in. Honestly, when I retire, that’s the advice I’ll give to whoever takes over. When will I retire? I’ll see what happens. I can still hold my pee for four hours — you don’t get bathroom breaks. So I think my retirement will depend on my bladder.
The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final is on Saturday at 8pm on BBC One.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the Eurovision documentary I Havent Taken a Bathroom Break Since 2009 based on the title and the concept of a behindthescenes story told by the stars
Beginner Questions
Q What is I Havent Taken a Bathroom Break Since 2009
A Its a documentary or special feature where famous Eurovision singers share their wildest most personal and often funny stories from inside the contest The title refers to a real extreme story from one of the stars
Q Who is in this documentary
A It features a lineup of Eurovisions biggest starslikely past winners fan favorites and memorable contestants who have been around for years
Q Is this a joke or did someone really not take a bathroom break since 2009
A Its a real story The title is a dramatic humorous quote from one of the stars It highlights the intense nonstop nature of Eurovision weekperformers often have to hold it in because of costumes nerves or backstage chaos
Q Is this a full movie or a short clip
A Its typically a longerform documentary or a special segment within a larger Eurovision broadcast packed with multiple stories from different artists
Q Do I need to know a lot about Eurovision to enjoy it
A Not at all The stories are funny human and dramatic If youve ever wondered what really happens backstage youll love iteven if you only know a few songs
Advanced Questions
Q Whats the most shocking story revealed in the documentary
A While the bathroom break story is the hook other stars reveal behindthescenes disasters wardrobe malfunctions lastminute song changes voting scandals and emotional breakdowns right before going on stage
Q How does the documentary handle the real side of Eurovisionis it negative or celebratory
